Since the original production of “Miss Saigon” cast Lea Salonga in the lead role of Kim in 1989, more and more Filipinos have landed different roles in the hit production.
Monique Wilson was Salonga’s alternate in the original production with Isay Alvarez playing the role of Gigi.
Salonga reprised the role when “Miss Saigon” was brought to the Broadway stage.
When West End revived the production in 2014, three Filipinos starred in the production: Eva Noblezada as Kim, Jon Jon Briones as The Engineer and Rachelle Ann Go as Gigi. The three also took on the roles during the Broadway staging in 2017.
“Miss Saigon” will stage a tour in the UK and Ireland this year with three Filipinos in major roles.
GMA’s pride, Aicelle Santos, will take on Gigi while Red Concepcion will wear The Engineer’s shoes. Gerald Santos will play Thuy.
Aicelle, 33, gained popularity when she won eight straight weeks in GMA’s “Pinoy Pop Superstar.” She was part of the musical film “Ang Larawan,” which emerged victorious in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2018.
Concepcion, admittedly, is a theater kid. He has been a stage actor for more than a decade. His biggest break was acting alongside Jon Santos and Leo Valdez in the Singapore run of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” in 2014.
He is also the brother of actor and singer Sam Concepcion.
Gerald, 26, was the grand champion of the second season of “Pinoy Pop Superstar.” He is dubbed the Prince of Ballad.
Joreen Bautista, another Filipino, was cast as alternate Kim.
There are also some Filipinos in the ensemble. (JGA)