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EXCLUSIVE: Part One - In Conversation with

MISS SAIGON'S Rachelle Ann Go
June 9

1:06 PM
2014

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by Rocky Christopher Fajardo

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BWW Philippines
Special Report!

Rachelle Ann Go

BROADWAYWORLD TV

London's pre-summer
late afternoon weather
is drizzly and drab
outside the Prince
Edward Theatre on May
29, 2014, but inside the
lavish Julie Andrews
suite, where
BroadwayWorld.com
(BWW) is invited to
have a cosy chat over a
cup of tea with Rachelle
Ann Go, Miss Saigon's

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Gigi Van Tranh, the late spring showers that day seem continents away.
Bedecked in Dame Julie Andrews memorabilia with a regal black upright piano as its centerpiece, the
suite's ambient lighting sets off a comfortable glow; the temperature just the right amount of toasty;
and the bustling noises coming from Miss Saigon's video trailer filming are all muffled out by the plush
wood-paneled doors.
Let the Sunshine In: A Single,
Fiercely Happy Independent Young
Woman

Rachelle Ann Go sits down with BroadwayWorld.com's Rocky

Christopher Fajardo.

15 minutes later, the doors demurely

open to invisible, imaginary chimes as
Rachelle Ann (Shin to friends and
legions of devoted fans) walks in,
almost a shimmering sprite in robust
spirits. Her elegant wavy black mane
cascading way below her shoulders
onto her slim frame (yes, she has shed
a considerable amount of weight) paints
a totally striking contrast to the simple
wash-and-wear shoulder-length black
wig that Gigi Van Tranh sports in Miss
Saigon's Dreamland.

Rachelle Ann glows with a highly infectious sparkle, almost radioactive--once the young actress crosses the threshold,
the Julie Andrews suite gets a dose of instant sunshiny Shin.
Her newfound independence has emblazoned a mark on her broad smile and purposeful gait. Almost fleetingly, she

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checks her reflection in the mirror hanging above the duvet before sitting down for the precisely-timed, quick 20minute chat.

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"This is actually the first time I've been alone and away from home for this long. At first it was so hard!" Rachelle Ann
shares, visibly trying to relax but hardly able to keep her enthusiasm bottled in.

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"My first day here was, I can't explain it, but 'yun nga, I don't know how to do laundry, I don't know how to cook! Now
I'm so proud of myself, I can say expert na ako sa adobo, sa kare-kare, sa gising-gising, all those Filipino dishes, you
name it!" she bursts out in a melodic self-assurance that may well perhaps rival the confidence of Dame Julie
Andrews' Maria in The Sound of Music, as she describes her first few weeks coping with an independent life in
London.

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(My first day here was, I can't explain it, but that's how it was, I don't know how to do laundry, I don't know how to
cook! Now I'm so proud of myself, I can say I'm an expert [at cooking] adobo, kare-kare, gising-gising, all those
Filipino dishes, you name it!)

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She goes on to animatedly detail the many ways she has metamorphosed into a self-reliant young woman away from
the comforts of home--a 10-year solid music career in the Philippines, where the extra stresses of work are eased by
personal assistants, and a support system comprising of family, fans, and most especially of the caring, guiding hand
of her mom, who would accompany her to almost all of her shows. Now she stands a bold Filipina Londoner--taking
the tube with her many close friends from the musical (or sometimes even on her own) doing some sightseeing, the
grocery shopping on Sundays, and personally tending to the demands of the intense grind of everyday rehearsals and
nightly shows at the West End.

Donogoo at the Mint

"Every night, every show, I do my make-up. For the make-up of Gigi, she has to be strong. Feeling ko naman 'yung
features ko are very strong, so kailangan ng red lips, matapang lang; and si Gigi kasi siya yung head 'dun sa bar so
kailangan siya 'yung naka-falsies. Naka-wig ako dito sa show. It's a different Rachelle Ann," she laughingly continues.

