By Skylar Raye Noyes
My all-time favorite musical is Miss Saigon! The music, the romance, and the story take my breath away. I have always been a major fan of the show and when I heard it was coming back to Broadway, I was ecstatic! Nothing was going to stand in my way of seeing this incredible musical! The night I was going to see the show finally came. I remember entering the theatre and gasped as I saw the set on stage. It was an unbelievable sight to see! I couldn’t believe that I was finally going to see the show that I had been obsessing over for so long, live and on Broadway! It was surreal! As the house lights dimmed and the orchestra began to play the overture, I felt my heart pounding out of my chest. The show began and it was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen on Broadway! Eva Noblezada (Kim) had me in tears the entire show. One of the most memorable performances in the show was when she sang “I’d Give My Life For You.” It was a showstopper, sent chills down my spine, and had me sobbing the entire time.
Another memorable number was when Alistair Brammer (Chris) performed “Why God Why.” It is one of my favorite songs in the entire show and he did an outstanding job! One of my favorite numbers in the musical was “The Morning of the Dragon.” This number is very intense and the dancing is incredible! Another showstopper was when the amazing Jon Jon Briones performed “The American Dream.” He is such a captivating performer! And last but not least, the scene where the helicopter flies on stage is an iconic moment in the show that amazed me. Overall, the whole show was remarkable!
I was fortunate enough to go backstage after the show and interview Minami Yusui! Minami is in the ensemble of Miss Saigon. She is an amazing performer and dancer with an incredible story to tell of her path to Broadway. She was kind enough to share her amazing story of passion and hard work with our Camp Broadway readers!
What is your favorite part about being on Broadway?
“It’s a dream come true, I’ve always wanted to be on Broadway. I worked so many years and did so many things to get here and the fact that I’ve achieved my dreams means a lot!”
What advice do you have for kids who want to be on Broadway someday?
“Keep your passion! Always remember why you are doing it, the feeling you had with the first show you ever saw, or whatever motivated you to dedicate your time to this craft. Remember that matters, because when you are going through some difficult times or whenever you get discouraged, always go back to why you are doing it, maybe that wonderful feeling you had or that passion you were given.”
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
“I have a lot of things, but usually yoga and meditation, and to make sure to check in with myself every day to keep my mind grounded. It can be very dangerous, you can get hurt and once you get hurt you can be out for many days, so take care of each show. I check in with myself every day and make sure I feel grounded.”
Ever think you would be on Broadway?
“I thought it would be cool, but I was in Japan, I didn’t even speak English. I don’t think I was that realistic. I just had so much passion and just dreamt, it would be so wonderful to be on Broadway and do that! I watched the Tony Awards and didn’t understand any of the speeches, I just dreamt big! I guess I always wanted to and didn’t really think, oh if I couldn’t actually be on Broadway. I just had that big feeling of dreaming about it! I couldn’t be happier. I am very grateful and very lucky!”
Minami’s story is so inspiring! Hearing about how she came from Japan with nothing but a dream, not knowing the language, and reaching her goal of performing on Broadway is incredible! Her advice is to stay focused on your goals and work hard! Thank you Minami for sharing your love and passion for theatre with the readers of Camp Broadway!