Producer Expected to Renew ‘Miss Saigon’ Plans

British producer Cameron Mackintosh is expected to reinstate the $10-million Broadway production of “Miss Saigon,” possibly with a delayed opening, following Actors Equity’s retreat on racial casting.

The council of the 40,000-member union reversed itself Thursday and voted to permit English actor Jonathan Pryce to play on Broadway the role of a Eurasian pimp he originated in the London production of Mackintosh’s musical hit.

The union on Aug. 7 barred the English actor from re-creating the role after Asian members of the union and their supporters demanded the role be filled by an Asian.

The initial decision led Mackintosh to cancel the $10-million show, originally scheduled to open in April. He ordered the $25 million in advance ticket sales--a record for Broadway--be returned to purchasers, but a spokesman for the show said few requests had been received so far.

Sources close to Mackintosh said today they expected the New York production to be rescheduled but pointed out that Mackintosh said earlier he might not be able to open it until the fall of 1992 because of other professional commitments.

Pryce ends his run in the London production Saturday and will go on vacation pending preparations for the New York production, a spokesman for the show said. He was not available for comment on Equity’s latest decision.

“ ‘Miss Saigon’ is booked to occupy the Shubert Organization’s Broadway Theater, currently occupied by Mackintosh’s ‘Les Miserables,’ and it is still booked to begin previews there next March for an April opening,” said Marc Thibodeau, the show’s press agent.

“I don’t think there will be any change in that schedule. I think Mr. Pryce will be coming to New York in the not-too distant future.”