'Miss Saigon' at Pierce

The Los Angeles Pierce College Theatre Arts Department will open its 52nd Season with the Broadway musical "Miss Saigon" on the Mainstage in the Performing Arts Building on campus, Woodland Hills.

Show times are 8 p.m. Fri., July 31 and Aug. 7, and Sat., Aug. 8. Matinees are 2 p.m. Sun., Aug. 2 and 9.

The musical was written by Alan Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, the creators of "Les Miserables," and ran for 10 years on Broadway.

The pop-opera takes place in Saigon in the last days of the Vietnam War. Chris, an American soldier, has a brief affair with Kim, a Vietnamese girl. In the chaos of the U.S. exodus, they are separated. Believing that Kim has died, Chris returns home and marries.

Kim escapes her homeland to reunite with the man she believes is waiting for her and their son.

The score includes, "Why God, Why," "I Still Believe," "I'd Give My Life for You" and "The American Dream."

The production is directed by Gene Putnam, with musical direction by James Domine and choreography Denise Gibson.

The cast features Kristina Reyes, Geoffrey Going, Joseph Andreas, Vincent Aniceto, Katie Watts-Whitaker and Donovan Weir in principal roles.

There are 40 members in the cast and 16 orchestra musicians, making this Pierce College's largest theatre production ever.

Tickets are $20 for students and seniors and $25 for general admission.

For tickets, call (818) 7196488.