After “MISS SAIGON”, RACHELLE ANN GO Joins West End Production of “HAMILTON”

Filipino talent is undoubtedly way up there with the best of the rest of the world when it comes to theatre. Nobody could ever forget the success story of Lea Salonga, who defined the role of Kim in “Miss Saigon” before becoming a star on Broadway and East End, as well as a Disney Princess (singing-wise, for two of them even). Many music artists have since followed in her footsteps with “Miss Saigon,” perhaps one of the most recent being pop star Rachelle Ann Go.

But now her time with that musical (where she portrayed Gigi) has ended; as has her brief moment as Fantine in the 30thAnniversary staging of “Les Miserables” at West End. And her time in London will not be ending anytime soon, as Rachelle will next be jumping in the bandwagon of the newest and hottest musical in recent times, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton.”

According to ABS-CBN News, Rachelle Ann Go will be joining the cast of the West End production for “Hamilton,” the extremely popular musical detailing the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. And her assigned role is a plum star part to boot; she will be cast as Eliza Schuyler, Hamilton’s eventual wife and chronicler. The artist was extremely overjoyed by her new part that on Monday (Manila time) she posted on her Instagram account about her good fortune.

As a caption to a group photo of her with her “Miss Saigon” female cast-mates, Rachelle wrote, “My heart is full of joy. Thank you to all, you special people, who came into my life.” She also wrote about how heavily affected she was by the thought that on Saturday August 12 (London time) she had performed her swan song on the musical that Lea Salonga had been a part of long ago. The last portion of her post was addressed to her friends in the “Miss Saigon” production where she said, “I will miss you all. All the laughter, craziness, stories, cookies we’ve shared will always be remembered. See you soon. I love you all!”

“Hamilton,” the story of which is told in a fusion of show-tunes and rap/hip-hop numbers, has established itself as one of the current epic pop culture phenomena in the world today. An official mobile app, available on both Apple and Android since August 11, has already been downloaded more than 500,000 times by the musical’s zealous fans.

Rachelle will not be the only Filipina in the West End cast. Christine Allado will also be present to portray two different roles, something of a theme in the casting of “Hamilton.” She will play Eliza’s sister Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, whom Alexander Hamilton had an affair with in one of the earliest sex scandals in US politics. “Hamilton” on West End will premiere at London’s Victoria Theatre on November 21.

Photo courtesy of Philstar