La Mirada~The recent run of the multiple Tony Award winning play Miss Saigon, at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts was the highest grossing production ever at the theatre said Producing Artistic Director, Brian Kite.

"Of the possible 26,271 seats available for the entire run, we sold over 22,000 of them, with numerous sell-outs, including the last two performances," said Kite who directed the La Mirada rendition of Saigon, which bowed out this past Sunday after 26 days.

He indicated the only other production from the past that might come close in gross sales would be "the first time Peter Pan was here."

Although it left Broadway in January of 2001, after a ten year run and 4,092 performances, Saigon has spawned numerous other productions across the globe and is still the 11th longest-running Broadway musical in musical theatre history.

Bolstered by rave reviews early in the La Mirada run, Kite told the La Mirada Blog the surge in ticket sales sent the staff scrambling, "We had to order 11,000 extra programs. Also, we had to hire additional help at the box office, because the phone was simply ringing off the hook."

Kite estimates that 10-15,000 "new people" visited La Mirada during the play's run, most non-residents.

The temporary visitors boost the local economy.

"They spend their money at La Mirada gas stations, convenience stores and other establishments in La Mirada. Mr. V's and other restaurants in town have told us they have seen an increase in business this last month," Kite said.

The attendance at Saigon also seems to have spurred sales for the upcoming, latest installment of Peter Pan, returning again to the La Mirada Theatre June 1^st through June 24th, with Cathy Rigby once again revisiting her flying role as Peter.

The theatre was converted from a local movie house to a performing arts center in 1979 with the opening act being Tony Bennett.

For ticket information, call the theatre box office at (562) 944-9801.