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Joanna Ampil is making history as the first female Engineer in Miss Saigon, and we just got our first look.
The actress shared a photo of her and Jessica Lee as Kim on social media.
According to Ampil, “As the countdown to opening night begins, we’re excited to reveal the artwork for this brand-new production of the legendary musical with Jessica Lee as Kim and yours truly as The Engineer.”
The Filipino actress will be playing the Engineer in Sheffield Theatreโs 2023 staging in the United Kingdom. She will be the first woman to play the role.
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According to Playbill, this run will be the first in the UK to be given permission to โexplore new approaches to staging and casting since the original 1989 production.โ
According to co-director Anthony Lau, โWe are looking forward to offering a fresh perspective on a musical that so many people have an opinion on. We want this project to ignite conversation and Cameron [Mackintosh] has encouraged us to be bold and original in our approach.โ
Mackintosh is the producer ofย Miss Saigon.
This production of Miss Saigon will run from July 8 to August 19, 2023, at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Theatres in the UK.
Filipinos in Miss Saigon
Ampil is one of the many Filipino actors who have joinedย Miss Saigonย through the years. Lea Salonga originated the role of Kim in West End and portrayed her again on Broadway. She became the first Asian woman to win a Tony for her portrayal.
Aside from Salonga,ย other Filipino performers like Isay Alvarez, Monique Wilson, Naths Everett, and Robert Sena have been part of theย Miss Saigonย cast. Later on, it would cast other Filipinos like Eva Noblezada, Jon Jon Briones, Rachelle Ann Go, Tanya Manalang, Lianah Sta. Ana, Leo Valdez, Gerald Santos, Aicelle Santos, Joreen Bautista, Jamie Rivera, Joan Almedilla, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, and more.
Ampil has also joined the cast of other hit musicals likeย Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, Rent, West Side Story, Avenue Q, The Sound of Music, Cats, andย South Pacific.
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