This way to Hamilton

Already laden with awards, Hamilton became controversial late last year when then newly-elected US Vice Pres. Mike Pence was booed by the audience at a Broadway theater and Pence very graciously simply shrugged it off, prompting the actor who singled out Pence from the stage to apologize.

The good news is that Hamilton is opening on London’s West End late this year, to be produced by Cameron Mackintosh (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, etc.) at the Victoria Palace Theatre which is undergoing renovations after the closure of Billy Elliot The Musical. So far, two Filipino actors are known to be in the cast, Rachelle Ann Go (currently on Broadway playing the bar girl Gigi in Miss Saigon) and Christine Allado who was exclusively interviewed by The STAR.

Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-through musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton (one of America’s Founding Fathers) with music, lyrics and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show is said to have been inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by historian Ron Chernow, a copy of which Miranda bought at an airport. Also an actor (he was in the Broadway hit In the Heights which he also authored), Miranda was nominated for Best Original Song for How Far I’ll Go which he composed for the animated feature Moana.

The musical made its Off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater in early 2015, transferred to Broadway in August of the same year, turning into a critical and commercial success. In 2016, Hamilton received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning 11, including Best Musical, and was also the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The prior Off-Broadway production of Hamilton won the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical as well as seven other Drama Desk Awards out of 14 total nominated categories.

Last February, Miranda confirmed that a film adaptation based on the musical is in the works.

Excerpts from the Conversation with Christine:

What role are you playing in Hamilton and how did you get it?

“I will be playing one of the dual characters in the show — Peggy, the youngest of the three Schuyler sisters, and in Act 2, Alexander Hamilton’s mistress Maria Reynolds. I auditioned just like everyone else. I started auditioning in July last year initially for Eliza but landed the role of Peggy instead in December of last year. I also sent over self tapes of the other sister Angelica, so basically I pretty much know all of the female character parts!”

How many auditioned and what was your audition piece?

“For something as big as this show, I wouldn’t be surprised if thousands auditioned because they also did a massive open call audition for the public all around London and also took self tapes. For my initial audition, I had to sing a snippet of the song Helpless and The Schuyler Sisters, and I had to bring my own song as well. Without knowing it, I chose a song that probably led me to getting the mistress role! I sang Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston.”

Have you seen the musical (where and when) and how did it hit you?

“I was so so soooo very fortunate to have seen the show…yes! I saw it in New York a few weeks ago. I have to say, I totally understand the hype and the craziness around it. I mean, I’ve listened to the soundtrack front to back and have seen all of the YouTube clips. But having seen the actual thing, I can tell you it’s a masterpiece in storytelling and theater. It’s quite possibly the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. I was at the edge of my seat enthralled by the entire thing for every single second. Beg, borrow and steal for a ticket! It is worth every penny. Or Peggy, hehehe!!!”

I understand that Rachelle Ann Go is also in it. Any other Filipino or Asian actor who passed the auditions or who has been in the cast?

“For the West End cast, I’m not totally aware of the whole team just yet. But I do know another friend of mine who is a Fil-Am is also in the cast as ensemble. And we did In The Heights together, another Lin-Manuel Miranda show last year.”

Have you met Rachelle Ann or seen her in Miss Saigon and Les Misérables (as Fantine)?

“I have met Rachelle in social gatherings and birthday parties as we have so many common friends in theater. I’m looking forward to working with her and getting to know her and being her sister very soon!”

How are you preparing for the musical?

“I’m seeing my acting and singing teachers regularly to keep myself tip-top. But also reading about the history behind the amazing show, as it’s not something that’s in our curriculum in Filipino schools. So, it’s very interesting learning about an entirely different country’s history.”

What other plays/musicals have you done, and what were your roles in them?

“My first West End show was From Here to Eternity, Sir Tim Rice’s newest musical. I was the understudy of the lead, Lorene. I was also in Here Lies Love as understudy for Imelda Marcos. And I also played Dovey Beams. I played Vanessa in In The Heights. I just finished Sweet Charity where I played Ursula. And West Side Story for the BBC 60th anniversary production as the lead, Maria. I’ve also been touring with Andrea Bocelli as his guest artist.”

Tell us about your family background (parentage, where you were born and raised, educational attainment, etc.).

“I was born into a very musical family. We value education in the arts and in academics as well. But above all things, we love music. So, I was very fortunate to have that as my background. I’m a city girl, so as a child I grew up in Makati and then we moved to Quezon City. I went to school at St. Paul’s Pasig. And college at UP Diliman. I have a post-graduate degree in Music and Theatre from the Royal Academy of Music in London.”

Have you always wanted to be an actress (anybody in the family who is into acting)?

“I’ve always loved theater and film, and I’ve always lived my whole life singing. So to be able to join the two together is a sublime gift. I’m thankful for it every day. No one in my immediate family is in the performing arts, so I guess I’m the happy black sheep of the bunch! Hehehe!!!”

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