Inspired by the women behind Hy Vong, a new musical celebrates immigration, friendship, resilience, and the unexpected ways Miami becomes home.
This August, the women and remarkable partnership behind the beloved restaurant will take center stage in the world premiere of SOUP: The Musical at The Mandelstam Theater in South Miami.
Inspired by the memoir Mango & Peppercorns, the new musical tells the true story of Tung Nguyen and Kathy Manning, two women from vastly different backgrounds whose lives became intertwined in Miami.
Tung arrived in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee following the fall of Saigon. She was welcomed into Kathy’s Miami home, where the two women began building a life together despite differences in language, culture, and experience. What began as an unexpected act of hospitality grew into a lasting friendship, a family, and eventually Hy Vong, the beloved Miami restaurant whose name means “hope” in Vietnamese.
For generations of Miami diners, Hy Vong became much more than a restaurant. It was a gathering place known for its extraordinary food, warm hospitality, and the personal stories that seemed to accompany every meal. Behind it was a Miami story about starting over, creating community, and discovering that family can take many forms.
Now, that story is being reimagined in this world premiere theatrical production in the city where it all began.
SOUP: The Musical features music and lyrics by acclaimed South Florida songwriter and composer Jim Camacho (Mouse King, Cranky Carl and His Cosmic Contemplations), and book by Gil Kaufman. Through music, humor, and moments of profound emotion, the production follows Tung and Kathy as they navigate hardship, cultural differences, motherhood, friendship, and the enormous leap of faith required to build something together.
At its heart, SOUP is an immigrant story, but it is also a story that feels uniquely Miami. This is a place shaped by people who arrived from somewhere else, carried pieces of home with them, and created something entirely new. Food often becomes the bridge between those worlds, preserving memory while inviting others to gather around the table.
The musical’s world premiere also marks an exciting new chapter for The Mandelstam Theater, which is expanding its role as a home for professional productions and original works rooted in the community. Bringing the story of Hy Vong to a Miami stage reflects the theater’s commitment to sharing stories that connect audiences to the people, cultures, and experiences that have shaped South Florida.
For those who remember dining at Hy Vong, the production offers an opportunity to revisit a treasured Miami institution from a new perspective. For those discovering the story for the first time, it is an introduction to two unforgettable women and the extraordinary legacy they created together.