Journal

December 10, 2008

Just catching up...

Well, so much has happened since the last time I wrote on my blog... I've been away from London. I went to Manila after Les Mis in June to be in my fave musical of all time, West Side Story and played Maria opposite the dashing Tony of Christian Bautista. The whole experience was just surreal. I still can't believe it all went so swiftly. Now i'm back in London doing another great part, Christmas Eve in Avenue Q. We will take the show right up to its final performance which is the 28th of March next year. Exciting stuff. 3 very different roles in one year..... I couldn't have asked for more... I love the challenge as i have mentioned before, and challenge is what i am getting.. indeed!

November 11th, 2007

Hong Kong’s Musical Moments....

I just realized that I haven't written about the whole Hong Kong experience... I really don't know where to begin... There are too many specifics to tell and I don't think we will have enough time. I was there for a total of 8 days. As soon as we arrived, that same day, we had our press conference in a beautiful, exclusive place called Dynasty. The press conference was attended by distinguished guests and people from the media. Our main sponsor, Prince Jewelry was there too who provided us with gorgeous diamonds to wear for the occasion and for the shows. It was also attended by the chairmen of Lifeline Express, the main beneficiary of the concert. Lifeline express is a train which carries a group of medical staff who perform surgery in one of the train carriages, that goes around the remote areas of China to provide help for people who have cataracts or any type of eye disorder. The day of the Press Conference was a lot of fun although exhausting as I hadn't slept since my arrival. The following days were of rehearsals and some radio interviews. Leading up to the concert days, we went to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (Concert Hall) just to familiarize ourselves with the space. It was truly magnificent. The concerts were both very successful and well attended. I even saw old colleagues from Miss Saigon who are also in Hong Kong working for Disneyland. The real treat was meeting the most amazing people. The cast consisted of Robert Vicencio, Li Tong Hsu, Marsha Yuan, David Quah, Jovita Leung, Brian Montgomery and Howard McCrary who was also our Musical Director. I got to sing the usual songs plus a couple of songs from Dreamgirls which were my absolute favourites! The two songs were 'I am telling You' and 'I am Changing'. I had never done them before in any concerts or shows. It was a real challenge and I really enjoyed it. We also did numbers from 40's and 50's music and a lot of Musical Theatre ones. I felt inspired mainly because of the people with whom I got to work. I simply had the best time! I really miss them... (some clips of the show are on my facebook account under joampil). It was an experience I will never forget.... Wish you were all there.... x

November 11th, 2007

Album Release/Signing at Dress Circle Shop.... Thank you, thank you

A huge Thank you to everyone who came yesterday to Dress Circle for the CD launch. I couldn't have been happier with the turn out. It was so touching to see people who came to support me, and also those who have been supporting me for so many years. Thank you also to those who ordered copies of the CD online and especially those who traveled from overseas just to be there with me yesterday. I am deeply moved. Our friends from Dress Circle were also very pleased as well as the record producer, John Yap. I am indeed the most grateful one... I cannot thank you enough...

Oct 12 Les Mis Performance

Watch out for ITV's Secret Passions of the Girl Aloud where Kimberley Walsh will appear as our special guest on the show... It was all rehearsed and filmed on Friday, Oct 12th. It was a pretty long day but what fun we had! It's all pretty exciting stuff so don't miss it... She was sooo lovely as well as the staff and crew of ITV. Surreal moments!!

September 23, 2007

Last week, 16 of Sept., I had the privilege to perform the songs of American composer, Georgia Stitt. She comes from the States and had her debut performance at the St. Paul's Church in Knightsbridge. She was the vocal coach of the U.S. reality programme Grease is the Word. I sang alongside Daniel Boys, Eliza Lumley, Damien Humbley and Caroline Sheen. It was great being part of the show but most of all, getting to know this wonderfully talented lady.

