Rachelle Ann Go
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Rachelle Ann Villalobos Go-Spies (born August 31, 1986) is a Filipina singer and actress. She began her career by participating in and winning several singing competitions, the first of which was in the long-running Philippine variety show ''
Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...
'' at age eleven. She rose to fame when she emerged as the Grand Champion of the reality talent search ''
Search for a Star ''Search for a Star'' is a Philippine television singing talent show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Regine Velasquez, it premiered on June 21, 2003. The show concluded on March 13, 2004 with a total of 39 episodes. It was replaced by '' Sta ...
'' in 2004. She was previously managed by VIVA Artist Agency and Viva Records. She is currently managed by Cornerstone Talent Management Center. Go won the Silver Prize award for her song, "From The Start", at the Shanghai Music Festival 2005 and Best Own song, "Isang Lahi", at the Astana International Song Festival 2005 in
Astana Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region, tho ...
,
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
. Since then, she has headlined concerts locally and internationally, recorded seven albums, which became certified gold and double platinum records. Her song "First Burn" together with Lexi Lawson,
Arianna Afsar Arianna Ayesha "Ari" Afsar (born October 22, 1991) is an American singer, composer, beauty queen and activist best known for her starring role in Hamilton, as the songwriter of the musical ''Jeannette'', and as a top contestant on American Idol. ...
, Julia Harriman and Shoba Narayan debuted and peaked at number 1 in
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...
U.S., making her the first pure Filipino recording artist to reach number 1 in the U.S. music chart. It also charted on Billboard digital songs chart. Go has also performed in various hit musicals in the Philippines, London's West End and on Broadway. Her debut was in '' The Little Mermaid'', playing the role of Ariel in 2011, for which she won a Best Actress award from Broadway World Philippine Awards; and another in 2013 for ''
Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
'', playing the role of Jane Porter. Go's theater career continued as she was cast in the 2014
West End revival West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes, "West End" in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194– ...
of the hit 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 ...
'', for the role of Gigi Van Tranh. Following this, she was cast in the 30th anniversary staging 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 ...
'' in 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 ...
. She then made her Broadway debut reprising the role of Gigi in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon in March 2017. Rachelle Ann Go played the role of
Eliza Hamilton Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler ; August 9, 1757 – November 9, 1854), also called Eliza or Betsey, was an American socialite and philanthropist. Married to American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, she was a defender of his works and co- ...
in the original West End production of ''
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
'' by
Lin-Manuel Miranda Lin-Manuel Miranda (; born January 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, actor, playwright and filmmaker. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals ''Hamilton'' (2015) and '' In the Heights'' (2005), and the soundtracks for the Disney animat ...
.


Early life

Rachelle Ann Villalobos Go was born on August 31, 1986. She is the daughter of Oscar and Russel Villalobos-Go. She is the eldest of four children. She studied pre-school to secondary level at La Immaculada Concepcion School in Pasig. She was a choir member of the school as well. She took up the
international business International business refers to the trade of goods, services, technology, capital and/or knowledge across national borders and at a global or transnational scale. It involves cross-border transactions of goods and services between two or mor ...
and
entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values t ...
program at
San Beda College es, Universidad de San Beda , image = San Beda University seal.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = University Seal , latin_name = Universitas Sancti Bedæ , former_names ...
in Manila, but due to joining the ''Search for a Star'' talent show on
GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...
, she had to drop out in order to focus more on the latter. In 2008, Go passed the University of the Philippines Open University entrance exam and enrolled.


Career


''Eat Bulaga'': "Birit Baby"

She joined and won several contests. Her television debut on ''
Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...
'', a hit noontime variety show, happened when she was just eleven. She competed in the show's contest "Birit Baby" where young aspirants belt out vocally challenging songs. She sang Céline Dion's version of "
All By Myself "All by Myself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen released in 1975. The verse is based on the second movement (''Adagio sostenuto'') of Sergei Rachmaninoff's circa 1900–1901 '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Opus 18. The ...
". She lost to Loverine Fermino in this competition thus getting the 2nd runner up position.


