Joanna Ampil a stunner in all-star Rodgers & Hammerstein tribute

Joanna Ampil is on a big career roll. From the inexperienced 17-year-old who bagged the role of Kim in “Miss Saigon” in 1993, she has become one of the most sought-after actresses in musical theater.

Do check out her recent accomplishments. Big roles all in major productions. She was Grizabella in the 40th anniversary tour of “Cats” in South Korea three years ago. She was Bloody Mary in “South Pacific” at the Chichester Festival in 2022. Last year, she played The Engineer as a woman in a new production of “Miss Saigon.”

Then last December, she was invited to join “My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. The concert featured an all-star cast singing the songs composed by the truly legendary tandem of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra conducted by Simon Lee.

Theater heartthrob Patrick Wilson, star of ‘Les Miz’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ is among the featured artists.

Rodgers and Hammerstein were responsible for some of the greatest and most popular musicals of all time. Their partnership started with “Oklahoma!,” which was first performed in 1943. It was later followed by “The Sound of Music,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “Flower Drum Song,” “Carousel” and others, all of them containing memorable songs that the whole world continues to sing and listen to to this day.

A fitting cast was assembled for the event. The singer and actress Audra McDonald, my favorite theater heartthrob Patrick Wilson, star of “Les Miz” and “Phantom of the Opera,” Michael Ball, Julian Ovendan from “Downton Abbey,” Maria Friedman and Daniel Dae Kim from “The King and I,” among others. And one of them was Joanna Ampil. I felt proud seeing her name there.

I read about it and then dismissed the show. Much as I have loved Rodgers and Hammerstein for years and years and am a fan of singers in the cast, “My Favorite Things” was happening in London, not here. Then suddenly a few days ago, Joanna popped up on Instagram singing Love Look Away and she sounded fantastic. That was when I found out that the video was available on streaming and that the soundtrack of the show had dropped on Spotify.

The all-star cast also includes singer and actress Audra McDonald.

I loved every bit of the concert. Wilson in leading man mode for “Oklahoma!” with Oh What a Beautiful Morning and Surrey with the Fringe on Top and for “Carousel” in a duet of If I Love You with Lily Kerhoas; McDonald sounding so majestic with Climb Every Mountain and My Favorite Things from “The Sound of Music;” Friedman and Dae Kim being Ana and the King again with A Puzzlement, Hello Young Lovers and Shall We Dance. The whole show is almost three hours of wonderful songs. And then there was the top-billed Joanna.

Not every song in a musical becomes famous. Only one or two or maybe three become hits. Then not every musical even those by Rodgers and Hammerstein becomes a success. The concert also paid tribute to those in a portion titled “Rare Gems” like The Gentleman is a Dope from “Allegro” by Marisha Wallace and No Other Love from Me and Juliet by Jordan Shaw.

I love it that Joanna got to sing two beautiful ballads for “Rare Gems,” the theme of unrequited love, Love Look Away from “Flower Drum Song” and the stand by my man declaration of Madame Chang, Something Wonderful from “The King and I.” She also later did a medley of We Kiss in a Shadow and I Have Dreamed from “The King and I,” plus the sweet In My Own Little Corner from “Cinderella.” She was in excellent voice throughout and I can just imagine more shows, more demanding roles she will surely do justice to in her future.

The “My Favorite Things: The Rodgers and Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert” is not available for streaming anymore but the soundtrack is still there and it is something that all music lovers will surely enjoy.

Now, I am thinking, I hope that the producers also make available the video and the soundtrack of the recent edition of the Stephen Sondheim tribute show “Old Friends.” That one starred Lea Salonga along with Bernadette Peters and other big names. Admittedly, I get a big kick out of watching our artists being on equal footing with those from other countries.