‘Miss Saigon’ Producer Still Not Satisfied

The producer of the hit London musical “Miss Saigon” said today that he would take a $600,000 loss rather than bring the show to Broadway amid controversy over his casting of a white man to play a Eurasian pimp.

But Cameron Mackintosh left the door open for a rapprochement that could bring the show--and its $25 million in advance ticket sales--to Broadway in April. The show initially was supposed to begin previews a month earlier.

“I cannot in good conscience reschedule the production in the absence of a positive working environment and an understanding . . . that artistic freedom of choice cannot be compromised,” Mackintosh said in a three-page statement released in New York.

Mackintosh, however, said that he was willing to work out differences with Actors’ Equity and that he had sent the union a letter outlining the problems he felt must be overcome for a U.S. production.

Equity’s approval of Jonathan Pryce to play the role of the Eurasian was insufficient evidence that the union had a change of heart, Mackintosh said.

“Their decision was made solely on the technical basis of Mr. Pryce’s acknowledged star status. As I have repeatedly stated, it is also essential that the profoundly unpleasant atmosphere currently surrounding the production be dispelled,” Mackintosh said.

Equity Executive Secretary Alan Eisenberg was in a meeting this afternoon and unavailable to comment on the statement.

Mackintosh had canceled the $10-million production on Aug. 8 after Actors’ Equity, which has veto power over a foreign actor’s appearance in the United States, voted against letting Pryce bring his award-winning role to Broadway.