2003–04: ''Search for a Star'', debut album, Shanghai Music Festival

In 2003, Go auditioned for a talent search on GMA-7, Search for a Star. She passed the auditions and made it as one of the twelve finalists. On March 13, 2004, Go was announced as the grand champion, as she sung her rendition of Mariah Carey's "
Through the Rain "Through the Rain" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey, taken from her ninth studio album, ''Charmbracelet'' (2002). It was written by Carey and Lionel Cole, and produced by the former and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song was released a ...
". After the contest, she transferred to ABS-CBN. Several weeks after winning, she collaborated with Philippine rap group Salbakuta for a cover of the Laura Branigan 1980s hit "Gloria". She then released it as a CD single and it became an instant hit. Go performed the song with the group in the Malacañang Palace, in front of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In July 2004, Go released her self-titled debut album with the singles "Love of My Life" and a remake of "Don't Cry Out Loud". It also included her own cover version of Selena's "Dreaming of You"., She was then part of the Night Of The Champions U.S. Tour alongside Sarah Geronimo and Erik Santos. She then released a duet with
Christian Bautista Christian Joseph Morata Bautista (born October 19, 1981) is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of ''Star in a Million'', a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning 4th place in the competition in 2003. ...
entitled "You And Me (We Wanted It All)". She was also under the management of VIVA Entertainment Group and was part of ABS-CBN, 'The Kapamilya Network'. She was involved in variety shows such as ASAP and ASAP Fanatic when she became part of
Star Magic ABS-CBN Center for Communication Arts, Inc., doing business as Star Magic (formerly known as ABS-CBN Talent Center), is the talent agency owned by ABS-CBN Corporation based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines that was founded in 1992. ...
. During November 2004, Go represented the Philippines in Shanghai Music Festival's
Asia New Singer Competition ''Asia New Singer Competition'' () is a singing competition established by Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation in Shanghai, China, featuring younger and relatively unestablished contestants from many Asian countries, although contestants from ...
where she placed as the silver-medalist for her rendition of a Vehnee Saturno-penned song, "From the Start", which won Best Song. This was followed by more success in the 2004 Astana Song Festival where she won a silver award and for the Best Own Country Song for her version of the song, "Isang Lahi."


2005–07: Various projects

In November 2005, Go released her second album, ''I Care''. At the same time, she co-hosted the second season of the reality show ''
Search for the Star in a Million ''Search for the Star in a Million'' (formerly ''Star in a Million'' after two seasons) is a Philippine television program in ABS-CBN. The shows premise is almost the same to that of ''American Idol'', although the format is derived from GMA's ' ...
''. The album reached Gold status selling 15,000 copies nationwide. The theme song included in the official soundtrack, "Perhaps Love" (Hangul: 사랑인가요, originally sung by J and Howl), was also translated into Tagalog as "Pag-ibig Nga Kaya" and performed by Christian Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go with permission from MBC. The show's finale was aired on April 10, 2007, with ABS-CBN airing the Princess Hours: The Royal Special for two days, April 11 and 12, with both Bautista and Go as hosts. Early 2007, she released her third album entitled ''Obsession''. Two singles were released: "Don' Say Goodbye" and "Alam ng Ating mga Puso". Also during this year, she and Christian Bautista, performed at the Aliw Theater for their You and Me Valentine Concert which was produced by ASAP Live!. They also had a world tour with the same title.


2008–09: ''Rachelle Ann ROCKS Live!'' and ''Falling in Love''

In April 2008, she released her fourth album under VIVA Records (also her first live album) entitled ''Rachelle Ann ROCKS Live!''. The album reached Gold status after seven months. Her carrier single, Honestly, became an instant hit and she won the 3rd IFM Award for the Song of the Year and Favorite Female Performer. In January 2009, she released her fifth album entitled ''Falling In Love'' under VIVA Records. It was awarded the Gold Certification by VIVA Music and PARI for outstanding sales of more than 15,000 units. Go also held a concert entitled "Rachelle Ann Go Falling In Love" at the Music Museum. Among some of the guests were Martin Nievera, Gary and Gab Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Richard Poon and Co-Champion, Christian Bautista.


