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Here’s another reason to be excited for the upcoming run of Miss Saigon in Manila: homegrown talent Kiara Dario will play the role of Gigi.
Gigi is one of the bargirls in Dreamland, where they compete for the title of Miss Saigon.
Dario was recently the lead in Repertory Philippines’ Snow White and the Prince, where she was nominated as Best Performer in a Musical for the BroadwayWorld Philippines Awards. Miss Saigon marks her first international tour.
Filipinos in Miss Saigon
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Dario is one of four Miss Saigon cast members with Filipino blood.
Filipino-Australian Abigail Adriano will play the role of Kim.
Seann Miley Moore, who is also Filipino-Australian, will be playing the Engineer.
Additionally, Laurence Mossman, who is Kiwi-Filipino, will be playing Thuy.
Adriano, Moore, and Mossman are currently playing their roles in the Australian production, which will wrap up in February.
Miss Saigon in Manila
The musical’s Manila run will be staged at The Theatre at Solaire from March 23, 2024, to May 5, 2024.
Tickets are now available at Ticketworld at the following prices:
- VIP: P8,464
- A Reserve: P6,348
- B Reserve: P4,761
- C Reserve: P4,020.40
- D Reserve: P2,962.40
- E Reserve: P2,116
Miss Saigon is created by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil (who also wrote the songs of Les Misérables) and is based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
The story follows an American GI soldier who falls in love with a bargirl when he is briefly stationed in Saigon during the Vietnam War.
It was nominated for four awards at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 1989, winning both Best Actor and Actress for Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer, and Lea Salonga. In 1991, it was nominated for 11 awards at the Tony Awards, winning Best Actor for both Pryce and Salonga, and Best Featured Actor for Hinton Battle as John.
The internationally acclaimed new production of the musical opened in London in May 2014 to record-breaking advance sales and critical acclaim, winning an unprecedented nine Whatsonstage Awards.
Miss Saigon then opened on Broadway and a hugely successful US Tour followed. It has just completed a hugely successful run at the Sydney Opera House and, following limited seasons in Melbourne and Adelaide, the show will land in Manila, a city that has a deep connection with this musical.
Many Filipinos have joined Miss Saigon 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.
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