From Chorus to Lead in ‘Miss Saigon’ | The New York Times

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  • Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
  • When "Miss Saigon" first looked to Broadway in 1990, controversy erupted over the fact that a white man was portraying a lead role. Jon Jon Briones, who is Asian, was in the chorus then. Today, he is one of the show's stars.
    Read the story here: nyti.ms/2mXj8kW
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    From Chorus to Lead in ÷Miss Saigon' | The New York Times
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Комментарии • 119

  • @YanaKFaldas
    @YanaKFaldas 7 лет назад +565

    Thats crazy he got into theatre while studying engineering and then he became the Engineer in a theatre production LOL

    • @JD-ht7yw
      @JD-ht7yw 2 года назад +1

      😂😂

    • @Protactiny
      @Protactiny 5 месяцев назад

      Cool Hhahaha 😂😂😂

  • @lee6198
    @lee6198 6 лет назад +90

    I saw Miss Saigon on Broadway last night. Jon Jon Briones performance was one of the best Broadway performances I have ever seen. He was EXCELLENT. His sleazy swagger and mannerisms during "The American Dream"... OMG. Perfect!

  • @Analblockage
    @Analblockage 6 лет назад +560

    The fact he wasn't nominated for a tony is a crime. He literally stole the show.

    • @rumblefish9
      @rumblefish9 5 лет назад +6

      I agree.

    • @gotar5835
      @gotar5835 4 года назад +2

      Who? The person at 0:03?
      Fact: he’s my uncle

    • @morgansherrill
      @morgansherrill 3 года назад

      @@gotar5835 seriously??!

  • @markmatel4631
    @markmatel4631 7 лет назад +211

    I just watched Miss Saigon on Broadway last week and he was amazing as the Engineer! The show was awesome!

    • @tjizzleone
      @tjizzleone 7 лет назад +7

      I saw it last week. He is so brilliant and breathtaking in the role!

    • @lejenddairy
      @lejenddairy 7 лет назад +4

      Mark Matel same. I saw it two weeks ago. He nailed the role, especially the voice.

  • @fionaadvincula
    @fionaadvincula 7 лет назад +92

    I have so much respect for this man. As someone who wants to experience playing a part on Broadway even if it's just once, I'm inspired by how he was able to do what he's very passionate about even if it took a long time before he got to do it. Saludo ako sayo Kuya Jonjon! I hope to be able to do that too. Someday.

  • @evileyez504
    @evileyez504 6 лет назад +43

    Saw him in the Assasination of Gianni Versace and wow! 3 minutes in and you are just blown away! i really hope this means that he'll be in movies, he is that great, he needs to be in big time movies...Never thought I'd say "he needs an Oscar for a TV portrayal"

  • @tomgallowitz
    @tomgallowitz 3 года назад +9

    What amazes me is he was there at the beginning of both Lea and Eva’s careers he watched them from green teens making their debuts to becoming West End and Broadway leading ladies

  • @queen11187
    @queen11187 4 года назад +5

    Another filipino pride.. I watched this musical online.. he makes everyone laugh, he is the star of the night I swear!!

  • @musicalsplays3583
    @musicalsplays3583 7 лет назад +68

    a filipino! MABUHAY!

    • @MsLansones
      @MsLansones 7 лет назад +1

      jers guiva Listen to him...

    • @ramyel123
      @ramyel123 7 лет назад

      I din't know that too. :-), mabuhay ang mga Filipino.

  • @ilaanaweerasinghe7642
    @ilaanaweerasinghe7642 3 года назад +3

    I just watched this last night at 5 am and now I'm obssesed with Miss Saigon! I swear this guy is literally THE BEST. He literally sold the whole show. Funny guy man... Funny guy.

  • @martineyles
    @martineyles 4 года назад +1

    He played the part very well at the West End. I had American Dream stuck in my head after the show, and played it on a station piano before heading home. Very glad they filmed it too, so I can enjoy the show again. Never twigged that was a wig before seeing this interview and behind the scenes coverage.

