The classic love story and international musical sensation Miss Saigon will play at the Paper Mill Theatre in Millburn until Oct. 20. Playing the starring role of "Kim" are Hudson County residents Roxanne Taga and Dina Lynne Morishita.
Raw and uncompromising, Miss Saigon tells of an American GI and a Vietnamese girl who fall in love only to be separated during the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War. Their epic struggle to find each other in the ensuing years examines the conflict between the losses people suffer in a world torn by war and the sacrifices made to achieve "the American Dream."
An international sensation, Miss Saigon is a daring pop opera which is universal in its emotional power and features such passionate songs like "The Movie in my Mind," "Why, God, Why?" "I Still Believe," "I’d Give My Life For You," and "The American Dream."
Taga, a Hoboken resident, said she is thrilled to be part of Paper Mill. A southern California native, her credits include Miss Saigon, Rent, and Mister. She is also performing in concerts to benefit charities in the Upper East Coast. Taga has lived in Hoboken for almost a year and plays "Kim" on the weekend matinees.
"The character is so powerful. I just perform a couple times a week, but I come back and do Saigon for the story," Taga said.
Like Taga, Morishita, a West New York resident, said she is very excited to be making her debut at Paper Mill in her all-time favorite role. She recently appeared with the national touring company of Les Miserables as "Eponine." She also had the opportunity to play the role of "Kim" with the national touring company of Miss Saigon, as well as understudy the role of Ellen in a regional production. Other credits include: Smokey Joe’s Café, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, South Pacific, and the King and I. Morishita will be appearing in the BBC documentary of Les Miserables filmed in Shanghai, China.
Prior to the stage, she was a mortgage specialist for a bank in California and a business development associate for an Internet company. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in business administration.
"West New York is a beautiful city," Morishita said. "I am having so much fun at Paper Mill and the cast is great. Love and much appreciation is sent to my mom and dad."
This production of Miss Saigon is directed by Mark S. Hoebee. A native of Freehold, Hoebee resides in Maplewood. He has directed the Paper Mill productions of The King and I and Dreamgirls, to name a few.
The show will run at Paper Mill until Oct. 20. For more information call (973) 376-4343 or visit www.papermill.org. The theatre is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn. q