The end of the Vietnam War conjures up images of helicopters leaving masses of Vietnamese citizens on the ground with outstretched hands. These are all some images that have given life to the hit musical, “Miss Saigon.”

SF State theater arts students Stewart Kramar, 20, and Christie Puiello, 23, will be performing in the large Broadway by the Bay production from Sept. 22 to Oct. 8 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center in San Jose.

Broadway by the Bay is a production company in the Bay Area and has earned two Critics’ Circle awards in choreography in 2005. Director Alex Perez, 42, said this is one of the biggest and most demanding productions the company has done.

“It’s different because it’s sung through with no dialogue,” Perez said. “The acting has to be conveyed through music.” The 45-member cast has been rehearsing for five weeks.

“Rehearsals are very demanding,” Kramar, who plays a United States marine in a musical ensemble, said. “We get one day off every two weeks. It’s a very active show for ensemble.”

Kramar, who has been singing and acting since sixth grade, said the production is a change of pace for him because it’s a “light opera.” The style is more pop than the usual opera style. This is his third production with Broadway by the Bay. He has performed in the company’s production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” in the past.

“My favorite song has to be ‘Bui-Doi (Dust of Life),” Kramar said. “It’s really saying we failed to do a lot of things. It’s at the same time a political message.”

Puiello, who plays in the orchestra, said the music is incredibly dramatic, edgy, and “pierces your soul.” She said she has a love of the 1960s and the music. This was one of the reasons why she felt compelled to be a part of “Miss Saigon.”

The tragic story of “Miss Saigon,” by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, involves the romance between Chris, an American marine, and Kim, a Vietnamese bar girl, at the eve of Saigon’s capture by Communist forces. The two are separated during the siege. Chris learns that Kim is alive with his child years later, leading him to return.

“My parent’s generation is a lot different than mine,” Puiello said. “They witnessed men walking on the moon. They had to deal with a draft. Miss Saigon is a story of survival and hope. The story is of love, but it’s bigger. The real story lies in the era.”

According to Perez, the biggest challenge of the production is that the love story is small compared to most of the action on stage. The cast is constantly in motion, capturing the audiences’ attention. But even with the large production, Perez said they assembled the best cast for the show.

Tickets for of “Miss Saigon” range in price from $15-$38, and can be purchased by calling (650) 579-5565. For more information log onto: www.bbbay.org.