SPENCER LIFF
2-time Emmy nominee - Director & Choreographer
SPENCER LIFF is an award-winning director and choreographer who is highly sought-after in both Hollywood and Broadway. His work spans theatre, television, and film. He earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography for his work on FOX’s hit series So You Think You Can Dance, where he was a resident choreographer for ten seasons. His television credits also include Dancing with the Stars, Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, and staging for major broadcasts such as the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Latin Grammy Awards.
He directed and choreographed the celebrated musical Singin’ in the Rain, the stage revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, the hit DRAG: The Musical, which earned the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, a Queerty Award for Best Live Theater Show, a GLAAD Special Recognition Award, and multiple Lucille Lortel, Drama League, and Off Broadway Alliance nominations.
Spencer’s choreography has been seen in Head Over Heels, Falsettos, the Tony Award-winning revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, and the acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening. For Spring Awakening, he received nominations from the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Awards, and won both the Los Angeles Ovation Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award.
As a performer, Spencer appeared in Broadway shows and became the youngest recipient of the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer on Broadway for Cry-Baby. His film and TV performance credits include Hairspray, Across the Universe, Footloose, Smash, and Gypsy starring Bette Midler. He has danced for two U.S. Presidents and performed five times on The Tony Awards, twice on The Academy Awards, plus The Kennedy Center Honors and The Grammy Awards. Beyond his productions, he is a longtime faculty member with Broadway Dreams Foundation, mentoring emerging talent around the world and helping launch the careers of many performers.
“Vietnam is a beautiful country, rich with traditions, and bringing musical theater into this extraordinary, largely uncharted world is the kind of rare creative opportunity that a director dreams of. Mai An Tiêm’s story is about what endures, and that feels exactly right for this moment in time.”
DOUG KATSAROS
Emmy Award Winner - Music Director
DOUG KATSAROS is an Emmy-winning composer whose work on and off Broadway includes Footloose, The Life, The Rocky Horror Show, Altar Boyz, The Toxic Avenger, A… My Name is Alice, Hal Prince’s Diamonds, Endangered, Sweetee, Laughing Room Only, and Gettin’ the Band Back Together. One of his most recent projects is the score for the musical Warhol. He has written several TV scores, including the original animated The Tick, The Jim Henson Hour, and Mancuso, FBI, as well as music for several films, including the sci-fi classic Star Crystal and Sandra Bullock’s Me and the Mob. He has dozens of gold and platinum CDs for his work with artists such as Kiss, Sinéad O’Connor, Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Todd Rundgren, Rod Stewart, Judy Collins, B. B. King, Marlo Thomas, Donny Osmond, Richie Havens, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Cher, Michael Bolton, and Peter, Paul & Mary, among others.
He was a founding member of the 1980s band Balance and the 1990s band GeWaDoKa. He has written special material for Ringling Brothers and Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Thanksgiving Day Parades, and lives in New York with his wife, jazz artist Elise Morris — and yes, he is the guy who wrote “By Mennen.”
"This production of The Watermelon Prince is a beautiful and exciting first for Vietnam, an original musical performed entirely in Vietnamese, incorporating both classical orchestral and traditional Vietnamese instruments along with a wonderful contemporary rhythm section."
GABRIEL BARRE
Tony nominee - Executive Producer
GABRIEL BARRE is a Tony-nominated and award-winning director and actor who is known for creating original musicals and directing acclaimed productions on Broadway, across the United States, and throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. His work has established him as one of the most inventive directors in contemporary musical theatre.
On Broadway, Mr. Barre directed Amazing Grace, which later toured nationally. He directed the world premiere of The Wild Party, starring Tony winner Idina Menzel, earning the Calloway Award for Best Direction and multiple Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations. Mr. Barre also directed the world premiere of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine, now a global phenomenon with more than 4,000 productions and the distinction of being the most produced play in North American high schools.
