This musical project was created with the participation of a creative team from Vietnam and the United States. The musical is inspired by the familiar folk tale of Mai An Tiêm but is developed in the language of contemporary musical theater, with a new storytelling style, fast pace, and a Broadway-style performance spirit.
The script for The Legend of the Watermelon was written by Nicole Jones-Dion. She is joined by Spencer Liff, the director and principal choreographer, a two-time Emmy nominee. The music is by Doug Katsaros, an Emmy Award-winning composer and music director. Gabriel Barre serves as executive producer.
On the Vietnamese side, Le Hoang Giang served as assistant director and Nguyen Tan Loc as co-choreographer. Stage design was handled by Tran Hong Van, with a team of Vietnamese artists, technicians, and creative professionals involved throughout the production process.
Notably, the entire cast of the performance consists of Vietnamese artists. Throughout the 105-minute show, the artists simultaneously perform acting, singing, and dancing, coordinating directly with the live symphony orchestra from beginning to end. The orchestra also features Vietnamese traditional instruments, creating a fusion of Western classical music and Vietnamese world music.
This combination creates a unique look for the performance: the structure, staging, and performance spirit have a Western musical feel, while the story, characters, music, and art are still built on the foundation of Vietnamese culture.
Denis Dang takes on the lead role of Mai An Tiem. This is a new challenge for Denis, who is better known for his creative work, as he has to simultaneously act, sing, and perform on the musical theater stage. The role of Mai An Tiem also opens up a new avenue of expression for Denis, from someone behind the scenes of creative ideas to an artist directly present on stage.
Trong Nhan brings a different dimension to the role of Prince Khang. The character is portrayed as a somewhat lazy, arrogant, and shy prince, but gradually changes as he faces various challenges. Trong Nhan delivers the character with a natural, charming acting style, incorporating many humorous moments and creating a sense of closeness with the audience.
Meanwhile, Myra Tran continued to showcase her vocal strengths while also trying her hand at acting for the first time on the musical theater stage. In the role of Princess My Linh, Myra portrayed a gentle, emotional princess who was not passive in the face of fate.
The two artists Huynh Kien An and Pham Yen play the roles of King Hung and Queen Thi Thi. Their years of stage experience help them provide a solid foundation for the young cast, while also bringing confidence to scenes requiring strong acting and singing skills.
Source: https://svvn.tienphong.vn/su-tich-qua-dua-hau-ra-mat-cong-chung-voi-dien-mao-nhac-kich-broadway-post1882196.tpo
