Ut Tra On

Ut Tra On (1919-2001) was a famous stage actor of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as Cai Luong.

He was born in Can Tho, South Vietnam.  Affectionately nicknamed as Muoi Ut, he was the youngest in a family of 10 children and had been given the name of Nguyen Thanh Ut at birth.  At the age of 16, he began studying the craft of Southern Vietnamese folk opera.  Two years later, he began working as a Cai Luong performer on Radio Vietnam in Saigon.  It was there when he started using his professional stage name as Ut Tra On.  Shortly after, he would gain national prominence with his performance of the Vong Co song, Thuc Trot Canh Thau.  Ut Tra On was then invited to record for the Asia label, one of South Vietnam's most prominent record companies.  And from 1942 until 1954, he collaborated with various Cai Luong theater troupes such as He Lap, Thanh Long, Tien Hoa, Mong Van, Sao Mai and Thanh Minh.  In 1954, Ut Tra On formed his own Cai Luong theater troupe called Kim Khanh.  Eight years later, he and fellow performer Hoang Giang formed Thong Nhut Theater Troupe, which became one of the most lucrative Cai Luong theater companies of South Vietnam prior to 1975.  Ut Tra On starred in many popular Cai Luong plays including Tuyet Tinh Ca alongside Hung Cuong, Bach Tuyet, Ut Bach Lan and Thanh Sang, Nang Con Roi alongside Bach Tuyet, Tan Tai, Ngoc Huong and Diep Lang, Luu Binh Duong Le with Thanh Nga, Tieng Hat Muon Tenh and Quan Vuong va Thiep, both of which costarred Ngoc Giau.

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Ut Tra On still managed to continue with his career as a performer on the Cai Luong stage.  He collaborated with prominent theater companies such as Sai Gon 1, Tran Huu Trang and San Khau Tai Nang.  Ut Tra On passed away on August 13, 2001.  He was 82.  His daughter, Bich Phuong, is a popular singer of traditional pop and folk music in Vietnam.