BroadwayWorld Best Actress Rachelle Ann Go Bags the Role of Gigi

Manila, Philippines, November 23, 2013--BroadwayWorld.com Awards-Philippines' 2012 Best Actress in a Musical, Rachelle Ann Go, is poised to play the role of Gigi Van Tranh, a disillusioned prostitute, in the highly anticipated 25th anniversary revival production of "Miss Saigon," which opens at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on May 3, 2014.

In an exclusive interview (in Tagalog) recently posted by Viva Entertainment, Go said that she was formally offered the role of Gigi two weeks ago when she travelled to London for the final auditions. The casting team asked if she was interested to play Gigi. Naturally, Go said, "Yes."

British theater mogul Cameron Mackintosh said in a cast announcement video that, "One of the most important small roles in 'Miss Saigon' is the role of Gigi because she has the first big moment in the show. I am really thrilled that we have found one of the leading star talents in the Philippines at the moment. She is a major recording artist and star on television. She is going to come to London. She is a beautiful girl with an amazing voice!"

According to Go, Gigi is the opposite extreme of the stage characters she previously portrayed: She made her professional theater debut as Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" in 2011; she also played Jane in Disney's "Tarzan"earlier this year. Go finds the role of Gigi "too sexy." In the video, posted on this page, she just smiled and quipped, "Good luck sa 'kin!" (Good luck to me!)

The singer turned actress said she still could not believe that she nabbed the said role, which was originated by Filipino musical theater actress Isay Alvarez in 1989, and that she had difficulty keeping things secret until the official news broke out.

"Miss Saigon," whose original production opened at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in September 20, 1989, is a musical by Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, the writing team behind "Les Miserables."

For the London revival production, Go said that rehearsals will begin in March 2014.

Joining her are principal cast members Filipino-American student Eva Noblezada (Kim), "Miss Saigon" alumnus Jon Jon Briones (Engineer), Alistair Brammer (Chris), Hugh Maynard (John), and Tamsin Carroll (Ellen).

Go is currently nominated--second time in a row--for Best Actress in a Musical at the Broadwayworld.com Awards-Philippines for her portrayal of Jane in Disney's "Tarzan."