Dong Alegre News

Prior to its limited release at select SM Cinemas across the Philippines this weekend, MISS SAIGON 25th-anniversary performance in cinemas had a special advance screening at the Director's Club Cinema, S Maison-Mall of Asia last Wednesday, November 9. MISS SAIGON Australia's original star Joanna Ampil and producer Cameron Mackintosh's representative in Manila Dong Alegre graced the occasion.

Although it is still unclear when the much-awaited London revival of Cameron Mackintosh's mega-musical "Miss Saigon" would get a green light from the big boss, Mackintosh's trusted creative team, made up of executive producer Trevor Jackson, stage director Laurence Connor, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker, and choreographer Geoffrey Garratt, had opted to visit the country to hold the first-ever international auditions for "Miss Saigon" after several years.

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.

60 out of 420 auditionees got callbacks on the first day of the much-talked-about "Miss Saigon" auditions, spearheaded by British stage director Laurence Connor ("Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables") and Cameron Mackintosh's representative in the Philippines, Dong Alegre ("Miss Saigon"), held at the Philippine Opera Company's headquarters in Makati City early today. Experienced thespians Karylle Tatlonghari, Tippy dos Santos, Jake Macapagal, Julia Abueva, Lorenz Martinez, OJ Mariano, Noel Rayos, Cathy Azanza, Kyla Rivera, Cara Barredo, Topper Fabregas, and Jay Pangilinan were among the 60 who made the short list.

Cameron Mackintosh's creative team for the rumoured 2013 West End revival of MISS SAIGON, which includes executive producer Trevor Jackson, director Laurence Connor, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker, choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Mackintosh's Philippine representative Dong Alegre, is looking for three "Kims" and at least seven Asian ensemble performers (male and female) for the auditions that will be held in Manila on Monday, November 19 to Thursday, November 22 at the Opera Haus at 3657 Bautista St. (near the corner of Buendia Avenue), Makati City.

Many media outlets in the Philippines have already published series of auditions tips, which primarily came from Tony winner Lea Salonga and London-based actress Monique Wilson, Filipino actresses that both starred in the original production of MISS SAIGON in London 22 years ago. BroadwayWorld took a different turn, and asked some advices from our other favorite Filipino actresses that also played Kim: Joanna Ampil (Sydney and London), Ima Castro (Manila and London), Ivy Rose Padilla (Wellington, New Zealand), and Jennifer Paz (U.S. National Tour).

Cameron Mackintosh's creative team for the 2013 West End revival of MISS SAIGON, which includes executive producer Trevor Jackson, director Laurence Connor, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker, choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Mackintosh's Philippine representative Dong Alegre, is looking for three "Kims" and at least seven Asian ensemble performers (male and female) for the auditions that will be held in Manila on Monday, November 19 to Thursday, November 22 at the Opera Haus at 3657 Bautista St. (near the corner of Buendia Avenue), Makati City.

Cameron Mackintosh and Dong Alegre, the representative of Mackintosh in the Philippines, will hold the Manila auditions for the West End revival of one of Mackintosh's late '80s mega musicals, "Miss Saigon," at Philippine Opera Company's brand-new headquarters, the Opera Haus (3657 Bautista St., Makati City), on Monday, November 19 until Thursday, November 22.