Recent highlights include directing the world premiere of This Is Not a Drill and Emmy winner Rosie O’Donnell in Common Knowledge. Mr. Barre also co-wrote and directed Here You Come Again, a musical built around the songs music legend Dolly Parton, which toured the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. He directed the U.S. tour of Cinderella, starring Tony and Grammy winner Eartha Kitt, as well as the national tour of Pippin. He has worked with three-time Oscar and four-time Grammy winner Stephen Schwartz on his musical Magic to Do.
His regional work includes A Sign of the Times, written by Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch, Memphis, and multiple award-winning productions at Goodspeed Musicals, including Sweeney Todd and Billy Elliot.
Internationally, Mr. Barre has directed major productions in the Czech Republic, Korea, Japan, China, and Mexico, including the long-running hit Carmen and the Japanese premiere of The Scarlet Pimpernel. His production of Billy Elliot in Mexico won Las Lunas del Auditorio for Best Musical and received twelve Metropolitan Theatre Award nominations, winning five.
As an actor, Mr. Barre earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Starmites. His film and television work includes collaborations with Oscar winner Spike Lee and Golden Globe nominee Penny Marshall, as well as appearances on Law & Order, Fame, and Kate & Allie.
He is proud to lend his experience and artistic leadership as Executive Producer to The Watermelon Prince: The Musical, supporting its journey to introduce a new chapter of musical theatre to Vietnam.
“Musical theatre is a distinctly American art form, but it has been spreading its wings throughout the world becoming ever more popular than it has ever been! Having worked in many other countries and seeing how popular the form is in places like the UK, Korea, Japan, China, and Australia, it is time for musical theatre to strut its stuff in Vietnam. The Watermelon Prince is the perfect show to do it with, and these two brave, LA-based producers are the perfect pair to nurture the endeavor.”
NICOLE JONES-DION
Writer
NICOLE JONES-DION is an award-winning screenwriter and acclaimed filmmaker who specializes in genre stories blending character-driven drama with bold, imaginative world-building. Starting out in comics and video games, she went on to write features for SyFy Channel, Lionsgate, and Sony, including an adaptation of the best-selling martial arts game Tekken. In school, she excelled at creative writing and won the North Carolina Writer’s Award, earning a full scholarship to Duke University, where she studied writing along with History and Theology.
In 2022, she won the FOX Writing Fellowship in the Drama category. Most recently, she has features in development with Bill Ireton (former head of Sony Japan), Kirk D’Amico (Myriad Pictures), and Alice Neuhauser (3:10 to Yuma). She is the President and Co-Founder of PraxiScope Productions.
LÊ HOÀNG GIANG
Associate Director
LÊ HOÀNG GIANG is an actor, director, and playwright whose artistry spans both screen and stage. A natural performer from the start, he built his early career in television, appearing in acclaimed series including Ông Trùm (The Boss), Đời Không Như Là Mơ (Life Is Not a Dream), and Nhật Ký Vợ Chồng Son (Newlywed Diary), before bringing his talents to IDECAF, one of Vietnam’s most prestigious stages, where he performed alongside Meritorious Artists Thành Lộc and Hữu Châu.
Driven by a passion for storytelling behind the scenes as well as in front of them, Lê Hoàng Giang pursued formal studies in directing, graduating with distinction. His thesis production, Mơ hoang (Dreaming Wild), a bold fantasy reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, announced him as a singular new voice in Vietnamese theater.
He went on to write and direct Mơ Giấc Tình Tình (Dreaming of Love), a work that further cemented his reputation as a director of lyrical imagination and theatrical precision, drawing on the same Shakespearean source with a distinctly Vietnamese sensibility.
A performer’s instinct and a playwright’s command of narrative make Lê Hoàng Giang a rare and vital presence in contemporary Vietnamese theater.
“Creating a new musical from scratch is an enormous undertaking. Specifically for this musical, the work began with the English script, and then every word, every lyric, and every scene had to be carefully adapted into Vietnamese. This process demands all of the creatives working in close collaboration to get it just right. And when you are telling a story like Mai An Tiêm's, one so beloved and close to the people's hearts, every detail matters.”
