Joanna Ampil joins West End’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’
Joanna Ampil | Image: Instagram/@joampil
Filipina theater star Joanna Ampil happily announced that she landed a role in London’s West End run of “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Ampil took to Instagram to share a photo of her and the cast onstage at His Majesty’s Theatre in London and described the feeling as “surreal.”
“‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is a huge tick off my bucket list. It’s one of those shows from my generation that I’ve always wanted to do,” she wrote.
The Filipina star is set to play the Italian prima donna and the leading soprano at the Paris Opera House, Carlotta Giudicelli, saying it was her “dream” to play the character.
“I auditioned for the show almost a couple of decades ago, and it just wasn’t the right time to be in it then. But 2024–25 Phantom cast it is!!!” she said.
Article continues after this advertisement“I cannot wait to work with these amazing members of the creative and production teams, cast, crew, and theater legends!” added the singer-actress.
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Aside from Ampil, other cast members of the West End run include Dean Chisnall as The Phantom, Martin Ball as Monsieur Firmin, Helen Hobson as Madame Giry, and Millie Lyon as Meg Giry, among others.
The new cast is expected to open the curtains beginning July 29 at His Majesty’s Theatre. “The Phantom of the Opera” is set to run until March 2025, after it was extended again.
Meanwhile, Ampil rose to fame after landing the role of Kim in “Miss Saigon” in the 1995 Australian run. In 2008, she made her Philippine theater debut as Maria in “West Side Story,” opposite Christian Bautista.
Ampil’s other notable roles include Mary Magdalene in the West End revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” Éponine and Fantine in two different runs of “Les Misérables,” and Mimi in “Rent,” among others.
