10 FilAm + FilCan Stars Who Have Shined Bright on Broadway

Filipino representation in the Broadway community has been flourishing these past few seasons (and growing!) Through countless performances that have taken place across the globe, Filipinos have proven to be prominent pillars in the industry but it fills our heart with so much joy to see more Filipino names grace our Playbills than ever before. Broadway stars, like the iconic Lea Salonga, have put the Philippines on the map time and time again, proving that the talent of the Filipino people has no limits. Here are some of the many Filipino American and Filipino Canadians that have taken the stage and are paving their way on Broadway and beyond.  

1. Andrea Macasaet 

Andrea Macasaet is a Filipino Canadian actress and singer. Her love for music started when she was a child, singing karaoke with her family. As she grew older, Andrea took her passion to the next level, performing in youth productions of Beauty and the Beast and The King and I. Her first role as a theater professional was in the highly acclaimed Miss Saigon, where she played Kim. After playing this role, Andrea took a brief break to study Human Resources. She made her return to theater as she was casted in Six: The Musical, where she was set to make her Broadway debut as Anne Boleyn. Due to the rise and rapid spread of COVID-19, the show was suspended. However, in September of 2021, one year later, she was able to perform as the show opened again. 

Andrea has also performed in roles on Avenue Q, Heathers: The Musical, Prairie Nurse, Ratatouille the Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee and Bubble Guppies: Ready to Rock!. She is currently playing the role of Mimi Márquez in Rent in the Stratford Festival. 

Follow her and her inspiring journey here. 

2. Vince Ermita 

Vince Ermita may be young, but he is a force to be reckoned with. At the young age of 11 years old, he made his Broadway debut in The Lion King, where he played the role of Young Simba. Before booking the role, Vince spent more than two years in hopes of landing the part. He initially auditioned when he was 9 years old, where out of more than 3,000 other hopefuls, he made it to the top 7 considered for the role. Prior to his Broadway debut, Vince starred in the regional play School of Rock, The Musical, in Utah as Lawrence. Now, he serves as an inspiration to the youth to follow their dreams, no matter how old they are. While Vince has his eyes set on Hollywood, the world of Broadway may just pull him in for some more fun real soon.

Follow along here as he ventures even further into the world on stage. 

3. Josh Dela Cruz 

Most know Josh Dela Cruz for the role that he plays on the iconic show, Blue's Clues. Before he played a fictional version of himself as the host in Blue's Clues & You!, he was performing multiple shows a week in Aladdin, where he was a member of the original ensemble. After 5 years of being on the stages of Broadway, Josh transitioned to the television screen and made history as the Blue’s Clues first Asian-American to be a show regular. In 2022, Josh starred in the movie-musical,“Blue’s Big City Adventure,” which is streamable on Paramount Plus. 

In addition to this, he holds credits for this work Encores!: Merrily We Roll Along and Here Lies Love, which is currently running right now in New York City.

Follow his journey on Instagram. 

4. Anna Marie Perez de Tagle 

With Anna coming from a family with a rich history in entertainment, her dad as a TV personality and her grandmother as a well known performer, she was determined to pave her own path and make her own mark. Both of which she did fabulously. Her journey started in the talent competition, Star Search, where she competed at 12 years old and ultimately placed as a junior finalist. Despite not winning the competition, Anna gained exposure that launched her into the radar of Disney. Many know Anna for her iconic role in the hit Disney movies, Camp Rock, where she played Ella Pador. Here, she starred alongside Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, and a number of the network’s finest talents.

Outside of her work on television, Anna had her fair share of time in the Broadway spotlight. In 2011, at 20 years old, she joined in on the action of the revival of Godspell at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City. Here, eight times a week, she performed with a powerful group of people, including fellow Disney star Corbin Bleu. 

From performing alongside her Lola in shows as a child to rocking the legendary stages of Broadway and beyond, it’s safe to say that Anna has made a mark of her own in more ways than one. 

Keep up with her here.

5. Ali Ewoldt 

Ali’s passion for the arts began from a young age. She started dancing at three years old, taking voice lessons when she was ten years old and performing in school productions in middle school. Living close to New York City allowed Ali to watch a number of Broadway shows as she grew up. It was in doing this that she dove even deeper into her passion and made it a mission of hers to one day end up on the other side of the shows as a performer. While studying for a degree in Psychology at Yale University, Ali performed in the Yale Opera Program. She was discovered by chance, as she was filling in  for someone in a performance that changed her life forever. After the show, she was approached by an agent who encouraged her to give Broadway a try. 