September 3, 2007

Just to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the gig last night at the Sound Theatre... It was for a very good cause (MINDS organization).... It was a long day but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves... I hope you had fun as much as we did.... Big Thank you again! X

August 21, 2007

Rob Archibald, a friend of mine who was in the last cast of Les Mis invited me to sing in a fundraising event last night. It was held in a pub in Greenwich. After Les Mis, I was given a ride by Verity, a fellow performer who's currently in Sound Of Music, to the venue. I sang 'Old Apartment' from I Sing. It was an intimate crowd and slightly intimidating. Although I sang one song, I felt a little nerve-wracked. It's so strange having to sing so close to people let alone not being in character. I realized how much I needed it though. It was a nice change from doing Les Mis every night. The audience listened intently and you could really feel them getting into the song as much as you are. What a great night it was. I hope my friend Rob and Jo manage to raise quite a lot... Good luck guys and Thank you! X

July 8, 2007

Holiday tomorrow for 10 days!!!! I've been waiting for this for the longest time... I'm finally meeting my new niece who's 3 and a half months old... Justine, who lives in Vancouver along with my sister Joy, her hubby Karl and their first born Kobi. Upon my return, I will be looking forward to the 9000th performance of Les Miserables!!! I just realised that I was part of Les Mis's 6000th, 8000th and 9000th performances!!! What does that say? Too many Les Mises!!! lots of parties and i love them all!!! Can't wait for this next one which will be on the 10th of August!!! See you there....x

June 2007

It's been a very hectic week last week and I'm glad I can now relax. First of all, I finally finished my album on the day of my birthday (June 1). What a relief! My friend Koit Toome, who played Roger in the production of Rent I did, came to London for 4 days. We rehearsed and recorded our duet from Rent, Without You. I was very pleased with the outcome and so were the people involved. My final song was Neverland from Peter Pan, which is an old favourite of mine. I have never done the show before but the song just had to be included in the album. I had been longing to record this song forever.

That same day, I went to work to do the show. After the vocal warm up, everyone sang Happy Birthday and gave me a cake.... How I felt loved and overwhelmed!!! This is why I love birthdays!!! The girls whom I share a dressing room with gave me a tray of goodies... in an afternoon cream tea style! It was what I intended to do to celebrate my Birthday (have an afternoon cream tea with the girls), but it never happened due to rehearsals with the new cast. That same night after the show, 9 of my closest friends and I went out for a drink at Century. It was so nice to see them altogether!

The next night was a bigger party. It was supposed to be held in this new, swanky Bar (according to a review in the Metro) called Dirty Martini. They're supposed to have the best cocktails in town... i got there with my guests and I was horrified to find out that there was a lack of space being it a Saturday night despite the booking we did! To add to that, the music was just way too loud for our liking. We soon ended up in the Restaurant part of the place. The bar was reopened for us and it turned out to be better as we could all hear each other and chat amongst ourselves and we had another cake to share courtesy of the restaurant manager, Andy Hinchliff and Nathan Hunter, along with some bottles of champagne for the inconvenience caused at Dirty Martini... Aahhh! Thanks guys! After that, we carried on partying at Adam St, which is a private club formerly known as the Green Room. This place has been renovated and transformed into something so great! We all stayed in the Gallery room and almost everyone got drunk (which is what I wanted!). We partied til 3am and headed to Balans on Old Compton St to eat. Before I knew it, it was daytime.

I finally got home at 6:30 where some of my friends were waiting... for me to cut another cake and for them to devour it.... I haven't had that much fun in ages and I have never experienced partying til daytime.... Oh well, there's always a first and I was glad to have done it on my birthday!!! A big Thank you to all of you who remembered and sent me greetings, and to those who came to the party! xxx

Christmas 2006

Hello my dear friends!!!! Just wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a New Year filled with Christ's blessings....

Hope you're well. 2006 is almost over and it has been a good year.  I am in the midst of finishing I sing and will be off to Germany very soon for the last week of RENT.... I am thrilled to do the show again and also playing Fantine afterwards.  I feel very blessed to have done 3 different roles in a span of 2 months... It exercises my brain and my craft and I know that these opportunities don't happen often.  I really hope to see some of you soon....I believe that 2007 will be a year to look forward to...Lots of surprises for us all, I hope.....Thank you so much for your continued support. You are my true blessing!

love, jo

November 10, 2006

I finally had a preview of my album.... I'm so excited and feeling very blessed... Therefore, I am inviting you to come to Dress Circle shop in Covent Garden on the 10th of November, Saturday, 12-1 pm for a day of signing.... Please come even just for moral support.. I would be very grateful. Hoping to see you there....

