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 ''Miss Saigon'' is a stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's 1904 opera ''Madame Butterfly'', and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed rom ...

''.

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. 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). She then moved on to portray the role of

Fantine Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young '' grisette'' in Paris who becomes pregnant by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their chi ...

on the Third National Tour of ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its origin ...

'' (1999–2000 and 2005–2006). 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 David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built ...

's main theater, the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, with nearly 3,000 music patrons and enthusiasts in attendance. Almedilla recited two poems ("Wonderment" and "A Hill in the Land of Moriah") composed by

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

. She played the role of Himiko Hamilton, the lead in ''Tea, with Music'' at East West Players. In 2016, Almedilla joined Lincoln Center's North American tour of ''

The King and I ''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 chil ...

'' as Lady Thiang, directed by Tony Award Winner Bartlett Sher. 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. Almedilla's son CJ Uy plays one of the Royal Children in the 2016 North American tour of ''The King and I''.

Theater

Her theater work includes: * Les Misérables (as Fantine) National Tour * Miss Saigon (as Kim) Broadway * King and I (Lady Thiang) National Tour * Criers for Hire (as Baby) * Krunk Fu Battle Battle (as Jean Lee) * Songs for a New World * Jesus Christ Superstar (Soul Girl/ Magdelene Us.) * It's Only Life * Tea, with Music (Himiko Hamilton)

Film

* Commencement * Ramona * The Speed Walker

Plays

* Que Platon * PeregriNasyon * Making Tracks * Seer from Saigon

Recordings

* Stage 3: True Colors (Featured Artist) * Joan A. (Solo Artist)

Solo concerts

* Journeys of My Heart * September Songs * Simply Joan

Awards

* Perlas Awards - Philippine Foundation, Cebu City * Certificate of Recognition in the field of Performing Arts - Bohol Circle of Eastern, USA (1998, 2000) * Apollo Awards for Best of Apollo Nights (1994) * Champion, Best of Cebu Pop Music Festival (January 1993) * Most Perfect Voice Music Mate Star (1989) * Regional Champion, Music Mate Star (Cebu City) (1989)

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Almedilla, Joan 1973 births Living people Filipino musical theatre actresses 21st-century Filipino women singers Singers from Cebu City Actresses from Cebu 20th-century Filipino women singers