4 ‘Miss Saigon’ Mamas bare loves, lives in show

FROM left: Joan Almedilla, Jennifer Paz, Ai Goeku Cheung and Deedee Magno-Hall Charles Uy

LOS ANGELES—Four “Miss Saigon” actresses have banded together to form Mama Bares and stage their first full-length concert where they sing and talk about their journey, from ingénue Kims to moms who juggle careers, kids and marriages.

Deedee Magno-Hall, Joan Almedilla and Jennifer Paz starred as Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.’s heroine in Broadway or US tour productions of the Vietnam era musical. Ai Goeku Cheung played Yvette and was an Ellen understudy on Broadway and in national tours.

It’s coincidence that they became friends in Los Angeles, where they have settled with spouses and kids.

One time, while watching their kids play, the four actresses thought of forming Mama Bares. This led to “Once Upon a Play Date,” a song-filled revue at the East West Players (EWP) in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. The show’s limited run culminates this week, with final performances from Thursday to Sunday.

“We love every opportunity to get together, eat, share stories about our families, have fun and celebrate motherhood,” said the four talented performers in a statement to me. “‘Once Upon a Play Date’ is all of these things (except the eating part) set to our favorite songs and a few surprise guests.”

Well, not too much of a surprise—the women cajoled their husbands to perform numbers with them.

Jennifer duets with her husband, “American Idol” finalist Anthony Fedorov. They have a son, Julian, 3. She received an Ovation Award in 2008 for reprising the Kim role. The actress appeared in the revival production of “Flower Drum Song” with Lea Salonga, who, of course, began the “Miss Saigon” “cottage industry.”

Deedee, who performs with her spouse, Broadway actor Cliffton Hall, goes to the EWP stage from the tour and Broadway productions of “If/Then,” which starred Idina Menzel. The performer who began as a cast member of “The All New Mickey Mouse Club” has two sons with Cliffton: Kaeden, 11, and Brycen, 5.

Ai and her husband, musician David Cheung, also do a number together. They met when she debuted at EWP in “Beijing Spring” where David played drums. They have two kids: Dylan, 8, and Mia, 5. Ai’s other credits include “Follies” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Joan and her husband, Charles Uy, who did the show’s media production, have a son, CJ, 7. She recently performed as the narrator for Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” in the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s recent concert and in EWP’s “Criers for Hire.” Among Joan’s credits are “Les Miserables” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“This is a show about Mamas, but before we were wives and mothers, we were performers,” said the talented women through Deedee. “Mama Bares gives us an opportunity to continue to do what we love while celebrating motherhood, family and friends.” (More information about the concert, directed by Giovanni Ortega, at www.eastwestplayers.org.)

Excerpts from our chat:

Deedee and Jennifer—to have a husband who’s also a performer—how do you deal with the ups and downs of each other’s career, the occasional bruised egos and the competitive nature inherent in the business?

Jennifer Paz (JP): To be honest, it’s not easy. But the good news is, we do understand its nuances. There’s a balance and a routine we’ve managed to find.

Deedee Magno-Hall (DH): In any relationship, communication is of great importance. We are always checking in with each other, to make sure we’re on the same page.

What did “Miss Saigon” “teach” you about love, marriage and parental sacrifice?

JP:  I learned to let myself slow down—to take time for me and my family.

DH: I was way too young to comprehend what love, marriage, raising kids and parental sacrifice meant when I played Kim in “Miss Saigon.”

Joan Almedilla (JA): Nothing (laughs)! Seriously, to me there’s a big difference between understanding something and really getting it.

Ai Goeku Chung (AC): “Miss Saigon” definitely taught me … [about] the fierce love of a mother, 15 years before I experienced it for myself.

Do you still have that competitive spirit when you’re out there on auditions, etc.?

JP: This business is competitive, yes, but it’s a healthy competition.

DH: We have a great deal of love, respect and support for each other as friends and sisters that run far deeper than any dream role.

JA: When a Mama needs help with something, we support each other.

AC: The support between us is genuine, whether it’s about gigs, our kids or just life.

What songs resonate the most with you at this stage in your life?

JP: I enjoy singing “The Story” by Brandi Carlile not only because I love the lyrics so much, but also because of the way we arranged it for the concert.

DH: One of our group numbers, “The Story Goes On,” is a song that encompasses the meaning of our show.

JA: Three songs resonate with me: First, as a wife, “The Story.” Second, as a mom, “The Story Goes On.” Third, as an artist, I wrote “Disconnect” with Papa Bare David.

AC: The duet I sing with my husband, “I Chose Right,” was the song I sang at our wedding.

In doing this show, what new things did you learn about each other?

JP: In this show, we are “baring” our souls about the particular challenges of mommyhood, so I learned about some very personal details of our journeys as moms.

DH: I learned that it is necessary for all of us to be at the theater two hours before show time, because we need extra time to be girls—chat, laugh and put makeup on!

JA: It’s obvious when you see the show how much new things we learned about each other.

AC: Just how much we have in common and how much our lives revolve around our kids …

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