Ali went on to make her Broadway debut as Cosette in the 1st Broadway Revival of Les Miserables, where she starred alongside her role model, fellow Filipina, Lea Salonga, who played Éponine. In addition to this, she played roles in West Side Story, Early to Bed, Resurrection, The Fantasticks, A Christmas Carol, The King and I, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, 1776, Guys and Dolls, and Chicago. Of all of the roles that she’s played in her career, she is widely known for making history as the first ever Asian-American actress to star as Christine in Phantom of the Opera. 

Follow her and her remarkable journey here.

6. Rachelle Ann Go 

Rachelle rose to fame when she won a singing competition in the popular show, Eat Bulaga, at eleven years old. Her debut in musical theater was as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which ultimately won her a Best Actress award from the Broadway World Philippines Awards. In 2014, Go landed a major role in the 2014 West End revival of Miss Saigon. Three years later, she made her Broadway debut, as she joined the U.S. cast of Miss Saigon and reprised her role as Gigi in the Broadway revival. While gaining massive popularity in the Philippines, Rachelle also gained international attention for her work, receiving positive reviews from the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and New York Times. 

Throughout her career, Rachelle also starred in Tarzan, Hamilton, and Les Misérables and racked up over 60+ awards, nominations and recognitions in the Philippines and internationally. 

Stay up to date with her and her incredible journey on Instagram. 

7. Jon Jon Briones 

Jon Jon was an engineering student in the Philippines when a friend of his, who produced Miss Saigon, asked him to help facilitate auditions for the Cameron Mackintosh team. In addition to helping, he joined in on the action and auditioned himself. Jon Jon went on to become a member of the ensemble. In 2014, he joined the West End revival of Miss Saigon, playing the Engineer. His performance here earned him nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and won him the award in the same category for the Whatsonstage.com Awards. Three years later, he joined the production of Miss Saigon as it transferred over to Broadway and performed at the Broadway Theatre. 

Outside of musical theater, Jon Jon has appeared in a number of television shows and films, including The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, American Horror Story: Apocalypse, Ratched, and Star Trek: Picard.

Stay up to date with him here. 

8. Eva Noblezada 

Eva is no stranger to the stage. She made her broadway debut in the revival of Miss Saigon. This  catapulted her into the spotlight and paved the way for a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2017, making her one of the youngest nominees in the category at 21 years old. In 2019, she was nominated for yet another Tony Award in the same category for her work in Hadestown on Broadway, where she originated the leading role of Eurydice. The following year, she won a Grammy award for Best Musical Theater Album. Watching her on stage, one could easily see the passion in her eyes and the devotion that is put into honing her craft. 

Outside of the theater, Eva starred as Rose in the film, Yellow Rose, alongside Lea Salonga. She has also appeared in films like Luck, Jokoy’s Easter Sunday, and the Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary. Her roles as Kim in Miss Saigon and Éponine in Les Misérables have left a mark on the world of musical theater and are, to this day, admired internationally. 

Keep up with all things Eva on her Instagram. 

9. Natalie Mendoza

Natalie has made her rounds in the industry and has become a figure of inspiration for many. Her training and schooling in London and New York helped pave the way to a remarkable journey in musical theater. Natalie played roles in musicals such as Cats, Miss Saigon, The Music of Lloyd Webber Concert Tour, Here Lies Love, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Oh What A Night, and Les Misérables. In 2021, she made her return to Broadway playing the lead role of Satine. Throughout the many roles she’s played, she has proven to be versatile and is always on her A game. 

Natalie’s work spans across practically every aspect of entertainment. From working in films like The Descent to tv shows like Hotel Babylon to taking the lead role in Broadway’s Moulin Rouge!, there is no stopping her! 

Follow Natalie for the latest and greatest here. 

10. Arielle Jacobs 

While Arielle has played many roles throughout the course of her career, she is best known for portraying Nina Rosario, who she played across the US in Broadway’s production of In the Heights and her role as Princess Jasmine in Broadway’s Aladdin tour across Australia. Her passion for the arts started at a young age. When she was only seven years old, she took her first steps into the world of entertainment as a Christmas present in her school’s play. Little did she know that this would be the start of something special. Later, Arielle went on to work on musical productions like Wicked, Disney’s High School Musical, Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, Rent and Into the Woods. 

In addition to all of this, she took part in the one-woman show Farhad or the Secret of Being, starred in two world-premiere plays and joined the cast of Between the Lines, where she reprised her role as Delilah. Arielle’s latest project brings her back to her roots, as she plays an important role in Here Lies Love. 

Follow along with her and all that she’s up on her Instagram.

---

Written By Nico Belasco

Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative

---