Meet the other 'Kim' of Miss Saigon

LONDON – Seasoned theatre actress Tanya Manalang still finds her West End debut 'surreal.’

The 26-year-old alternates as Kim, the lead role for the musical revival Miss Saigon, originally played by Lea Salonga more than two decades ago.

The musical hit, which returned to West End after a 15-year absence, stars Jon Jon Briones as The Engineer, Alistair Brammer as Chris, and Eva Noblezada as Kim.

"I still can't believe I'm here. It hasn't really sunk in yet that I'm playing a leading lady in the West End. Sometimes, I'm just out there on the stage and I still can't believe it's happening. I feel very blessed, and I'm very thankful that I'm here," said Manalang.

In an exclusive interview at her dressing room at Prince Edward theatre before the show, she shared with ABS-CBN Europe how the Manila production of Miss Saigon shaped her dream to make a name in theatre.

"I was around 11 or 12 (years old), in CCP in Manila. Lea (Salonga) was Kim and it was the first time I saw her perform upclose. It was breathtaking: the way she did everything. I was so inspired to actually do something in musical theatre," she narrated.

She added: "It was the first major musical I saw in my life. And when I saw Lea do it, I said I want to do the same thing when I grow up".

Theatre training

She began her formal training in theater at age six and she did not stop to nurture her skills in the performing arts. She was recently educated in the musical theatre at the Arts Educational School and London.

At age eight, Manalang had her professional theatre debut as Lucy Pevensie in an adaptation of CS Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Trumpets, Meralco Theatre, Manila).

She played Liesl in 'The Sound of Music" and Tuptim in "The King and I". Both shows were musicals produced by Resorts World Manila (Newport Performing Arts Theater, Manila).

Auditioning for Miss Saigon

Manalang confessed she was halfhearted when she auditioned for Miss Saigon in Manila because she wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave the country. But she was certain she wanted to be part of the Cameron Mackintosh production.

With a little push from her theatre friends, family and mentors, she gave the audition a try.

"Pinush nila ako. I got a call back from the audition. And then after that, iba na yung feeling. I had only two hours to learn 'I give my life for you' for the call back. And after, I thought this is a sign," she said.

Now alternating for the lead role at West End, she wanted to follow in the footsteps of former Kims: Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson and Joanna Ampil.

"Every time I get feedback from them--from Ate Lea, from Tita Monique, from Jo, it's just so inspiring. It just feels really good to make them proud," said Manalang.

Miss Saigon family

Miss Saigon boasts of an international cast of 18 nationalities, with diverse mix of talents and culture. This mélange is now 'family' to Manalang.

"I feel so at home with them. They make everything so comfortable and easy for me. And it's just a great thing that we've become one big happy family here," she said.

The revival musical of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil is described by Manalang as a 'darker version, more organic, passionate and sensual.'

She hopes to inspire younger and aspiring actress to reach for their dreams.

"I never imagined myself to be here, to be where I am right now. Just never stop dreaming, never stop praying," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rachelle nervous about wearing bikini for 'Miss Saigon'

MANILA – Rachelle Go is more anxious that she would have to wear a two-piece bikini for her role as Gigi in the West End revival of "Miss Saigon."

Go, however, said talking to veteran stage actresses greatly eased her fears.

“Nakausap ko si Miss Lea. Napakarami niyang tips na binigay sa akin. Ang takot ko talaga 'yung costume ng role na gagampanin ko. Sabi lang niya, ‘Don’t worry about what you’re going to wear. Just sing kasi kapag kumanta ka na, hindi na nila mapapansin ang suot mo.’ Sobra rin akong thankful kay Miss Lea dahil ine-encourage din niya ako and ang dami niyang advice sa akin,” Go said, referring to Lea Salonga, who originally portrayed the lead role of Kim in the musical.

“Mas kinakabahan ako sa suot than sa pagkanta. Pero role lang naman, so kakayanin ko iyan… Actually kailangan talaga fit. Kailangan mag-exercise. Ayaw ko naman na paglabas ko doon, nakakahiya naman. Kailangan talaga ng disiplina,” she said.

Apart from wearing a bikini, Go said she is also nervous that she would be living by herself in a foreign country for a year.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala. Hanggang ngayon nga hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na aalis ako at pupunta ako doon. Thankful lang talaga ako, hindi ko ine-expect. Feeling ko first week pa lang, maho-home sick na ako. Mami-miss ko din ang friends ko and trabaho ko. Nape-pressure talaga ako,” the former Kapamilya singer said.

Saying this experience will definitely change her life, Go said: “Nakakatuwa kasi hindi ko inakala na ganito pala ang magiging trabaho ko, hindi ko rin ine-expect. Next year, ang daming magbabago panigurado sa buhay ko. Ang dami kong mami-miss sa Pilipinas. Sana makayanan ko naman.”

But before leaving for London, Go will first stage a concert to mark her 10th year in showbiz.

“Tenth year na rin and parang despidida. Gusto ko lang i-share sa mga tao ang journey ko sa industriya. Last concert ko iyan bago ako umalis so sana suportahan niyo. Gusto ko makita ang pinagdaanan ko sa buhay. Guests ko doon ang mga naging parte ng buhay ko and mga idol ko,” she explained.

While she will be gone for quite a while, Go is hoping her fans would still support her when she returns.

Go will be leaving for London in March in time for the musical’s rehearsals. "Miss Saigon" will open on May 3.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Elated Rachelle Ann talks about 'Miss Saigon' role

MANILA - Former Kapamilya singer Rachelle Ann Go admitted that she still can't believe she landed a role in the West End revival of "Miss Saigon."

"Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala," she said in a video interview posted Friday on Viva Entertainment's official YouTube page.



The 24-year-old singer is a talent of Viva Artists Agency.

