Exclusive: Local Disney Princesses Make it to MISS SAIGON Final Auditions

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by Oliver Oliveros

Manila, Philippines, November 21, 2012 ­- Local Disney princesses Rachelle Ann Go, who played the title role in the Asian premiere of Disney's stage musical adaptation of "The Little Mermaid," and K-La Rivera, who is currently playing the role of Princess Jasmine in the Asian premiere of Disney's stage musical adaptation of "Aladdin," both made it to the final round of auditions, mainly dance auditions, for the much-talked-about "Miss Saigon" tryouts, which began last Monday, November 19, and will end tomorrow, Thursday, November 22 at the Opera Haus, Philippine Opera Company's newly opened headquarters in Makati City.

British choreographer Geoffrey Garratt ("Mary Poppins," "Oliver!") has just arrived in Manila for the last leg of the auditions, which have attracted nearly 1,000 aspirants coming from the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.  

Garratt completes the auditioning panel made up of executive producer Trevor Jackson ("The Phantom of the Opera," "Oliver!"), stage director Laurence Connor ("Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon"), musical supervisor Stephen Brooker ("My Fair Lady," "Les Miserables"), and Cameron Mackintosh's representative in the Philippines, Dong Alegre ("Miss Saigon").

Contrary to previous media reports that these auditions were meant to cast for a supposedly "Miss Saigon" revival production in London next year, notices posted on walls at the audition venue have indicated that "These auditions seek to find suitable candidates to play the role of Kim and the male and female Asian ensemble performers for future productions of 'Miss Saigon'…There shall be no cast announcements made during the course of the audition exercise. As in past auditions, this audition exercise is 'exploratory' in nature."

Besides Go and Rivera, seasoned theater actors Jun Ofrasio, Topper Fabregas, Noel Rayos, and Lorenz Martinez; and opera singers Marian Santiago and Kelly Peralejo, among others (BroadwayWorld does not have a complete list as of this writing) were also told to show up at the dance auditions tomorrow.

Other local celebrities and thespians Angeline Quinto, Ciara Sotto, Karylle Tatlonghari, OJ Mariano, Cathy Azanza, Sitti Navarro, and Laarni Lozada did not make the final round.

BroadwayWorld Philippines' news team will be tweeting live from the audition venue tomorrow.

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Images c/o Atlantis Productions Inc.