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(Every night, every show, I do my make-up. For

the make-up of Gigi, she has to be strong. I feel
like my features are very strong. I need stark,
red lips; and since Gigi is the main girl at the
bar, her eyes need to pop out, thus the falsies. I
wear a wig in the show. It's a different Rachelle
Ann.)
Shin, who received her first Best Actress nod
from BroadwayWorld Philippines for her role as
Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid," fondly
recalls that defining moment, sharing how it has
further inspired her to explore her career goals
in the Philippines and, later on, in the
international theatre industry.
"When I was a kid, meron akong dream, sabi ko
gusto kong maging best actress; and when I got
the award nakakatuwa, kasi kumbaga nangyari,
and after 'nun gusto ko gumawa ng mga
musicals pa na susunod, and baka mas madami
pang awards ulet. Walang masamang
mangarap 'diba?" she shares, effervescent with
delight.

CLARKE - BULLETS
OVER BROADWAY is

DALE - Looking Fine at

26

(When I was a kid, I had a dream, I told myself I

want to win a best actress award; and when I
Rachelle Ann Go as Gigi Van Tranh (Photo: Michael
got the award it was such a happy moment,
Le Poer Trench)
because it did eventually happen. After that I
wanted to do more musicals, and maybe perhaps win other awards. There's nothing wrong with dreaming, right?)
"Ang dami [ko ng ka-close dito]! Bukod sa mga Pinoy--marami-rami din ang mga Pinoy--we have 18 different
nationalities here. Iba't ibang kultura ang natututunan namin everyday. Natuto na rin ako ng iba-ibang lenggwahe:
Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Welsh, o 'di'ba, so nakakatuwa!" she laughs when asked who her closest friends are
among the 40 or so actors in the production.
(There are a lot [that I am close to]! Apart from the many Filipinos here, we also have 18 other actors of different
nationalities. We learn about a variety of cultures everyday. I've even learned a little of some foreign languages such
as Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Welsh, yes, it's just so amusing!)
Rachelle Ann goes on to share her journey of delving into the emotionally draining task of taking on the role of the
embittered Gigi night after night. With Sundays for church as her only respite from the character, she also spends

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most of her quiet, alone time in the picturesque Notting Hill - her favourite spot in Central London.
"I love the movie Notting Hill! When I came here last year for the auditions, 'yun talaga ang unang tinarget ko, Notting
Hill, at binabalik-balikan ko 'yun ngayon... Ang daming cafes and vintage shops, that's what I love!" she says with a
longing smile playing on her lips.
(I love the movie Notting Hill! When I came here last year for the auditions, that was my first target destination, Notting
Hill, and it's a place I always come back to... There are a lot of cafes and vintage shops, that's what I love!)
Rauchy, Raucous, and Ready
A Miss Saigon Legend's Wise
Words:
They will not think about what you're
wearing, they will remember your
voice, your performance, and it's just
a character...

(Center) Rachelle Ann Go (Gigi) in a scene with Hugh Maynard

(John) Photo: Matt Dunham

"'Yun na lang talaga yung iniisip ko,

laging bumabalik sa'kin 'yung sinabing
'yun ni Miss Lea Salonga," she shares,
quoting the mantra that gives her the
confidence boost whenever she battles
with body-consciousness each time
she's on stage in any of Gigi's raunchy
outfits.

(That's what I always try to hold on to, it's just stuck in my mind, what Miss Lea Salonga told me.)
"'Yung bilbil ko, at yung taba ko, my gosh!!! Paano ba maitatago?" she bursts out laughing.
(My lovehandles, my fat, oh gosh! How will I hide them?)
Fans have been noticing and positively remarking on her gradual weight loss since she arrived in London to attend
rehearsals in March--the natural question being how does a busy girl keep fit on top of such a hectic schedule?
"Mukha pa ba akong fit?" she giggles.
("Have you seen the show yet?")
She embarrassedly asks this writer if he has seen her in Gigi's outfits.
"Hard work lang din talaga, kulang lang din siguro sa tulog, kaya 'eto pumapayat. The first time I went on stage
wearing that bikini, andun lang ako sa isang corner, parang excuse me po," she says, admitting to having to get over
an initial shyness when she first donned Gigi's bawdy getups.
(It's mostly just hard work and fewer sleep hours that's why I'm slimming down. The first time I went on stage wearing
that bikini, I was just at one corner thinking 'oh no please don't mind me.')
"Oh, the fur for the 'American Dream'
(number), Naku sabi ko parang hindi ko
yata kaya 'to, pero 'yun naman, ayun
nasanay na rin, because I don't need to
take off the fur. So ayun parang teasetease na lang, ganun," Rachelle Ann
continues. And teasing she
mesmerizingly accomplishes as Gigi's
black locks turn golden blonde in JonJon Briones' 'American Dream'-wearing nothing but a sleek white fur
wrap, revealing just enough sheened
skin to titillate, giving a naughty frontal
peek at Shin's toned torso.
On press night's curtain call (Photo: Richard Davenport)
(Oh, the fur for the 'American Dream'
[number], Oh wow, I thought I might not be able to pull that one off, but then I got used to it anyway because I don't
need to take the fur off. I would just tease a little bit with it, that was it.)
To be continued...
In Part Two, Rachelle Ann talks more about Gigi and Miss Saigon, reflects on her love life, gives love advice

