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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:38 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2008

'Miss Saigon' cast includes three veterans

By Wayne Harada

Three Hawai'i actors who did stints with "Miss Saigon" on Broadway and on national tours will be part of the October remounting of the Tony Award-winning musical at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.

The veterans are:

• Jade Stice, who portrayed Ellen in New York, will reprise the role as the American wife of Chris. Her big number, a duet with Kim, is "I Still Believe."

• Michael Scott Bright, who toured nationally, will play Chris, the American marine who becomes entangled with Kim, the heroine in the show. Their big duet is "Last Night of the World."

• Jade Anguay Bright, who also has toured nationally, will be choreographer and swing performer. Off-stage, she is Michael's spouse.

The production, to be directed by Ronald Bright, will play at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 3 through 26. Clarke Bright, brother of Michael and son of Ronald, is musical director.

The community cast will also feature:

• Leonard Villanueva, a children's book author and stage vetera, will be The Engineer, the oily nightclub impresario who delivers the "American Dream" tune.

• Brittany Browning, a Punahou student, will be Kim, the young Vietnamese girl who falls in love with Chris and sings the powerful "I'd Give My Life for You."

• Kawika McGuire, an opera singer, will play John, the friend of Chris, who delivers the emotional Act II song, "Bui Doil."

• Les Ceballos will enact Thuy, the spurned suitor of Kim and the villain in the show — and the focus of "Thuy's Arrival."

• Erin Kim will play Gigi, the bar girl with "Movie in My Mind."

Costumer Evette Tanouye Allerdings will travel to Vietnam for fabric and costumes for the cast. Lloyd "Sandy" Riford is set and lighting designer.

Tickets: $30 adults, $26 seniors over 62, military, UH faculty and staff; $20 students through age 26.

Reservations: 235-7310, www.etickethawaii.com

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.