BELLPORT-NY.COM

EPIC PRODUCTION OF MISS SAIGON SEEKS CHILD – GATEWAY PLAYHOUSE
Seeking – One Asian or Eurasian child who must look 4 years old and not be afraid of large crowds, fake helicopters and tumultuous applause.  Also must be able to withstand blaring lights and blazing heat as Gateway Playhouse turns it up for the encore performances of its groundbreaking production of Miss Saigon.

Korean pop star Sojung Lee, known to American audiences as Alex Lee Tano, is flying across the continents to reprise her Broadway and National Tour performances of the role of Kim, in the Gateway production on the Patchogue stage July 8-25th. All the show needs is the right child. In my mind there was just no other ‘Kim’, said Robin Joy Allan, Gateways casting and artistic director.

She played the role for our spectacular production in 2003. Ms. Allan said Ms. Tano was quintessential to the part of Kim in Gateways reissuing of the tragic tale of lost love and struggle for survival in a war torn land. But Ms. Tano, who was also the voice in the Korean version of Disney’s Mulan, initially turned down the part of Kim, her representatives at SONY records noting she was booked with stadium sized concerts throughout the month of July and could not make the Gateway show.

However, the recent turmoil in her native homeland, caused by missile tests and nuclear threats by North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-il, shut down Ms. Tanos performance schedule, and freed her up to do the show for Gateway.We’re just thrilled to have gotten her back,?Gateway producer Paul Allan said, Alex has the ability to lift you out of the theater and transport you to Vietnam in the 1970’s. Her performance makes you forget you are sitting in a theater.

Based loosely on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, the pop-opera tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. Set in 1975 during the final days of the American occupation of Saigon, Miss Saigon is an epic love story about the relationship between an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman. The sweeping, impassioned score includes, “Why God, Why,” “Sun and Moon,” “The Last Night of the World,” “I Still Believe,” “I’d Give My Life for You” and “The American Dream.” Raul Aranas also returns as the “Engineer. Mr. Aranas starred as the Engineer at Gateway in 2003, and the first national tour of Miss Saigon. The seasoned Broadway actor starred recently in the world premiere of the musical Giant at the Signature Theater.

The show also features Mary Mossberg playing “Ellen” and Allen D. Hong, playing “Thuy.”  Ms. Mossberg has performed in the second national tour of Mamma Mia and in the Will Rogers Follies role of “Betty Blake Rogers” at Gateway Playhouse. Mr. Hong originated the role of “Thuy” for the first national tour of Miss Saigon and played the role for three years.

Gateway Playhouse is on the lookout for an Asian child male or female to play the part of  Tam Ms. Allan noted that the part is not a speaking or singing role, and that the candidate simply has to look like a 4-year-old Asian or Eurasian child. Also required of the young thespian are a strong stage presence, discipline, and availability to deal with rigorous rehearsal and performance schedules.Ms. Allan noted that the child actor would not have to attend all rehearsals, but would have to show up for every performance.

Rehearsals for Miss Saigon began on June 23 and will be held at Gateways main production studios in Bellport.  Miss Saigon opens at The Patchogue Theatre on Wednesday, July 8 with performances through Saturday, July 25.
Anyone interested in having his or her child audition for Miss Saigon should visit www.gatewayplayhouse.com for the complete Miss Saigon performance schedule and then set up an audition by calling 286-0555, ext. 2123 or sending an e-mail to artsoffice@gatewayplayhouse.com.
Gateway Playhouse ? Broadway caliber entertainment at an affordable price.
www.gatewayplayhouse.com For Tickets (631) 286-1133 or 1-888-4TIXNOW

The following is a recent press release from The Gateway Playhouse:

Gateway Playhouse, the “foremost summer professional regional theatre”
(Newsweek), announces its 60th anniversary season celebrating some of
Broadway’s biggest Tony Award winning hits:

Miss Saigon, A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Sophisticated Ladies and Meshuggah-Nuns.  Special anniversary subscription
rate of $175.00 for all six shows (includes discount coupons for over $250
at local restaurants and shops.)  That’s less than $30 per show, and you can
eat and shop for something special.on us this year.  Gateway says “Happy
60th” to our past and future subscribers.   www.gatewayplayhouse.com
Box office: 631-286-1133 or
1-888-4TIXNOW.

The first production of the 2009 season of diverse offerings is the
Tony-Award winning Duke Ellington musical: Sophisticated Ladies with its
treasure trove of big-band hits such as “Take the “A” Train”, “It Don’t Mean
A Thing”, “Satin Doll”, and the haunting “In A Sentimental Mood.”  Come and
re-live the Speak Easy era of the Cotton Club, Harlem Renaissance, and high
society in this show stopping jazz, blues and big band boogie. Directed by
the Broadway veteran and creator of “Fosse”, Chet Walker.  May 27-June 13 at
the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, LI.

