Rachelle Ann Go to play Fantine in West End’s ‘Les Miserables’
by PSR News Bureau
She had conquered the stage playing the role of Gigi in the West End revival of the hit musical ‘Miss Saigon.’ Now it can be told, Rachelle Ann Go is set to join the cast of another prestigious musical after bagging the role of Fantine in Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil’s ‘Les Miserables.’ The announcement was posted on the show’s Twitter account on Monday. Rachelle Ann also confirmed the good news on her personal Twitter account: “I guess it’s official. I will be Fantine.” She will begin her stint as Fantine on June 15.
Fantine is a ‘short, but pivotal role’ in the musical based on the novel of Victor Hugo, said Filipino singer-actress Lea Salonga who previously played the same role on Broadway in 2007 and in the 25th anniversary concert in London in 2010. Fantine performs the musical’s show-stopper “I Dream a Dream.”
For Rachelle, clinching the role of Fantine in the 30th anniversary staging of “Les Miserables” is another dream come true. “It was a matter of ‘perfect timing,” she says. The 28-year-old singer said she had auditioned for the said role as early as February of this year, while she was still playing Gigi. “The audition was quite difficult. They said there’s no harm in trying, so I’ve crossed my fingers and did my best. After a month, I was told that the company wanted me to play the role of Fantine.”
She added: “I didn’t expect it. When I saw Fantine while watching ‘Les Miz’, back then, I was ‘claiming’ the role already. I told myself, ‘One day, I will do that role,’ just like what I did with ‘Miss Saigon’ before. And true enough, another item I need to cross on my bucket list!”
“When I went home (in the Philippines) for a short vacation, I knew I was already being considered for the role, but then I had to keep it confidential. It was so hard because I wanted everyone to know. You know that feeling when you wanted to share your joy but you couldn’t, I was bursting with joy inside then.”
With the string of good luck, big breaks and opportunities that’s coming her way, Rachelle credited her faith as professional engagements perfectly fell into place. “God has planned everything for me. I’m just so happy and blessed.”
Rachelle won multiple awards of her portrayal of Gigi, including ‘Whatsonstage Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical’ and ‘Best Featured Actress in the BroadwayWorld West End Awards.’ She once again follows in the footsteps of Filipina stage superstar Lea Salonga, who portrayed Kim on “Miss Saigon” before starring as Eponine in “Les Miserables” in 1993.
“Les Miz” has been running in London since 1985 and is also produced in the West End by Cameron Mackintosh, the same producer behind “Miss Saigon.”
