Rachelle Ann Go announces last ‘Miss Saigon’ show as Gigi

MANILA, Philippines – It’s Gigi Van Tranh no more for singer Rachelle Ann Go, who announced that she will no longer extend for her role with the West End production of Miss Saigon.

“Nakapagdecide na ako na I’m not gonna extend anymore as Gigi [Van Tranh] so last show ko sa Miss Saigon is May 9, and after that I still don’t know,” she told reporters at the Cinderella press conference on Wednesday, March 11.

(I have decided that I’m not gonna extend anymore as Gigi [Van Tranh] so my last show on Miss Saigon is May 9, and after that I still don’t know.)

Check out her announcement here:

 

Rachelle’s role as bar girl in the play earned her praise and accolades, one of which was Best Featured Actress at the Broadway World UK/West End Awards. While she said that she was grateful for the experience, she told the company that she also wanted to pursue other roles, and maybe other musicals, too. 

“I actually told the company that I wanna try other roles so nagsabi na Wicked – Wicked talaga! Wicked and Les Mis[erables] also, so hindi ko pa alam eh (I don’t know yet.). I still don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

She shared however, that one of her dream musical roles is single-mother-turned-prostitute Fantine in Les Miserables. 

When asked whether she would stay on to play lead role Kim on Miss Saigon, she said she was open to the possibility but at the same time she was hesitant: “Mahirap yan kasi yun din ano pero kasi nakikita ko every night yung hirap at emotionally it’s very draining. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko gabi-gabi but you know, I can try, I can try.”

(It’s difficult because I see how taxing it is, and emotionally, it’s very draining. I don’t know if I could take it every night, but you know I can try, I can try.)

Rachelle on Jon Jon Briones’ nomination

She also said that she couldn’t help but feel ecstatic over fellow actor Jon Jon Briones’ Lead Actor nomination at the 2015 Olivier Awards, saying:

“Alam mo when I heard about it… I’m very happy for him. Sobrang happy kami and kasi nung first day of rehearsals ng Miss Saigon, sobrang tinaas na niya yung level nung standard namin. We’re very proud of him. and he deserves it.”

(You know, when I heard about it… I’m very happy for him. We were all so happy, and because on the first day of rehearsals on Miss Saigon, he raised the standards so high. We’re very proud of him, and he deserves it.)

‘Cinderella:’ a dream come true

Along with her role as Gigi Van Tranh, she is currently enjoying her Disney moment, having released her rendition of “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes,” from the film Cinderella. 

“When I heard about it, sabi ko, ‘totoo ba ‘to? Siguraduhin mo muna!’ because they called my management here in the Philippines and they said they want me to sing the song nga. And then andun sa London, medyo busy nga ‘cause I do 8 shows a week for Miss Saigon so nung nalaman ko yun, of course I was so thankful and willing daw silang pumunta sa London to record and shoot the music video. So yun ginawa namin yun sa Sunday habang day off ko. So yeah, it was amazing.”

(When I heard about it, I said, ‘Is this true? Please make sure!’ because they called my management here in the Philippines and they said they want me to sing the song. And then, in London, it’s kind of busy because I do 8 shows a week for Miss Saigon, so when I knew, of course I was so thankful and they were willing to go to London to record and shoot the music video. So that was what we did on Sunday during my day off. So, yeah, it was amazing.)

The song, according to Rachelle, remains close to her heart, and singing it again brought back all the childhood memories.

“Nung plinay yung music, bumalik lahat ng childhood memories ko, so ‘yun. Naaalala ko ‘yung pagkabata ko.” 

(When the music was played, all the childhood memories came back, so there. So I remembered my childhood.) 

Rachelle Ann’s last run as Gigi Van Tranh in the London West End production of Miss Saigon will be on May 9. – Rappler.com