Next, those hilarious Little Sisters of Hoboken are at it again!  This time
on the “Faiths of All Nations” Cruise, our favorite nuns entertain us in
ecumenical style with their fun-fest musical, Meshuggah-Nuns! From the
creator of the Nunsense Series, Dan Goggin comes hilarity on the high seas
with songs like “Say It In Yiddish”, “If I Were Catholic,” and
“Fiddlerspiel.”  You don’t have to be Catholic or Jewish. It’s a show for
anyone who loves a good laugh!   June 17-July 5 in Bellport.

Gateway’s third production of the 2009 season is the return of its highest
praised and most requested show, Miss Saigon.  The critically acclaimed
Tony-nominated musical by Claude-Michael Schonberg and Alain Boubil is one
of Broadway’s longest running hits. This modern adaptation of Puccini’s
Madama Butterfly, set in 1960’s Vietnam explodes on stage with an
astonishing backdrop, a breathtaking contemporary score, and even a
helicopter that actually lands on the Patchogue stage. It’s one powerful
musical for our time.  July 8-25 at the Patchogue Theatre.

Gateway’s fourth production is the Long Island premiere of the winner of the
most 2006 Tony Awards, The Drowsy Chaperone.  This “musical within a comedy”
with tons of laughs, all begins when a die-hard musical theatre fan plays
his favorite cast album of the 1928 smash hit “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and
the show magically bursts to life. We are instantly immersed in the
glamorous, hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding
day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally)
and the audience (metaphorically) soaring to the rafters.  July 29-August 22
in Bellport.

The fifth production of the 2009 season is another LI premiere of the 11
time Tony-nominated musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the 1988 Steve
Martin/Michael Caine film of the same title.  Set on the glorious, glamorous
Riviera, this is a delicious comedy that follows two con artists as they
take on the lifestyles of the rich and shameless – and end up with a lot
more than they bargain for.   This brash but old-fashioned crowd pleaser had
the New York Times raving: “One of the liveliest, funniest, best-performed
musicals in years!”  August 26 – September 12 at the Patchogue Theatre.

The closing production for 2009 summer season will be the 9 time Tony award
and 1976 Pulitzer Prize winner, A Chorus Line. This musical revolutionized
the way audiences viewed Musical Theatre and changed Broadway forever. Come
to experience the journey of dancers as they struggle to live their dreams.
It’s “one singular sensation” with music by the acclaimed Marvin Hamlisch
and the unmistakably brilliant conception of Michael Bennett.  With all
original choreography, a Broadway caliber cast and director, A Chorus Line
culminates the 60th anniversary season in true Gateway style. September 16 -
October 11 in Bellport.

Gateway Playhouse in Bellport is nestled in the quiet country surroundings
off the south shore of Long Island.  Theatre-goers can relax before a show
in the patio gardens while enjoying snacks, beverages and cocktails from the
bar.   Memorabilia and displays of the past 60 years are on exhibit in the
theatre’s historic lobby still connected to the original barn theatre.
Centrally located between NYC and Montauk, the playhouse is the perfect
respite for summer entertainment presented by Broadway professionals.   With
Gateway’s 60th anniversary season, theatre-goers experience the best of
theatre at affordable prices in their own backyard.

We have an events page update in the works for this week, covering April-May. Please note that the “Submit an Event” link is live now, so you can let us know about anything we may have missed. We will also be updating the Gateway Playhouse page as well as the Playcrafters page with any new info we can dig up on upcoming Bellport theater events.

We are making some progress on our upcoming Things to do page which will go live by the end of this week if all goes well. This section will be divided into two categories, Bellport Village and North Bellport. Each section will showcase many of the year round activities available to residents and visitors as well as any relevant points of interest.

Other projects have taken more of my attention as of late so updates have been a little slower than usual this month. I am still looking for local content contributors to free my hands up and help streamline the process a bit. Just send us an email through our contact page if your interested in getting involved. We will do our best to respond in a timely manner. Make sure to stop back and see whats new, or just subscribe to our RSS feed.

Just a brief announcement to let everyone know that you can now directly submit any local  Bellport events to us through our events page. All submissions will be reviewed and included on our calender in a timely fashion. Just click on the link at the top of the page and fill out a brief form letting us know whats going on. We appreciate everyone’s help in making this site better and more informative. Your neighbors will appreciate it too!

If you are looking to provide a little more detail to everyone about an event you are hosting or are involved in, contact me and let me know. If appropriate we will do a write up on it in our News section or in the upcoming “Things To Do in Bellport” page. The further in advance you can let us know about whats going on the more likely we will be able to include it in a timely manner. Thanks again for all of your support and input. Keep coming back to see whats new and let us know what else you would like to see here. As always, we value your input…

This is a cool video I found on youtube. Ice surfing in Bellport Village…Check it out.