2010–11: Transfer to GMA Network, ''Unbreakable'', ''The Little Mermaid''

On April 7, 2010, Go and her manager, Veronique del Rosario-Corpus of Viva Artist Agency, signed an exclusive contract at the GMA Network Center. Rachelle's first project with the Kapuso network was the Sunday musical-variety show ''
Party Pilipinas ''Party Pilipinas'' () is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Jaya and Janno Gibbs, it premiered on March 28, 2010 replacing '' SOP''. The show concluded on May 19, 2013 wit ...
'', where she joined fellow Viva artist
Mark Bautista Mark Arazo Bautista (born August 10, 1983) is a Filipino singer, actor and commercial model. Bautista received his career break when he became a grand finalist on the Philippine reality TV talent search ''Star for a Night'' where he placed thir ...
. For the second half of 2011, Go released her sixth album entitled ''Unbreakable'', with "Masasabi Mo Ba" as the first single and her own composition, "Whispered Fear" as her second single. She also appeared in the GMA 7 drama series ''
Nita Negrita ''Nita Negrita'' (International title: ''Nita'') is a 2011 Philippine television drama series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Gil Tejada Jr., it stars Barbie Forteza in the title role. It premiered on February 14, 2011 on the network's Dra ...
'', as Amanda. She was also a mentor in '' Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break'', a reality-based singing talent show. Go made her debut in musical theatre that year as Ariel in '' The Little Mermaid'', for which she won a Best Actress award from Broadway World Philippine Awards.


2012–2013: RAG: Rise Against Gravity concert, ''Miss Saigon'' audition, ''Tarzan'' musical

In 2012, Go produced a solo concert "RAG Rise Against Gravity" with special guests Regine Velasquez-Alcasid,
Sarah Geronimo Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo-Guidicelli (, , born July 25, 1988) is a Filipino singer, performer and actress. Geronimo rose to prominence after winning the television singing contest '' Star for a Night'' earning her a recording contract with Viv ...
and
Christian Bautista Christian Joseph Morata Bautista (born October 19, 1981) is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of ''Star in a Million'', a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning 4th place in the competition in 2003. ...
. It was held at the Music Museum. She also began auditioning for a role in the then-upcoming London West End revival of ''Miss Saigon''. She took the role Lara in the musical drama series Biritera of GMA 7. In 2013, Go played Jane Porter in the ''
Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
'' musical, which ran from June 14 until July 7 at Meralco Theater, Pasig. She also portrayed the role of Libulan (Diwata ng Buwan) in Indio. In June of that year, Go joined the cast of SAS (Sunday All Stars), the revamped Sunday musical variety show of GMA Network. On August 24, 2013, Go joined the
Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...
's ''Hakot Pa More'' segment together with
John Vic De Guzman John Vic Ortiz De Guzman (born September 23, 1993) is a Filipino athlete, volleyball player, actor, and singer. Early life and education De Guzman lived in Laguna in his early years and became involved in various extracurricular activities. In ...
during the failure lucky hakot contestant which was suffer by a Mental Disorder.


2014: ''Miss Saigon'', ''Miss Rachelle: The Send Off Concert'', ''Les Miserables'', international breakthrough

