Rachelle Ann Go says Lea Salonga gave her the push to try musical theater abroad

Jeff  Fernando

<img src='' alt='051217-RachelAnnGo_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='left' border='0'>Sa latest interview ng pinay international actress na si Rachel Ann Go na posted ngayon sa <a href='http://www.broadwayworld.com/'>broadwayworld.com</a> ni Caryn Robins, ibinahagi ni Rachel ang kanyang paghanga sa production ng hit musical na Miss Saigon at kung paano siya na impluwensyahan nito.'The first time I saw it, I think it was in 2010, it was playing in Toronto, Canada and my uncle, who was really obsessed with musical theater, was like 'Why don't we go see Miss Saigon?' and I was like, 'I have no idea what that is.' [laughing] All I knew was that Lea Salonga had done it originally. But then after watching it I said, 'One day I am going to do this show!' and now here I am. It's just crazy. But yes, it is a very powerful story.'Kahit isa ng kilalang pangalan sa international stage, star struck pa rin si Rachel kapag ang idol niya na si Lea Salonga ang naitatanong sa kanya na malaking influence din ng passion niya sa teatro.'You know her voice is just perfect. Every time you hear her sing it's just always on point. As a singer I am a perfectionist, and every time I hear her it sounds like it's recorded, it sounds like it's not live, but of course it is. And I always want to be like that, but every time I sing, it's not always perfect like that! Listening to her sing, it's like a dream. And of course I was also inspired by all the things that she has done in theater and all the Disney songs that she's done, and she is really big in the Philippines. In fact, when I was young I was part of this Sunday musical variety show and she was one of our guests and I had to sing the song 'Reflections' from Mulan. I was so nervous because she was sitting there listening and watching. And I remember I wasn't even hitting the right notes because I was so nervous, I was just so star struck and it was really embarrassing. But I was young back then, maybe it was 10 years ago, and after that performance I said, 'One day I'm going to sing with Lea and do better', and I got to sing with her a few years later, so it was really a dream.'Nai-share din ni Rachelle Ann ang mga bilin sa kanya ni Lea Salonga sa pagsabak sa international scene.'Well first and foremost, before I even auditioned for the musical Miss Saigon, I was really scared to try out for it, and she messaged me saying, 'You have to audition for it,' and I was like, 'Well I don't know we'll see.' And she said, 'No, you have to try this!' So I did, I just listened to what she said. And when I got the role of Gigi I was so scared because in my family we're really conservative and I heard that Gigi had to wear a bikini, so I went to speak with Lea about it and she told me, 'People are not going to remember what you are wearing, it's your performance that will matter.' And I knew she was right. It's not about singing, it's about storytelling, and she reminds me of that all the time, just tell the story. And I think it's in my system to try to be technical and just focus on being perfect when it comes to singing, but Lea always reminds me, 'No, it's about the story that matters.' And even now, as I perform on Broadway she still reminds me of that.'Hindi rin makakalimutan ng aktres ang experience na mag perform sa Broadway stage.'Oh, I was floating! I don't even remember what I did! That night was just surreal. First and foremost, I didn't even expect that I was going to be part of Broadway. It was always part of my dream, my movie in my mind, it was part of my wish list. So when it happened, I was just like, 'Ooh, I'm living the dream!' And that first night was just crazy. My loved ones, my relatives came over and a few of my friends were there, so it was extra special. And of course, everyone in the audience was so excited that finally Miss Saigon came back to the same theater, so it was all really crazy. And of course, the after party was wonderful as well. So yes, I just enjoyed it so much. And now I'm just trying to enjoy every single night and every single moment!'Sa ngayon, umaani ng papuri si Rachelle Ann sa kanyang performance sa international stage at marami ang nagsasabi na malayo pa ang mararating ni Rachel dahil sa kanyang husay at talento.

'You know her voice is just perfect. Every time you hear her sing it's just always on point. As a singer I am a perfectionist, and every time I hear her it sounds like it's recorded, it sounds like it's not live, but of course it is. And I always want to be like that, but every time I sing, it's not always perfect like that! Listening to her sing, it's like a dream. And of course I was also inspired by all the things that she has done in theater and all the Disney songs that she's done, and she is really big in the Philippines. In fact, when I was young I was part of this Sunday musical variety show and she was one of our guests and I had to sing the song 'Reflections' from Mulan. I was so nervous because she was sitting there listening and watching. And I remember I wasn't even hitting the right notes because I was so nervous, I was just so star struck and it was really embarrassing. But I was young back then, maybe it was 10 years ago, and after that performance I said, 'One day I'm going to sing with Lea and do better', and I got to sing with her a few years later, so it was really a dream.'Nai-share din ni Rachelle Ann ang mga bilin sa kanya ni Lea Salonga sa pagsabak sa international scene.'Well first and foremost, before I even auditioned for the musical Miss Saigon, I was really scared to try out for it, and she messaged me saying, 'You have to audition for it,' and I was like, 'Well I don't know we'll see.' And she said, 'No, you have to try this!' So I did, I just listened to what she said. And when I got the role of Gigi I was so scared because in my family we're really conservative and I heard that Gigi had to wear a bikini, so I went to speak with Lea about it and she told me, 'People are not going to remember what you are wearing, it's your performance that will matter.' And I knew she was right. It's not about singing, it's about storytelling, and she reminds me of that all the time, just tell the story. And I think it's in my system to try to be technical and just focus on being perfect when it comes to singing, but Lea always reminds me, 'No, it's about the story that matters.' And even now, as I perform on Broadway she still reminds me of that.'Hindi rin makakalimutan ng aktres ang experience na mag perform sa Broadway stage.'Oh, I was floating! I don't even remember what I did! That night was just surreal. First and foremost, I didn't even expect that I was going to be part of Broadway. It was always part of my dream, my movie in my mind, it was part of my wish list. So when it happened, I was just like, 'Ooh, I'm living the dream!' And that first night was just crazy. My loved ones, my relatives came over and a few of my friends were there, so it was extra special. And of course, everyone in the audience was so excited that finally Miss Saigon came back to the same theater, so it was all really crazy. And of course, the after party was wonderful as well. So yes, I just enjoyed it so much. And now I'm just trying to enjoy every single night and every single moment!'Sa ngayon, umaani ng papuri si Rachelle Ann sa kanyang performance sa international stage at marami ang nagsasabi na malayo pa ang mararating ni Rachel dahil sa kanyang husay at talento.

<img src='' alt='051217-RachelAnnGo_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='left' border='0'>Sa latest interview ng pinay international actress na si Rachel Ann Go na posted ngayon sa <a href='http://www.broadwayworld.com/'>broadwayworld.com</a> ni Caryn Robins, ibinahagi ni Rachel ang kanyang paghanga sa production ng hit musical na Miss Saigon at kung paano siya na impluwensyahan nito.'The first time I saw it, I think it was in 2010, it was playing in Toronto, Canada and my uncle, who was really obsessed with musical theater, was like 'Why don't we go see Miss Saigon?' and I was like, 'I have no idea what that is.' [laughing] All I knew was that Lea Salonga had done it originally. But then after watching it I said, 'One day I am going to do this show!' and now here I am. It's just crazy. But yes, it is a very powerful story.'Kahit isa ng kilalang pangalan sa international stage, star struck pa rin si Rachel kapag ang idol niya na si Lea Salonga ang naitatanong sa kanya na malaking influence din ng passion niya sa teatro.

Rachelle Ann Go reveals how ‘Miss Saigon’ influenced her life.

Rachelle Ann Go says Lea Salonga gave her the push to try musical theater abroad | PUSH.COM.PH