The Broadway hit musical, “Miss Saigon” has found its new Kim in young Filipina-American Lianah Sta. Ana.
The 17-year-old girl has just performed one of the most coveted parts on Broadway- debuting her take on the iconic role last March 4 despite given such short notice.
“I found out the night before. I did a run the previous couple of days, so I felt ready and I knew I was ready. I was a bit nervous but they’re good nerves. It was incredible. I’m just very overwhelmed right now,” she told in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
The character of Kim in “Miss Saigon” holds a soft spot for Filipinos given that it was first played by our very own Lea Salonga years ago. The gig was what catapulted her to Broadway stardom, eventually landing other roles in “Les Miserables” musical, as well as, the singing voice to some Disney princesses.
Just like the character she plays in “Miss Saigon”, Sta. Ana is just 17 years old, however, she is no stranger to musicals. She has played the role of Tuptim in “The King and I” and Kim at the Kelsey Theater in West Windsor, New Jersey last year.
Sta. Ana is also quite known in the Filipino community on the East Coast as an award-winning singer. At the age of 10, she became the grand champion for the Star of Tomorrow singing contest at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York’s Harlem neighborhood.
Sta. Ana is Eva Noblezada’s alternate as the lead character Kim. She plays Kim on certain performances and on certain weekend matinees performance.