NGUYỄN TẤN LỘC
Associate Choreographer
NGUYỄN TẤN LỘC is one of Vietnam’s most celebrated directors and choreographers and the founder of Arabesque Dance Company, which he established in 2008 as Vietnam’s first private neo-classical and contemporary dance company. Under his artistic leadership, Arabesque has built a lasting presence in Vietnam’s performing arts scene through resident productions such as The Mist and À Ố Show, alongside touring works presented across the country and on international stages.
Nguyễn Tấn Lộc was awarded prestigious international scholarships to study at the Japan Dance School in Kawasaki, the Fujisato Ballet Studio in Tokyo, and with the acclaimed Schaubühne in Berlin. His choreographic language is a distinctive fusion of classical and modern movement, rooted in a lifelong passion for traditional Vietnamese culture and all the dance forms associated with it.
Among his other major productions are The Story of the Shoes, Mộc (Wood), Mon Village, and Rơm (Straw), which have introduced Vietnamese traditional culture to contemporary audiences at home and abroad. In 2015, he marked his first major international collaboration as the choreographer for Cirque du Soleil’s Toruk – The First Flight.
Through his work with Arabesque and his international projects, Nguyễn Tấn Lộc has helped shape the next generation of Vietnamese dance artists and continues to advocate for Vietnamese dance on the world stage.
NGUYỄN ĐỨC THUẬN
Associate Music Director
NGUYỄN ĐỨC THUẬN is a Vietnamese composer, conductor, and pianist whose work bridges classical performance, orchestral conducting, and original composition. He holds a Bachelor of Piano Performance from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, where he graduated with excellent marks.
As Ballet Pianist at the Vietnam National Dance Academy since 2018, he has developed deep fluency in the language of dance and live theatrical performance. At the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and Vietnam National Opera and Ballet, he served as Assistant Conductor under Maestro Tetsuji Honna for Concert Subscription No. 135 and 137, and under Maestro Nguyễn Phú Sơn for Swan Lake (2024) and La Traviata (2025).
As a composer, his works include Piano Sonatina (2018), which premiered in 2025, and Missa brevis (2025), scheduled for its world premiere in 2026.
TRẦN HỒNG VÂN
Set Designer
TRẦN HỒNG VÂN is an acclaimed Vietnamese scenic designer who has crafted immersive stage worlds for over 500 productions across two decades, earning multiple awards and medals for excellence in scenic arts.
Her distinguished credits span major productions including Tiên Sa (The Fairy Shore) and Thủy Tinh – Đứa Con Thứ 101 (The Water Spirit – The 101st Child), alongside cải lương epics such as Hồn Của Đá (Soul of Stone) and Ngàn Năm Mây Trắng (A Thousand Years of White Clouds). Her recent work includes Nguyệt Hạ (Beneath the Moon) at Sân Khấu Hồng Vân (Hồng Vân Theater), which won a gold medal at the 2025 International Experimental Theater Festival.
As founder of Mây Đỏ Creative Academy, she champions professional stage design training while delivering historically precise, emotionally resonant visuals for Vietnam’s most celebrated productions.
Nguyễn Tranh
Director of Photography
With extensive experience across film, television, and live entertainment, Nguyễn Tranh brings a strong cinematic eye and a wealth of experience from acclaimed productions and major shows including Áo lụa Hà Đông, Cánh đồng bất tận, Những nụ hôn rực rỡ, Vietnam Idol, Vietnam’s Got Talent, Giai điệu tự hào, and many other artistic projects.
Nguyễn Ngọc Lâm
Lighting Designer
An internationally award-winning producer, director, screenwriter, lighting director, and actor, Nguyễn Ngọc Lâm brings over 35 years of experience across Hollywood and Vietnam, with expertise spanning feature films, television, music videos, advertising, concerts, and live events.
