Friday, November 23, 2012

Miss Saigon Auditions in Manila

The smoke has cleared. The very first auditions for the planned revival of Miss Saigon in London is over. I am in tears and SUPER PROUD of my friends who dared. They went the distance to follow their dreams.

In the first round, the auditionees were asked to sing a part of their prepared audition song - mostly the chorus part. Therese, Mikko, JJ, Miko and Jee didn't make it past the first round, but I'm so proud of them as I always am. I'm sure it was not easy facing Cam Mack's trusted representatives, and the all other almost 500 auditionees.

Fritz and Karencitta on the other hand made it to the second round where the "survivors" were asked to sing the whole song this time. Again, I'm so proud of them considering that a lot of professional singers and professional thespians did not make it.

But among all my friends who auditioned, one shines above all else. The Ultimate Champion, the Fierce Songstress and now, I'd like to call her the Ultimate Survivor as she's one of the seven ladies who made it. Yes, it's Shin Shin, otherwise known to the world as Rachelle Ann Go. She got in along with Tanya Manalang, Apple Chiu, Frencheska Farr, Emerald Bañares, Mary Jane Solomon and Aicelle Santos. The lead role of Kim will be chosen from among them, and biases aside, I don't see any other girl who has all the qualities of 'Kim' but Shin.

No casting has and will be announced, since the creative team will still have auditions in London for the other (Caucasian) characters. One thing is for sure though. Shin is IN! She survived and yes, I am so damn proud!

And by the way, may I just say that my friends who made it past the first round all sang the songs that I suggested to them. Those friends who were up to the first round? Let's just say they sang the songs that they thought were best for them.

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