Two artists pose for a photo at an event in Đà Nẵng City. The Broadway classic musical Camelot, featuring live singing, dance, sword combat and theatrical staging, and performed in English, will take the stage at the Nguyễn Hiển Dĩnh Theatre in Đà Nẵng for three performances only from June 20 to 22. Photo courtesy of René van Nguyen

ĐÀ NẴNG — A full-scale production of Lerner & Loewe's Broadway classic Camelot, featuring live singing, dance, sword combat and theatrical staging, will be performed at the Nguyễn Hiển Dĩnh Theatre for three nights only from June 20 to 22.

The organisers said an international cast will bring the beloved musical to the downtown theatre in what is expected to be a rare large-scale English-language musical theatre production in central Việt Nam.

They noted that the region's stages are best known for traditional Vietnamese performance, making Camelot a distinctive addition to Đà Nẵng City's cultural calendar.

Based on the legend of King Arthur, Camelot tells the story of an idealistic young king, his queen Guenevere and the noble knight Lancelot, a love triangle that tests the fellowship of the Round Table and Arthur's dream of a kingdom ruled not by force but by law, courage and compassion.

First staged on Broadway in 1960, the musical remains the source of some of the most enduring songs in musical theatre, including If Ever I Would Leave You and the title number, Camelot.

What sets this production apart is the company behind it: performers and creatives from 10 countries across five continents, Việt Nam, the US, Germany, Russia, Brazil, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Italy, India and Tunisia, brought together largely from Đà Nẵng City's growing international community.

At the heart of the story are King Arthur, played by music director René van Nguyen; Queen Guenevere, played by Julia Hausmann; and Sir Lancelot, played by founder and executive producer Denis Burkatsky. Two of the three lead actors also help steer the production behind the scenes.

A troupe from the Broadway classic musical Camelot appears at a community event in Đà Nẵng City. The musical will be performed in Đà Nẵng City from June 20 to 22. Photo courtesy of René van Nguyen

That versatility extends throughout the company, with many cast and crew members taking on multiple roles at once, performing while also handling props, costumes, sales or promotion. Paid professionals and volunteers work side by side to bring the production to life.

The show is directed by Manny Sani, with choreography by Tarcísio Cunha (dance) and Jacob Lemieux (combat), and is co-produced by Manny Sani, René van Nguyen and Devendra Tak.

It is presented by DT Associates under licence from Music Theatre International (MTI), privately funded, and staged with the approval and support of the Đà Nẵng Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Local agency Đà Nẵng 365 is responsible for ticketing and event licensing.

The official logo of the Broadway classic musical Camelot, featuring live singing, dance, sword combat and theatrical staging. The English-language production will take the stage at the Nguyễn Hiển Dĩnh Theatre in Đà Nẵng City. Photo courtesy of René van Nguyen

"In the final weeks before opening night, I've watched this cast and crew come together in a way I'll never forget. People from 10 countries, most of them balancing full-time jobs, are giving everything — late nights, relentless rehearsals and sheer determination — to bring Camelot to a Đà Nẵng stage. They've worked wonders, and I couldn't be prouder of them. I can't wait for audiences to see what they've built," said Denis Burkatsky, founder and executive producer.

The organisers said Camelot will be staged at the Nguyễn Hiển Dĩnh Theatre, a venue dedicated to tuồng (classical drama), at 3pm on June 20. The remaining two performances will take place at 7.30pm on June 21 and 22.

Tickets range from VNĐ300,000 (US$12) to VNĐ500,000 ($20), with early-bird discounts currently available. — VNS