Go was selected for a major role in the 2014
West End revival West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes, "West End" in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194– ...
of ''
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 ...
''. She played the role of the disillusioned Gigi Van Tranh at the Prince Edward Theatre in
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. Go sang one of the show's most notable songs, "The Movie In My Mind". Before flying off to London to play the role of Gigi in the restaging of the hit musical ''"Miss Saigon"'', Go held a two and a half-hour send off concert entitled ''Miss Rachelle: The Send Off Concert'' with special guests Erik Santos,
Christian Bautista Christian Joseph Morata Bautista (born October 19, 1981) is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of ''Star in a Million'', a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning 4th place in the competition in 2003. ...
,
Mark Bautista Mark Arazo Bautista (born August 10, 1983) is a Filipino singer, actor and commercial model. Bautista received his career break when he became a grand finalist on the Philippine reality TV talent search ''Star for a Night'' where he placed thir ...
, Sheryn Regis, ''Jimmy Marquez'' and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. The concert also commemorated Go's 10th anniversary in the entertainment industry. Go met the Oscar winning actor, Eddie Redmayne who visited Miss Saigon during the sitzprobe. Redmayne also watched the show with other stars like Samantha Barks,
Elaine Paige Elaine Jill Paige (née Bickerstaff; born 5 March 1948) is an English singer and actress, best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Paige attended the Aida Foster Theatre School, making her first professiona ...
and Gillian Lynne. Go guested on UK-based television and radio presenter and actress Gaby Roslin's radio show on BBC together with the BRIT Award-winning classical singing group Blake. Go recorded a duet with Blake as part of the group's album released in October. The album was released in UK, Australia, Philippines Korea and South Africa. Go, together with artists from London's West End, gathered together in a concert entitled ''The Philippine Dream, a benefit concert for Filipino children'' at the Leicester Hall in London on August 17, 2014. She delivered a performance at the said concert. Go performed a duet with
Lea Salonga Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (; born February 22, 1971), known professionally as Lea Salonga, is a Filipino singer, actress, and columnist. Nicknamed "Pride of the Philippines," she is best known for her roles in musical theatre, for supplyi ...
for a special gala performance of the musical ''Miss Saigon''. They sang "The Movie in My Mind", eliciting cheers and a standing ovation from the audience. The gala performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 2. Go won the Best Featured Actress award for her role as Gigi Van Tranh in ''Miss Saigon'' at the Broadway World UK/West End Awards. Go appeared on stage with the West End cast of ''Miss Saigon'' during a Royal Variety Performance aired via ITV, a UK commercial network.
One Direction One Direction, often shortened to 1D, are an English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010. The group are composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously Zayn Malik until his departure from the g ...
,
Bette Midler Bette Midler (;'' Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden ...
,
Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalist ...
, Ed Sheeran,
Demi Lovato Demetria Devonne Lovato ( ; born August 20, 1992), known as Demi Lovato, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series '' Barney & Friends'' (2002–2004), Lovato rose to prominence for p ...
, and
Ellie Goulding Elena Jane Goulding ( ; born 30 December 1986) is an English singer and songwriter. Her career began when she met record producers Starsmith and Frankmusik, and she was later spotted by Jamie Lillywhite, who became her manager and Artists and ...
also performed at the event and it was attended by
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge William, Prince of Wales, (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. Born in London, William was educ ...
and Kate Middleton. Go won as Best Supporting Actress in the 2015
WhatsOnStage Awards The WhatsOnStage Awards (WOS Awards), formerly known as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com. The awards recognise performers and productions of British theatre with an emphasis on London's West ...
for her performance as Gigi Van Tranh in ''Miss Saigon''. She also performed with Eva Noblezada during the awards night. Other winners include Tom Hiddleston,
Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series '' Doctor Who'', '' Sherlock'', and '' Dracula''. Together with ...
, Billie Piper and
