Two Filipinos have been announced as part of the MISS SAIGON tour in the United Kingdom which will start on July 1.
Cameron Mackintosh, producer of the award-winning musical, said that “Pinoy Pop Superstar” winner Gerald Santos will play the role of Thuy while Red Concepcion will portray The Engineer.
Sooha Kim will play the role of Kim while Ashley Gilmour is cast as Chris.
Miss Saigon is an epic love story which tells the tragic tale of young bar girl Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with an American GI called Chris – but their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon.
The musical has started its Broadway run in New York City with Filipinos Eva Noblezada as Kim and Jon Jon Briones as The Engineer.
Other Filipinos in the musical’s Broadway edition are Rachelle Ann Go as Gigi; Devin Ilaw, Thuy; and Lianah Sta. Ana, alternate Kim.
“It’s official guys! I will play the role of THUY for the @misssaigonuk Tour starting July 3! This is it! God is so good! #MissSaigon #Official #announcement,” Santos said on Instagram.
“I am proud to announce that I will be playing The Engineer in the UK tour of Miss Saigon. The Heat Is On!” said Concepcion on IG.
Concepcion’s theater credits in the Philippines include Adam/Felicia in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” for which he won the ALIW Award and Gawad Buhay Award, Tommy in “The Normal Heart” and Alan Strang in “Equus” as well as the musicals “West Side Story” and “Hairspray.”
Santos was the youngest ever winner of the biggest singing contest in the Philippines “Pinoy Pop Superstar.”
He has released five studio albums and has won numerous awards including winning twice Best Male Concert performer at the prestigious ALIW Awards.
Sooha made her professional debut in this recent production of MISS SAIGON at the Prince Edward Theatre where she covered the role of Kim before going on to play the role in the Japanese production. Her credits whilst training in South Korea include Maureen in “Rent” and Carmen in “Fame,” according to Broadway World UK.
Gilmour also appeared in MISS SAIGON at the Prince Edward Theatre. His most recent credits include playing Link Larkin in the national tour of “Hairspray.”
MISS SAIGON has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French lyrics by Alain Boublil, with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler.
Since its London premiere in 1989, Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s legendary musical MISS SAIGON has become one of the most successful musicals in history.
The original Broadway production of MISS SAIGON opened on April 11, 1991 with what was the largest advance sale in Broadway history ($37 million).
Filipino star Lea Salonga was cast as Kim in the original musical production.
The show went on to play for nearly ten years and 4,063 performances seen by more than 5.9 million people.
MISS SAIGON has been performed in 28 countries, over 300 cities in 15 different languages, has won over 40 awards including 2 Olivier Awards, 3 Tony Awards, and 4 Drama Desk Awards and been seen by over 35 million people worldwide.