By Andrew Gans
12 Mar 2003

It’s been a week of “A Hundred Million Miracles” for the Broadway production of Flower Drum Song, which posted a closing notice last week prior to the much-in-the-news musicians strike.

That notice was rescinded earlier in the week, and the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical — along with 17 other Broadway musicals — resumed performances March 11. It was also just announced that the revival — which heralded the return to Broadway of Tony Award winner Lea Salonga — will be videotaped for the archives at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts. Flower Drum Song’s matinee performance on March 15 will be recorded for the permanent collection at the Lincoln Center library. The show will play its final performance at the Virginia Theatre on March 16.

In related news: Fifty dollar best-available tickets will be on sale two hours before curtain time at the Virginia Theatre box office for performances on March 12 and 13.

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Flower Drum Song stars Lea Salonga, who won her Best Actress in a Musical Tony for her work as Kim in Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Miss Saigon. In Flower Drum Song Salonga portrays Mei-Li, a Chinese immigrant who arrives in San Francisco, having been shipped in a crate from her homeland in China. The remainder of the cast includes Randall Duk Kim (Master Wang), Jodi Long (Madame Liang), Sandra Allen (Linda Low), Alvin Ing (Chin), Allen Liu (Harvard), Hoon Lee (Chao) and Ma-Anne Dionisio (Little Girl). The ensemble comprises Susan Ancheta, Raul Aranas, Rich Ceraulo, Eric Chan, Marcus Choi, Emily Hsu, Telly Leung, J. Elaine Marcos, Daniel May, Marc Oka, Lainie Sakakura, Yuka Takara, Robert Tatad, Kim Varhola and Ericka Yang.

Robert Longbottom, who helmed Broadway's Side Show, directs and choreographs, with music adaptation and direction by David Chase. The creative team also includes Robin Wagner (sets), Gregg Barnes (costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), ACME Sound Partners (sound), Don Sebesky (orchestrations), Seymour Red Press (musical coordinator), David Brian Brown (hair), Perry Cline (production stage manager), Tom Kosis (associate director), Darlene Wilson (associate choreographer) and Jamie H. J. Guan (Chinese Opera consultant).

Flower Drum Song plays the Virginia Theatre, which is located at 245 West 52nd Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. The musical plays Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets, priced between $65 and $95, are available by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. For more information, go to www.flowerdrumsong.com.