Red Concepcion engineers way to Miss Saigon’s plum role

Mary Ann  Bardinas

<center><img src='' alt='051517-RedConcepcion_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='center' border='0'><br/></center><p>A prominent figure in local theatre, Red Concepcion takes a big leap onto the international stage as a familiar character people associate with Filipino thespic brilliance.</p><p>Red, brother of Sam Concepcion, is set to take over the Miss Saigon stage as the vicious yet celebrated Engineer in the UK leg of the Cameron Mackintosh musical production this July alongside other Filipino artists Gerald Santos and Joreen Bautista. </p><p></p><iframe class='instagram-media instagram-media-rendered' id='instagram-embed-0' src='https://www.instagram.com/p/BTtPLTJhFwN/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=7#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A156.42000000000002%7D' allowtransparency='true' frameborder='0' height='1001' data-instgrm-payload-id='instagram-media-payload-0' scrolling='no' style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); margin: 1px 1px 12px; max-width: 658px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: none; display: block; padding: 0px;'></iframe><script async='' defer='' src='//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js'></script><p>Coming from a well-known family in show business, Red earned his distinction in theatre with such musicals as Honk! <i>The Ugly Duckling, Hairspray ,  Equus , Priscilla, Queen of the Desert , </i>and many more.</p><p>But it was his portrayal of one of the drag queens, Adam/Felicia, in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, that gave him the Aliw Award Best Actor in a Musical and the Gawad Buhay! Award.</p><p>In an interview with PUSH, Red enthusiastically recalled the process he went through during his audition for Miss Saigon.</p><p>“When we were in the auditions, in my first call back for the Engineer, they made us do the songs. I think I was singing “If You Wanna Die in Bed” then the director goes, ‘oh right, that’s very good, Red, but can you do this from this section? Just think about all the things he has been through’.”</p><p>“I think there was like two to three seconds of panic because I didn’t know how, I didn’t know the story, I just hear the songs. So as soon as I got out of that call back, I got another call, the second call back,” he added.</p><p>Then, on Christmas Eve last year while he was beating the Yuletide rush at a popular mall, Red got the call from producers of his being cast as the Engineer. “It was truly the best Christmas gift in my life.”</p><p>The talented actor expressed his excitement towards the newest chapter in his life, but he hopes that it would propel him to even bigger things.</p><p>“Hopefully it does take me somewhere. I don’t want this to be the end, and I think the work is just starting. It’s a new chapter,” he said.</p><p>Red is cast as The Engineer, while Gerald will portray Thuy and Joreen will take turns with Korean actress Sooha Kim in playing the lead role of Kim.</p><p></p><iframe class='instagram-media instagram-media-rendered' id='instagram-embed-1' src='https://www.instagram.com/p/BTx51DehOnI/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=7#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A158.645%7D' allowtransparency='true' frameborder='0' height='672' data-instgrm-payload-id='instagram-media-payload-1' scrolling='no' style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); margin: 1px 1px 12px; max-width: 658px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: none; display: block; padding: 0px;'></iframe><script async='' defer='' src='//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js'></script><p>As per the official website of the Miss Saigon, The UK Tour will have its first showing on July 3 at the Curve, Leicester, England and will also hold several shows in Ireland. </p>

<center><img src='' alt='051517-RedConcepcion_PUSH.jpg' width='500' height='390' align='center' border='0'><br/></center><p>A prominent figure in local theatre, Red Concepcion takes a big leap onto the international stage as a familiar character people associate with Filipino thespic brilliance.<p>Red, brother of Sam Concepcion, is set to take over the Miss Saigon stage as the vicious yet celebrated Engineer in the UK leg of the Cameron Mackintosh musical production this July alongside other Filipino artists Gerald Santos and Joreen Bautista. <p>

The singer-actor recalls his audition for Miss Saigon.

Red Concepcion engineers way to Miss Saigon’s plum role | PUSH.COM.PH