David Tennant David John Tennant (''né'' McDonald; born 18 April 1971) is a Scottish actor. He rose to fame for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor (2005–2010 and 2013) in the BBC science-fiction TV show ''Doctor Who'', reprising the rol ...
. On February 19, 2015, Go and the rest of the stars of ''Miss Saigon'' showed off their cooking skills in a shoot for the magazine of English celebrity chef
Jamie Oliver James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants. Oliver reach ...
. In March 2015, Go became the cover girl of ''Aura Magazine'', a new Filipino magazine which showcases the Philippines and the culture of its people. The magazine is available in the United Kingdom and the team is also looking into distributing the magazine in Spain, Germany and Ireland. Go sang the song "
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" is a song written and composed by Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston for the Walt Disney film ''Cinderella'' (1950). In the song, Cinderella (voiced by Ilene Woods) encourages her animal friends to ...
" in line with the release of the film '' Cinderella''. Disney chose Rachelle to perform the song, saying that she embodied the values of Cinderella. The music video of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" premiered on Disney Channel and Disney Channel Asia YouTube Channel on Saturday, March 7. She also promoted the movie in the Philippines. It was also announced that Go had been selected as the new
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 ...
in the 30th anniversary staging 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 ...
'' in London which started on June 15 at the Queen's Theatre, a role also previously played by fellow Filipino actress and singer Lea Salonga. Go performed the song " I Dreamed a Dream" from ''Les Misérables'' at West End Live 2015, an outdoor presentation of songs from popular musicals at
Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson comm ...
in London. On August 2, 2015, Go together with some of the West End's biggest stars joined forces with celebrities and footballers for an event to raise money for the MAD Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support in the Les Mis V Phantom charity football match. They performed during the pre-match concert. Go also recorded a song for GMA Pinoy TV. As a Filipina breaking ground abroad, GMA thought Rachelle was the perfect singer for the theme song. "Kapuso, Anumang Kulay ang Buhay" will be released worldwide, in line with the 10th anniversary celebration of GMA International. Go also played 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 ...
in the Asian tour of ''Les Misérables''. The production opened in Manila in March 2016. The cast included Earl Carpenter and Simon Gleeson who have starred in different productions around the world. Go joined the acclaimed songwriter Scott Alan for his two-week residency at The Hippodrome Casino. Joined by special guests Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, '' Britain's Got Talent'' winner
Collabro Collabro were a UK-based musical theatre group and winners of the eighth series of ''Britain's Got Talent'' in 2014. The group consisted of Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J. Redgrave. Richard Hadfield left the band in J ...
and
AJ Rafael Arthur Joseph Rafael (born March 12, 1989), known professionally as AJ Rafael, is a Filipino-American singer-songwriter, YouTuber, and TikToker. Born in Moreno Valley, California, he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2010. Rafael st ...
, Go sang Alan's extensive songbook in a night filled with heartfelt songs and the stories behind them. Go performed with the two-time
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...
and
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
winner
Patti LuPone Patti Ann LuPone (born April 21, 1949) is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theater. She has won three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, two Grammy Awards, and was a 2006 inductee to the American Theater Hall of F ...
, who played Fantine in the original West End production of ''Les Misérables'' during the 30th anniversary gala. Go won the "Best Performance in a Long-Running West End show (Female)" category of the Broadway World UK awards. Other winners include the Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch and
Imelda Staunton Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton (born 9 January 1956) is an English actress and singer. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Staunton began her career in repertory theatre in 1976 and appeared in various theatre prod ...
. Rachelle Ann Go performs "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with Rob Houchen, who played Marius in London's LES MISERABLES, at the Make A Difference Trust's charity cabaret. She was also featured in Houchen's debut EP, performing a duet of "Man's Man's Man's World". They performed the track live at the EP's launch in Shoreditch, London.