Nguyễn Thanh Tùng
Sound Designer
With more than 20 years of professional Live Sound experience, Nguyễn Thanh Tùng has worked across major concerts, television programs, gameshows, and live events, collaborating with some of Vietnam’s leading artists and productions including Vietnam Idol, The Voice, Rap Việt, Anh Trai “Say Hi”, and Anh Trai Vượt Ngàn Chông Gai.
Nguyễn Tuấn Cường
Stage Manager
With over 20 years in the arts, Nguyễn Tuấn Cường began his career in dance and choreography before expanding into stage direction, show direction, lighting, visual design, and large-scale production. His multidisciplinary approach brings together movement, music, lighting, and visual storytelling to create memorable stage experiences
DENIS ĐẶNG
(Prince Mai An Tiêm)
DENIS ĐẶNG is one of Vietnam’s most recognized actors and creative directors, and the founder of VISIOLAB. He has appeared in the film Reborn and the TV series Gió Ngang Khoảng Trời Xanh (Wind Across the Blue Sky), and has shaped the visual identity of some of the country’s biggest stars, including Chi Pu, Hoàng Thùy Linh, and Đức Phúc. He gained major recognition through Nguyễn Trần Trung Quân’s Tự Tâm (Self-Composed), which earned two WeChoice Awards, and his short film Con Cưng (The Golden Child) participated in the Cannes Film Festival.
MYRA TRẦN
(Princess Mỹ Linh)
MYRA TRẦN is one of Vietnam’s most powerful young vocalists, captivating audiences with her dynamic voice, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence. From winning The X Factor Vietnam, to making her mark on American Idol, and later winning hearts as Lady Mây on The Masked Singer Vietnam, Myra has established herself as one of Vietnam’s brightest talents of her generation, earning recognition from audiences both at home and abroad.
TRỌNG NHÂN
(Prince Khang)
TRỌNG NHÂN is a young Vietnamese cải lương (Vietnamese reformed opera) artist and performer, currently with the Huỳnh Long Classical Theatre Troupe. Beginning cải lương at age 12 through the District 8 Đờn ca tài tử Club, he gained recognition for his strong voice and stage presence. He won Third Prize on Thử Tài Siêu Nhí in 2017 and a Silver Medal at the National Young Professional Cải lương Performers Talent Competition in 2022. In 2026, he reached a major career milestone, winning First Prize at the National Cải lương Performers Talent Competition. Passionate about traditional Vietnamese theater, Trọng Nhân is committed to bringing cải lương closer to younger audiences.
TÂM HOÀNG
(Rich Merchant)
TÂM HOÀNG is a seasoned Vietnamese actor with extensive experience across television, film, digital productions, and advertising. He has appeared in numerous commercials, web dramas, and feature films, including Cám Ơn Người Đã Thức Cùng Tôi (Thank You for Staying Awake with Me), Cục Vàng Của Ngoại (Grandma’s Treasure), and Báu Vật Trời Cho (Heaven-Sent Treasure). He is also a familiar presence in children’s programming on HTV, including Vườn Âm Nhạc (The Music Garden) and Hô Biến. With a career spanning diverse genres and generations of audiences, Tâm Hoàng brings versatility and a wealth of performance experience to the stage.
TRƯƠNG BẢO NHƯ
(The Mystic)
TRƯƠNG BẢO NHƯ is a Vietnamese singer, MC, and performing artist with a distinguished career in music and live performance. She was First Runner-up of Duyên Dáng Bolero 2019, and previously earned Fourth Prize at the 2005 Television Singing Competition, Second Prize at the 2004 National Student Singing Competition, and a Gold Medal at the 2004 Tourism Industry Singing Competition. Internationally, she represented Vietnamese singers at the Southeast Asian Youth event in China and performed at festivals and on tours in Canada, Taiwan, and the United States. With her vocal talent, stage presence, and extensive performance experience, Trương Bảo Như brings a distinctive artistic presence to the stage.