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to the heartbroken, and envisions her future in London!

Special thanks to Bambi Verzo of Concertus Manila

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12 comments

Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University

Thanks you!!!
Reply Like Unfollow Post June 10 at 2:34pm
Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University
*Thank you!!!
Reply Like June 10 at 2:36pm
Ester Grace Bola Zaballa The National Teachers College
What a nice interview Thank you for this interview. We really miss Ate Shin (Rachelle Ann Go) Keep safe
ate Shin and Thank You to the interviewer :)
Reply Like

1 Unfollow Post June 11 at 11:31am

Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University

Thank you!!! Part two will be out next week!!!
Reply Like

2 June 11 at 3:05pm

Ludwig Patrick Caizares Alejandro

I love how this article has emphasized her passion for her craft and her willingness to share her experiences
...awesome! More power!
Reply Unlike

3 Unfollow Post June 12 at 2:01am

Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University

Thank ypu :-) it was an honor to have interviewed her and i had a great time writing the article :-)
Reply Like

1 June 12 at 6:16am

Maria Isabel Lopez

Follow Actress:The Legal Wife, Parekoy, Alyna, Kung Ako'y Iiwan mo, Lovers in
Paris, etc. at ABSCBN 2,075 subscribers
I'm proud of you, Rachelle Ann Go... Wow the world, girl!
Reply Unlike

3 Unfollow Post June 11 at 2:27pm

Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University

She is awesome!!!
Reply Like

2 June 11 at 3:06pm

Madz Yacap
A well written article..it gives us an idea of what she do as Gigi, her experiences when she arrived in London
and her feelings during the initial performance...can't wait for part 2..
Reply Like

1 Follow Post June 10 at 9:11am

Oliver Oliveros Following

subscribers

Top Commenter Regional Director at BroadwayWorld.com 172

Thank you...
Reply Like June 10 at 1:09pm
Maricon Sison Rombawa

Top Commenter UP Baguio

love rachelle ann go. i consider her the most talented girl in the philippines...thank you for this article. i like
reading anything about her. she deserves nothing but good reviews knowing how hardworking she is in
addition to her innate talent. she is truly a gem. worthy of praise definitely. salamat salamat!
Reply Like Unfollow Post Yesterday at 9:28am
Rocky Christopher Aquino Fajardo Program Coordinator at FEATI University
Thank you!!!
Reply Like

1 Yesterday at 7:52pm

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For the last five years, Rocky has been

performing as lead male vocalist for different
showbands in Southeast Asian countries,
which led him to grace several magazine
spreads in Malaysia in 2012; and paved the
way for guest appearances on Cambodian TV in 2013, and a
duet with Tony winner Lea Salonga in her major concert in
Manila in 2009.

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This year, Rocky has traded away the microphone and

dancing shoes for the writing pen and whiteboard marker: his
love for music and musical theater steered his professional
writing debut as a correspondent for BroadwayWorld.com
covering the international touring production of WICKED in
Manila in January. At the same time, his Masters Degree in
English has prompted a second career as full-time faculty and as Mass Communications Program Head at FEATI
University in Manila.
EXCLUSIVE: Part One - In Conversation with MISS SAIGON'S Rachelle Ann Go

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