2016–2018: ''Les Misérables'' Asian tour, DIVAS (temporary stint), Broadway, ''Hamilton''

For representing the Philippines in the London theater scene, Go was recognized as one of Rexona's 50 Motion Sense Pinoy Movers. Go showcased Filipino talent at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2016. On January 23, 2016, Creamsilk Philippines presented Rachelle Ann Go as one of their new ambassadors at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. Go and the other artists under Cornerstone Entertainment joined forces in a new music video. The stars are featured in the music video for the song "Tara Tena", which aims to help give listeners the right attitude towards participating in the upcoming elections. The full music video premiered on MYX. Go was awarded by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, ceb, Nasodnong Komisyon alang sa Budaya ug mga Arte) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. ...
through its annual Ani ng Dangal Awards in the field of Dramatic Arts. Go portrayed the role of Gigi in the film adaptation of Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary London production produced by Mackintosh and Universal, which was screened worldwide in theaters and released via digital and DVD release. It grossed £2.03 million at the box office overtaking 2014's release of Billy Elliot the Musical Live, making it the biggest ever debut for a screening of its kind. On March 11, 2016, Go started to wow her fellow Filipinos for her portrayal of Fantine in Les Misérables Manila at "The Theater", at Solaire. She returned to London in June of same year to continue her portrayal as Fantine at West End. Go was featured in People Asia Magazine as one of the Filipinas who made history joining the ranks of Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Cory Aquino, Lisa Macuja, KC Concepcion, Lea Salonga, Gloria Diaz and Monique Lhuillier. Go, together with Sarah Geronimo, was the cover of Mega Magazine for the month of June recognizing her international achievements and contribution to the new generation. Go, together with Jaclyn Jose and Pia Wurtzbach, is a Global Pinoy Awardee for 2016 given by Mega Magazine. In June 2016, Go became a Jollibee endorser. Go, Fil-American Eva Noblezada and the rest of the "Les Misérables" cast gave a rousing performance during the 2016 West End Live event in London held over the weekend. Go and Noblezada started with a beautiful mash-up of "I Dreamed a Dream" and "On My Own." They play the roles of Fantine and Eponine, respectively. Go was awarded by West End Theater the Best performance of a song for her rendition of Les Misérables' "I Dreamed a Dream". Go was originally planned to be a member of the Filipino girl group DIVAS along with Kyla, Angeline Quinto,
KZ Tandingan Kristine Zhenie Lobrigas Tandingan-Monterde (born March 11, 1992), mononymously known as KZ, is a Filipino singer and rapper hailed as Asia's Soul Supreme. She rose to prominence following her win on the first season of ''The X Factor Philipp ...
, Yeng Constantino, however Go left the group due to international commitments. The group's concert titled DIVAS: Live in Manila was held at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum The Araneta Coliseum, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Smart Araneta Coliseum, is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena that is part of the Araneta City in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines. Nicknamed as "the Big Dom ...
on November 11, 2016. Go's video together with her Les Mis co-stars was featured in the official video page of
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
. She posted a video where Go took of Noblezada and Doano doing headstands in their costumes. Go was featured on Yes Magazine's Most Beautiful Stars 2016 edition. On July 27, 2016, Go performed during Hillsong Conference Europe 2016 at O2 Arena in London. In October 2016, Go played the role of Mary Magdalene in ''Jesus the Rock Opera'' at the Dominion Theatre in London. Go, together with some of the biggest stars of London's West End, re-recorded Jacques Brel's If We Only Have Love in aid of Childline as the service celebrates its 30th anniversary. It also got its national radio play on The Graham Norton Show on BBC Radio 2. On December 23, 2016, Go had a mall show entitled Rachelle Ann Go Live at Venice Piazza. She was also performing at Eastwood City New Year's Countdown on December 31, 2016, with American singer
Phoebe Ryan Phoebe Holiday Ryan (born September 21, 1990) is an American singer and songwriter. In 2015, she released a mashup of R. Kelly's "Ignition" and Miguel's "Do You", followed by her first single "Mine" from her debut EP of the same name. She signe ...
and other Filipino artists. In March 2017, Go made her Broadway debut, joining the U.S. cast of ''
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 ...
'' in 2017. She reprised her character of bar girl Gigi from her West End performance in the Broadway revival. Go appeared in Miss Saigon with the support of Actors' Equity Association. Moreover, Go received good reviews from
Variety (magazine) ''Variety'' is an American media company owned by Penske Media Corporation. The company was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933 it added ''Daily Variety'', bas ...
,
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...
and
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
where she and her co-stars were featured in their newspaper. Go won Best Featured Actress in a Musical at 2017 Theater Fans' Choice Awards for her role as Gigi. This is Go's first Broadway award. Other winners include stars like
Danny DeVito Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series ''Taxi'' (1978–1983), which won him a Gold ...
, Cynthia Nixon,
Ben Platt Benjamin Schiff Platt (born September 24, 1993) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He began his acting career in musical theater as a child and appeared in productions of ''The Sound of Music'' (2006) and ''The Book of Mormon'' (2012 ...
,
Kevin Kline Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24, 1947) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award and three Tony Awards. In addition, he has received nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five ...
,
Bette Midler Bette Midler (;'' Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden ...
,
Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Fe ...
, and many more.' Go played the role of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in the West End production of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful musical ''
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...
'', which debuted at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London on December 6. Her performance has received critical acclaim from major publications such as Newsweek, The Guardian and The New York Times among others. She also performed alongside the cast of the popular musical Hamilton on Sunday, April 8 during the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London.