Go bagged the role of the hardened bar girl Gigi, which was originally portrayed by fellow Filipina Isay Alvarez.

"Nanggaling ako sa London. Ang alam nang lahat nagbakasyon lang ako pero sumegway ako sa auditions. Kinabukasan naman tinanong nila ako kung interesado tapos siyempre, ano pang sasabihin ko? 'Of course!'" she said.

Go, who recently played Ariel in a local adaptation of the Disney classic, "The Little Mermaid," admitted that she has no clue on how to portray a "strong personality" like Gigi.

"Sexy 'yung role niya doon. 'Yun lang din 'yung concern ko doon. Good luck sa akin kung paano ko gagawin 'yung role," she said. "From Disney na Ariel ako tapos ngayon...talagang sobrang extreme nitong gagawin ko."

The former "ASAP" mainstay will be joining fellow Filipino Jonjon Briones and Filipino-American Eva Noblezada in the latest production which will open at the Prince EdwardTheatre in London on May 3, 2014.

The original 1989 London production of "Miss Saigon" was starred by Lea Salonga as the 17-year old Kim.

On Twitter, Salonga congratulated Go and urged her to make the country proud.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lea Salonga was once rejected for 'My Fair Lady'

MANILA -- Tony Award winner Lea Salonga was once rejected for the role of Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" just because she was Asian.

On ANC's "Storyline," Salonga recalled receiving a phone call from her agent offering her a role after her award-winning stint with "Miss Saigon."

But minutes later, her agent called back. "They're not gonna see you because you are Asian," Salonga mimicked the words of her agent.

"What's that got to do with anything?" she then asked in disbelief.

According to Salonga, the role of Eliza Doolittle is traditionally played by a Caucasian actress. She eventually got to play the role popularized by Audrey Hepburn in the movie version in Manila with Repertory Philippines.

But instead of dwelling on the rejection, Salonga wanted to prove that race has nothing to do with talent.

Long after that phone call from her agent, Salonga was invited by producer Cameron Mackintosh to play the role of Eponine in "Les Misérables."

Salonga, who won the Tony for best actress in "Miss Saigon," explained that she wanted to use that opportunity to prove that traditionally Caucasian roles can also be played by Asians.

"I wanted to prove we can extend the suspension of disbelief that this little Asian actor can play this traditionally Caucasian role and you would believe everything that's happening on stage," Salonga said.

The actress said she wanted to play Eponine even more than Kim in "Miss Saigon" because it wasn't just about the role itself.

"I was driven to make that work and I worked really hard on that role, harder than I ever did in Kim. Because this wasn't about money, this wasn't about commercial success. For me, I wanted to prove that it can be done," speaking about her fight against discrimination.

Salonga became the first-ever Asian to play the role of Eponine in the hit musical.

After a performance, Salonga recalled how Mackintosh approached her and said: "You do not look Asian when I see you up there."

"That was what I needed to hear," said Salonga, who again broke racial barriers when she played Fantine in the same musical.

"The Voice of the Philippines" judge also shared that she intends to keep singing as long as fans would still listen to her.

"I am going to continue to do this as if there is anything else for me. And truthfully, I don't think there is nothing else out there for me. I feel like I am custom-built to spec to do what I do," Salonga admitted.

"As long as there are people who enjoy what I do then I will be around to do it," she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Miss Saigon' returns to PH for auditions

MANILA, Philippines – The hit musical “Miss Saigon,” which launched the international career of Filipino actress Lea Salonga, is gearing up for a revival in London’s West End.


And just like in 1988, when producer Cameron Mackintosh and the songwriting team of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, “discovered” Salonga in Manila, the production team is again flying to the Philippine capital to hold auditions for the lead role of Kim, the 17-year-old Vietnamese bar girl, as well as ensemble cast members.

According to the website Broadway World, the auditions will be held at the Philippine Opera Company’s headquarters Opera Haus in Makati on November 19-22.

A Facebook page has been set up to provide more details on the Manila auditions.


“‘Miss Saigon’s’ executive producer, director, choreographer, and musical director will be flying in from London to hold auditions for the restaging of the hit musical, which paved the way for Filipino talents such as Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, and Isay Alvarez, among others to shine on the world stage,” Dong Alegre, the representative of Mackintosh in the Philippines, told Broadway World.

“Miss Saigon,” based on Giacomo Puccini’s popular opera “Madame Butterfly,” had its world premiere at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane London on September 20, 1989 with Salonga and 13 other Filipinos, including Monique Wilson, Isay Alvarez, Robert Sena, Pinky Amador, Michael Williams and Junix Inocian.

The musical about a Vietnamese prostitute who falls in love with an American solider during the fall of Saigon ran for over 4,000 in London before closing in 1999.

It opened on Broadway in 1991, also with Salonga, who won a Tony Awards for her performance. It closed in New York in 2001.

According to the “Miss Saigon” official website, the musical has been performed in 25 countries and 246 cities and has been translated into 12 different languages

‘It begins again’

In her Facebook page, Salonga couldn’t help but notice the timing of the upcoming Manila auditions.

“And so it begins again... It was in November 1988 that I auditioned for ‘Miss Saigon.’ Whose life is going to change this November 2012?” she said in a post on Facebook on Saturday.

“Who would be your bets for the West End revival of ‘Miss Saigon’? Auditions are in November,” she said in another post.

Among those mentioned by Salonga’s Facebook friends are “American Idol” Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez; Repertory Philippines’ actress Cara Barredo, who currently appears in Rep’s “The Wizard of Oz” as Dorothy; and Manila-born Singaporean Julia Abueva, who starred in a Singaporean production of “Spring Awakening” early this year.

According to Broadway World, audition requirements will be announced soon.

source: abs-cbnnews.com