Christmas 2005

Hello Everyone, Merry Christmas to one and all! Hope you had a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth. I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Dublin doing the pantomime Aladdin - where i play the part of the Princess. So far, all the reviews have been great. It is an absolute pleasure performing at the Gaiety Theatre. The cast is wonderful and i can say that this must be one of the most enjoyable shows I've worked on. The costumes are stunning! For once, I'm not dressed as a peasant in a role :-) The songs are great and fun to sing, Ha! and i get to dance in it too!!!! To add to that, We have flying carpets on stage! The sad thing is that I don't get to be on it :-( If you're planning to come and see the show, you'll surely have a great time. I hope to see you there!!!! lots of love and happy New Year!!! Jo P.S.Keep in touch and thanks to everyone who has emailed me.

June 2005

Greetings everyone! I want to thank you all for warming my heart with all your birthday wishes and greetings.

As you already know, I shall be saying goodbye to another chapter of my life.... Fantine. It has been one of the most eventful two years in my history of musical theatre. Let me give you a little recap... do you remember the time when Jerry Hall appeared in Lovely Ladies? It was in 2003 at the Palace Theatre, when she did that record-breaker, appearing in 5 or 6 different shows in one night. She was so glamorous and the loveliest lady of all that night.

Who can ever forget Dame Judi Dench who also asked to be in the barricade scene. This time at the Queens Theatre in May 2004. She played a character which we named Madame La Fage. Wow! I could hardly contain myself. Sitting next to her, as I played an urchin, was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me in that moment. All I could do was stare at her. I felt like an idiot! But I couldn't believe my ears when she spoke to me and said "I’m so nervous!" She's human after all!, I thought. She was the sweetest lady and being on the same stage as her, was like being in the clouds....

Another exciting thing was the move to the Queens Theatre in April 2004. The original creative team of the show reunited and worked together with us recreating Les Mis in its new home. Some people whom I thought I'd never meet were there. I kind of recognize some of them from the old pictures I use to look at in books and old programmes. Working so closely with Sir Trevor Nunn for the first time and John Caird was such an honor for me. Getting to know all of them during the intense week we had before opening it on the 3rd of April was something that I wouldn't mind reliving again. These creators are my absolute heroes!

Finally, an event that I thought I could only dream of... The performance at the Windsor castle for the Royal Family including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was the celebration for the Entente Cordial. French President and First Lady Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister and Mrs. Tony Blair were among the guests and audience members. That was really overwhelming! It was the 18th of November of 2004, the cast and team gathered at 9 in the morning to go to the castle and rehearse the 30-minute-intense-version of the show. It was totally crazy!!! But so, so amazing. The whole day was long and tiring, but every moment was cherished and savored. To add to that, we had Michael Ball as Jean Valjean who was just as nervous as each and every one of us. As we walked into the Waterloo Chamber which was renamed 'The Music Room ' only for that night, the first person I saw was Princess Anne. Then I saw the rest of them and thought to myself... O my gosh! We’re performing in front of wax works, only they're moving.. It's that sort of dream or moment when you think you'd only see them at Madam Tussauds. The Queen herself looked ethereal! I had the first solo and my knees were wobbling like mad. At first, I couldn't remember anything that we rehearsed, then it came back to me at the very last second before I started singing. The principals did their solos as well as the big choral songs. We had 25 people in the choir who all used to be in the show and also special guests who participated with us for a special performance at the Queens Theatre before going to Windsor Castle. We had the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to back us up during the performance at the Castle. Everything soared and went smoothly. Everyone felt emotional and took a while before the whole thing was absorbed. Apart from that, we met the Guests of honor, members of the Royal family and also the Queen! It was Sir Cameron who introduced me to her. I was extremely thrilled to have shaken her hand and spoken to her that night. I loved every minute. The party followed and finished at 2 am! I have no idea where we got all the energy from but nevertheless, I never doubted that we were being watched over and looked after by the Lord whose angels gave us the biggest cheer of the night!

I have sent Dr. Craig pictures of some of these events that he will put on the Gallery Collage page for you to see. Enjoy them! Finally, thanks to you all for always being there for me and supporting me all the way! Hope to see you during the run of 'HAIR' where I will be appearing as Sheila. Very exciting indeed!!! Jo

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