2019–present: Return to ''Les Miserables'', Homecoming concert

Go returned to play the role of Fantine when ''
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 ...
'' opened at the newly restored Sondheim Theatre. The show opened on December 18, 2019. Principal cast members who will be joining Go include her Hamilton co-star
Jon Robyns Jon Robyns (born 8 December 1982) is a British stage actor, who is best known for playing the roles of Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q the musical and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables in London's West End. Early life Robyns was born in Manchester ...
(Jean Valjean), Bradley Jaden (Javert), Gerard Carey (Thénardier), Shan Ako (Eponine), Josefina Gabrielle (Madame Thénardier), Ashley Gilmour (Enjolras), and Lily Kerhoas (Cosette). Go performed at the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony held in Iowa on October 17. She performed "Bayan Ko" and a Broadway medley of "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "The Movie in My Mind," and "Defying Gravity." She concluded her outstanding performance by singing "Rise Up" which gave her a standing ovation and a resounding applause from the audience. The ceremony was broadcast live statewide on
Iowa Public Television Iowa PBS, formerly Iowa Public Television (IPTV), is a network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member stations in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is owned by the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board, an agency of the state education department which ...
. Go performed the song "Come Alive" during the 30th Southeast Asian Games Opening Gala Night.The said event was attended by officials from Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, and government officials. Go came home to the Philippines and held a Valentine's concert at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on Valentine's Day 2020.


Personal life

In early September 2017, Go became engaged to Martin Spies, a South African-born, American-raised businessman. They married on April 18, 2018, in
Boracay Boracay (; often locally shortened to Bora) is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located off the northwest coast of Panay. It has a total land area of , under the jurisdiction of three barangays in Malay, Akla ...
. The couple moved into a house in
Greenwich Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
,
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
in December 2019. On November 21, 2020, Go announced that she and Spies were expecting a child in 2021. On March 26, 2021, she gave birth to their son, Lukas Judah Spies. Go is a
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
.


Concerts

In 2012, she brought her prowess as a performer in her major solo concert 'Rise Against Gravity'. And the guest list was pretty gravity-defying: OPM icon Ms. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, pop star princess Sarah Geronimo, and Christian Bautista. Two years later, she staged her 10th year/send-off concert, "Miss Rachelle," before flying off to London for the West End revival of Miss Saigon. She was originally going to be part of the DIVAS Live in Manila, however, she backed out due to prior commitments.


International tours


Discography


Albums

Studio albums Live albums Repackaged Compilation albums Cast recordings


Singles

On its first day of release, "First Burn" debuted at the #1 spot on iTunes US. It is also climbing the iTunes charts in United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Rachelle Ann Go becomes the first pure Filipino artist to be a part of a #1 single on iTunes US.


Filmography


Film


Television


DVD


Theatre


Awards and nominations


International recognition

2005 *Silver Medalist (as Interpreter)- Astana Song Festival *First Prize in the Best Own Country Song "Isang Lahi" (with Vehnee Saturno) – Astana Song Festival *Silver Medalist (as Interpreter) – Shanghai Song Festival 2005 *Best Song for "From The Start" – Shanghai Song Festival 2005 2014 * BroadwayWorld UK/West End Awards. She won "Best Featured Actress in a New Production of a Musical" for her portrayal of Gigi Van Tranh in the 2014 West End revival of "Miss Saigon". 2015 * "Best Supporting Actress in a Musical" award from the 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards for her role as Gigi Van Tranh in the 25th Anniversary Revival of Miss Saigon – Musical. 2015 * "BroadwayWorld UK/West End Awards. "Best Performance in a Long-Running West End show (Female)" for her role as Fantine in ''Les Misérables''. 2016 * "Best Performance Of A Song 2016" for her rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Misérables Musical, West End Production for her role as "Fantine". Award given by the West End Frame Poll Awards. 2017 * Theater Fans' Choice Awards – "Best Featured Actress in a Musical" for her role as Gigi Van Tranh in Miss Saigon (Broadway). 2018 * Take 5 Entertainment Theatre Awards – "Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for Hamilton" * BroadwayWorld UK Awards – "Best Actress in a New Production of a Musical" for her role as Eliza in "Hamilton"


