July 29, 2004

STAGE STRUCK

Almaden actor takes on life-altering role in CMT’s ‘Miss Saigon’

By Steve Dini
Staff Writer

“Miss Saigon” is a full-length musical that would give a professional company second thoughts.
It’s controversial, tough to sing, even tougher to act, has a “downer ending” and calls for a helicopter to land on stage.

In other words, just the kind of show Children’s Musical Theater San Jose loves to tackle. And, when the show opens this weekend at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose, it will end months of planning, preparation and strenuous rehearsals.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all summer,” said Eric Krop, 18, who plays American Marine Chris in the upcoming production. “When I first heard CMT had been selected to do the show, I knew I had to be in it.”

The fact Krop even got the chance is a story in itself. Children’s Musical Theater San Jose was chosen by the publishing house as the first non-Equity theater company in the United States granted the rights to produce “Miss Saigon.” That’s out of over 7,000 other applicants.

“That’s quite an honor,” said CMT’s Executive Director Jennifer Hull. “Miss Saigon is a difficult show for any theater company to produce and our selection speaks to the outstanding reputation of the company, of CMT Artistic Director Kevin Hauge and the amazing pool of young talent here.”

In the deep end of that “amazing pool” is Krop, a graduate of Leigh High School in San Jose and currently a student at West Valley College. Still relatively new at musical theater he has previously appeared in CMT productions of “The Who’s Tommy” and “Once on this Island.” But, nothing he has done on stage before could have prepared him for the intensity of “Miss Saigon.”

“This show has definitely stretched me,” Krop said. “Singing with emotion has been quite a challenge and the rehearsals have included lots of character work. Most of the show is sung, so that means I have to put my emotions into acting and singing together. I have really grown as a performer.”

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, “Miss Saigon” is the heartbreaking love story of Chris, an American Marine played by Krop and Kim, an innocent Vietnamese girl played by Fremont’s Katharine Liu. Their romance is cut short by the fall of Saigon. “Chris doesn’t abandon Kim,” said Krop. “They literally get torn from each other during the chaos of the evacuation.”

Several years later, a now-married Chris has a bittersweet reunion with Kim, after which the despondent young girl commits suicide.

Not only is the show’s subject matter sensitive, the set requirements were a daunting project. Aiming to create an abstract, cinematic feeling, San Jose State University theater arts professor Jim Culley used panels of Venetian blinds that can be adjusted for dramatic lighting effects when combined with Ethan Hoernamann’s lighting design.
The helicopter is another story. “I won’t give it away,” said Krop. “But, there is a helicopter that lands on stage.”

Directed and choreographed by Kevin Hauge with musical and vocal direction by Mason Kimont, “Miss Saigon” has literally changed the lives of the young people in the cast. “I didn’t know much about the war when we started rehearsals,” said Krop. “Now I realize how horrible it was and how it affected the lives of the people involved….on both sides.”

“Even though Chris is much different than I am,” Krop continued. “I can understand how he feels. This show has affected me, too. I have grown so much, become much more mature. And, so has everyone in the cast. We actually believe we’re there in Vietnam, during the fall of Saigon. It’s very intense for all of us.”

One more reason for Children’s Musical Theater San Jose to put “Miss Saigon” on its mainstage.
Performed by two casts, other Almadeners in CMT’s “Miss Saigon” are Patrick Ball, David Clift, Rebecca Corrick, Kirsten Heher, Jennifer Juki, Michael Lane, Lauren Magboo, Cuyler Meade, Sameera Naghavi, Jaymee Senigaglia, Tory Taylor, Brian Vierra, Jenna Whitecar, Caitlin Jamello and Kelly Jamello.

Performances are Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 31 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday, August 1 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., Thursday, August 5 at 7 p.m., Friday, August 6 at 7 p.m., Saturday, August 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 5 at 1 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cmtsj.org or call the CMT Box Office at 408-288-5437. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children under 12.