Perfect triumphs for Joanna Ampil

MANILA, Philippines - Joanna Ampil (photo) has been reaping one victory after another lately. Aside from winning the Best Actress for a Musical plum at the 25th Aliw Awards a few days back for her marvelous portrayal of the modern-day Maria in the Sound of Music held at the Resorts World Manila, the prized thespian has been cast in the major role of Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats to be staged in the UK next year.

No stranger to playing major characters in mammoth productions here and abroad, Grizabella is a shining addition to Joanna’s list of acting credits that include playing Fantine and Eponine in Les Miserables, Maria in West Side Story, Kim in Miss Saigon, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar and Mimi in Rent.  

Grizabella is the Glamour Cat in the musical that happens to be one of the longest-running shows on West End and even on Broadway. Joanna auditioned for the part by singing Memory, the now-classic song from the same musical that has been recorded by over 150 different artists, including Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey.

Joanna was so moved while performing the song before director Chrissie Cartwright and choreographer Gillian Lynne during her audition that she broke down in tears on stage. “Maybe that was how I won the part,” she said in an interview.

Apparently, however, Joanna almost did not accept the offer because it would require her to be in the UK for months on end — something that the actress wasn’t initially planning on doing in the next few months. After being away from the Philippines for years, all Joanna wanted at this point was to settle here and record an OPM album with Viva Records.

After some introspection, however, Joanna realized that she wanted to re-establish herself on West End and couldn’t actually pass up on the great opportunity, hence, her accepting the role of Grizabella. In order to rehearse and perform the part, Joanna will be in the UK from January to September 2013. During that period, Cats will tour 10 cities including Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester, Wolverhampton and Southampton, plus Dublin in Ireland and Oostende in Belgium.

Girlie Rodis, her manager here in the Philippines, said that Joanna is delighted that the schedule still allows her ward to spend the holidays here with family and friends.