Joan Almedilla

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Joan Almedilla
Born
Joan Richelle C. Almedilla

(1973-09-19) September 19, 1973 (age 50)
Cebu City, Philippines
Other namesKim
Occupation(s)International Filipino singer and theater actress
Years active1995–present
SpouseCharles Uy
Parent(s)Agapito and Rosario Almedilla
AwardsChampion, Best of Cebu Pop Music Festival (January 1993)
Most Perfect Voice Music Mate Star (1989)

Joan Richelle C. Almedilla (born September 19, 1973) is a film and theater actress, composer, and singer who has starred as Kim in the Broadway musical Miss Saigon .

Contents

Life and career

Almedilla was born to Agapito and Rosario, whose roots are from Bohol and Cebu in the Philippines.

According to an interview by AsianWeek on June 1, 2000, Almedilla, who wanted to sing, did not want to be an actress. As a child, she enjoyed competing in vocal talent contests in the Philippines. [1]

Almedilla moved to the United States in 1993 to pursue a college education and studied voice. Her first role was Kim in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon (1995–1997). [2] She then moved on to portray the role of Fantine on the Third National Tour of Les Misérables (1999–2000 and 2005–2006). [3] Almedilla is the first Filipino to play the role of Fantine. Her other credits include: Soul Girl in the Broadway National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar (2002–2004); and Woman in Songs for a New World (2005) at the Rubicon Theater, which had been nominated for several Ovation Awards including Best Ensemble Cast.

In 2007, Almedilla starred as Imelda Marcos in Here Lies Love , opposite David Byrne at Carnegie Hall's main theater, the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, with nearly 3,000 music patrons and enthusiasts in attendance. [4] Almedilla recited two poems ("Wonderment" and "A Hill in the Land of Moriah") composed by Pope John Paul II to the United Nations.[ citation needed ] She played the role of Himiko Hamilton, the lead in Tea, with Music at East West Players.[ citation needed ]

In 2016, Almedilla joined Lincoln Center's North American tour of The King and I as Lady Thiang, directed by Tony Award Winner Bartlett Sher. [5] Her son went on to play one of the Royal Twins.

She has directed several fundraisers including: Hope for a New World (benefiting the victims of tsunami disasters in South Asia) and Give a Child Hope (together with Places Please and World Vision to benefit The Children of Rwanda).

Almedilla supports Broadway Cares: Equity Fights Aids, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Personal life

Almedilla is married to Filipino-American film director Charles Uy.[ citation needed ]

Almedilla's son CJ Uy plays one of the Royal Children in the 2016 North American tour of The King and I. [6]

Theater

Her theater work includes: [7]

Film

Plays

Recordings

Solo concerts

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The King and I</i> Musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, premiered in 1951

The King and I is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel Anna and the King of Siam (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The musical's plot relates the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the piece, as well as by a love to which neither can admit. The musical premiered on March 29, 1951, at Broadway's St. James Theatre. It ran for nearly three years, making it the fourth-longest-running Broadway musical in history at the time, and has had many tours and revivals.

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References

  1. ↑ "AsianWeek: A&E: Joan Almedilla -- A Rising Star". Archived from the original on August 22, 2000.
  2. ↑ "Review of Les Miserables - San Francisco, July 3, 2005". Mspt47.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Review of Les Miserables - San Francisco, July 3, 2005". Mspt47.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ "DavidByrne.com - Here Lies Love". www.davidbyrne.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Linda. "Review: The King and I wows audiences at PPAC", The Herald News, November 3, 2016
  6. ↑ "The King & I on Tour: Cast/Creative", accessed December 2, 2016
  7. ↑ "Joan Almedilla Theatre Credits". Broadwayworld.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ "News, reviews, interviews and more for top artists and albums – MSN Music". Music.msn.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
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