An Exploration of the Perceived Effects of Intercultural Issues within a Filipino Theater Production: The Miss Saigon Manila

Abstract

This paper is divided into five chapters that will contain the results of the study done. The first part is an overview of the structure of the paper. It consists of the, the review of related literature and framework and the methods used to achieve the results and the data necessary to complete the study. This study aims to identify issues and problems that an arts organization, the Saigon Company Philippines, encounters given that it is a multicultural in nature. Specifically, this study identifies various cultural issues and how the employees of this company react to these issues. It also states some habits, patterns of thought and behavior of Filipinos and foreigners and how it they affect the management and their performance in their work duties. Chapter three gives a historical account of the production from London, up to Manila, where the recent season of Miss Saigon opened. This also included the organizational set-up and the employment composition of the company. Chapter three is entitled "Perceptions and Issues Regarding Different Cultural Issues." This chapter discusses the various cultural issues and how the subjects and respondents of the study react and deal with the given situations. Chapter four will discuss other issues not categorized under the issues in the preceding chapter as seen and observed by Filipinos. Chapter five on the other hand, is the foreigners' viewpoint As a whole, this study came into a conclusion that although best efforts were given to maintain harmony and good working relationship within a company with the given nature, cultural conflict still occurs. Whether or not such issues are addressed, the employees are fully aware of the marked differences in their cultures and upbringing. The management does not address such problems as cultural problems, but extends its best effort to address any problems encountered by the management Th last chapter consists of recommendations for further studies on similar production to that on Miss Saigon, the experiences of foreign e:x-patriates working in the Philippines and a comparative study on Broadway and the local theater scene