A young man is banished to a barren island, grows the first watermelons there and turns exile into a story every Vietnamese child knows. That tale now arrives as a full scale Broadway style musical, and its world premiere goes to Ho Chi Minh City, with a live orchestra, Broadway choreography and Vietnamese performers of several generations. If you have been waiting for a reason to see Vietnamese theatre at its most ambitious, this is it.

The show was built by two teams. Direction and choreography come from Spencer Liff, a two time Emmy nominee and resident choreographer for ten seasons of So You Think You Can Dance. Music is led by Doug Katsaros, an Emmy winner whose credits include Footloose and The Rocky Horror Show. The book is by Nicole Jones-Dion, and the executive producer is Gabriel Barre, a Tony nominee. On the Vietnamese side there are associate director Lê Hoàng Giang, associate choreographer Nguyễn Tấn Lộc, founder of the Arabesque dance company, and set designer Trần Hồng Vân.

The principal cast:

— Denis Đặng as Mai An Tiêm and Myra Trần as Princess Mỹ Linh
— Kim Tử Long as King Hùng and Trịnh Kim Chi as Queen Thi Thi
— Trọng Nhân as Prince Khang, first prize winner of the 2026 national cải lương talent competition
— Tâm Hoàng as the rich merchant and Trương Bảo Như as the Mystic

The producers aim squarely at a family audience. Adults get the experiment of watching a Vietnamese legend built on Western musical structure, children get a live orchestra, dance and a deserted island appearing on stage. The score mixes a classical orchestra, traditional Vietnamese instruments and a contemporary rhythm section, and the venue is Nhà hát Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (Saigon Opera House) in the heart of the city.

The production is performed entirely in Vietnamese: the original English script was carried line by line and lyric by lyric into Vietnamese together with the local team, and the organisers have announced no subtitles or translation. The plot is familiar to everyone here and the evening rests on music, dance and stage design, so the story reads even without the language. Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes including a 15 minute interval. The show is recommended for ages 10 and up, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Arrive at least 30 minutes early, as latecomers are seated only during the interval; the dress code is formal, sportswear and beachwear are not accepted; no photography or recording, tickets are non refundable and there is no re-entry once you leave the hall.

Only two evenings are scheduled and no other dates have been announced, so plan the date early and keep it free.

Musicals

Musical «Sự Tích Quả Dưa Hấu» (The Watermelon Prince)

Musicals events in Ho Chi Minh City