Local recognition

2004 * Grand Champion – Search for a Star 2004 * Paganda ng Paganda ang Boses! (Special Prize) – Search for A Star 2004 * Best Major Concert Performer 2004 – Aliw Awards Inc. * Gold Record Award for Yo! Gloria Album 2005 * Best Female Artist – MTV Pilipinas Music Awards 2005 * Female Top Star Entertainer – National Consumer Quality 2005 * Most Promising Female Singer – "Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation" * Most Outstanding Pasigueño Awardee in 2005 * Winner- 1st ASAP Platinum Circle 2005 * Platinum Record Award for Rachelle Ann Go (Self-Titled Album) * Double Platinum Record Award for Rachelle Ann Go (Self-Titled Album) 2006 * People's Choice for Favorite Female Artist – Awit Awards 2006 * Favorite Female Artist – First MYX Music Awards 2006 * Favorite Mellow Video for "From the Start" – First MYX Music Awards 2006 * Most Outstanding Pasigueño Awardee in 2006 * Gold Record Award for I Care Album * Platinum Record Award for Rachelle Ann Go (Limited Edition, Repackaged, Self-Titled Album) * POP Female Artist – 1st ASAP POP Viewers Choice Awards 2006 * POP Female Performance (for "I Care") – 1st ASAP POP Viewers Choice Awards 2006 2007 * Favorite Female Artist – MYX Music Awards 2007 * POP Female Artist – 2nd ASAP POP Viewers Choice Awards 2007 * POP Kapamilya TV Themesong "Pag-Ibig na Kaya?" (Princess Hours) by Rachelle Ann Go & Christian Bautista. – 2nd ASAP POP Viewers Choice Awards 2007 * Female Top Star Entertainer of the Year"- 26th Annual Year-end Consumers Awards and Expo 2007 * Favorite Song in a duet "Pag-Ibig Na Kaya?" with Christian Bautista – 1st OPM Songhits Awards 2008 * Best Mellow Video "Alam ng Ating Mga Puso" – Myx Music Awards 2008 * Best Collaboration with Christian Bautista "Pag-ibig Na Kaya?" – Myx Music Awards 2008 * Gold Record Award for Rachelle Ann Rocks Live Album * ASAP'08 24K Gold Record Awardee for Rachelle Ann Rocks Live Album * ASAP'08 24K Gold Record Awardee for "GV 25: An All-Star Tribute" 2009 * 3rd iFM Pinoy Music Awards Best Song by a Female Performer: "Honestly" * 3rd iFM Pinoy Music Awards Song of the Year: "Honestly" * Revival Album of the Year, 1st PMPC Star Awards for Music 2* Female Star of the Night, 1st PMPC Star Awards for Music * Pop Female Performance in a Music Video – 2009 ASAP POP Viewers' Choice Awards * Pop Female Artist – 2009 ASAP POP Viewers' Choice Awards * Best RnB for "Paano" – 22nd Awit Awards (PARI) * Gold Record Award for Rachelle Ann Falling In Love Album * ASAP'09 24K Gold Record Awardee for Rachelle Ann Falling In Love Album * ASAP Platinum Circle Compilation Awardee 2009 "GV 25: An All-Star Tribute" * MAXIM's 25 Hottest Women In Music – #8 spot 2012 * 1st Most Liked Awards Most Liked Diva: Party Pilipinas * Best Actress (Musical) 2012 Broadway World Philippine Awards: Disney's The Little Mermaid Theatrical 2013 * 1st Sunday All Stars Awards = Stand Out Singer = (winner) 2016 * NCCA's Ani ng Dangal Awards in the Field of Dramatic Arts * Global Pinoy Awardee by Mega magazine * Global Pinoy Mover by Rexona * Pinoy Pride awardee by Jollibee * Best Actress (Musical) 2016 Broadway World Philippine Awards: Les Misérables 2020 * East Wood Star Walk of Fame Inductee for Theater Entertainment


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Go, Rachelle Ann Living people 1986 births 21st-century Filipino actresses Filipino Christians Filipino evangelicals Filipino emigrants to England Filipino expatriates in the United Kingdom Filipino film actresses Filipino female models Filipino women pop singers Filipino musical theatre actresses Filipino Protestants Participants in Philippine reality television series Reality show winners San Beda University alumni Singers from Metro Manila People from Pasig University of the Philippines Open University alumni Viva Records (Philippines) artists Viva Artists Agency GMA Network personalities ABS-CBN personalities