  • @renbajala
    @renbajala 7 лет назад +127

    I wonder most of main casts in Miss Saigon are Filipinos, they could have chosen Vietnamese for the roles. I guess that shows Filipino singers are world class.

    • @ramyel123
      @ramyel123 7 лет назад +18

      True, :-), Filipino singers are world class. :-)

    • @lejenddairy
      @lejenddairy 7 лет назад +43

      I guess it's like having a British man play an American in a movie. Happens a lot and you can't even tell they are English until you hear them talk outside of character.

    • @samanthanguyen4845
      @samanthanguyen4845 7 лет назад +12

      because Vietnamese girls don't want to act in a shameful role

    • @cindymananzalamartinez6679
      @cindymananzalamartinez6679 7 лет назад +7

      shameful only to you

    • @cindymananzalamartinez6679
      @cindymananzalamartinez6679 7 лет назад +6

      and its shameful coz you couldnt...even if you wanted to....you know,sing and act

  • @Esgalben
    @Esgalben 7 лет назад +28

    i wonder what his age was during the first audition. i had always thought you'd never achieve sounding like a native speaker if you arrived in the states when you're too old and i thought late teens is too old. perhaps theater training helped a ton.

    • @ijey82
      @ijey82 7 лет назад +30

      He was around 23. I'm pretty sure it was a bit of an exaggeration that he never spoke English before. It was more he never spoke English exclusively in conversation.

  • @bignigmcgee3713
    @bignigmcgee3713 5 лет назад +8

    This man stole the only thing you can’t get arrested for stealing... the show!

  • @carolinabelle58
    @carolinabelle58 6 лет назад +5

    I saw Jon Jon Briones play The Engineer last October from the 2nd row at the Broadway Theater. He was incredible...magnificent!! And then to see him play Andrew Cunanan's father (Darren Criss💕😎💕) The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story...wow. He nailed the part!!!

    • @irishernandez6361
      @irishernandez6361 6 лет назад +1

      wowwwww that's the reason he was so familiar!!! talented guy!

  • @truckerant3051
    @truckerant3051 7 лет назад +1

    Jon Jon is truly amazing . Seen him twice in this show and plays the part so well

  • @daveteves
    @daveteves 7 лет назад +275

    Those subtitles aren't really necessary though.

    • @josefienw
      @josefienw 7 лет назад +54

      Dave Teves they are for the hearing impaired

    • @daveteves
      @daveteves 7 лет назад +11

      I don't think that the hearing impaired would watch a RUclips video about a musical.

    • @dontpugme
      @dontpugme 7 лет назад +80

      There are many hearing impaired actors and fans of musical theater.

    • @JRipley15
      @JRipley15 7 лет назад +30

      Deaf West.

    • @MayenPineda
      @MayenPineda 7 лет назад +20

      spring awakening by deaf west tho

  • @joshbratherton9295
    @joshbratherton9295 6 лет назад +5

    Saw Jon Jon as the engineer in London in 2015. I came out of the theatre amazed at the man's talent and charisma. He was a performance machine, and it was a pleasure to see such talent in the flesh :)

  • @Sophiewophie45
    @Sophiewophie45 6 лет назад +6

    Jon Jon Briones is my faveeee engineer 😻

  • @gabbysokolowski9500
    @gabbysokolowski9500 6 лет назад +1

    i watched him perform in november he was amazing!

  • @ramonpurugganan6865
    @ramonpurugganan6865 3 года назад +1

    My God, Jon Jon is so brilliant an actor.

  • @truhunk1
    @truhunk1 6 лет назад +1

    We saw Jon Jon in New York. He was really good. So was Kim and the rest of course.

  • @septan4168
    @septan4168 6 лет назад +10

    Is he the one from gianni versace? Darren chris' dad?

  • @kathleenw6984
    @kathleenw6984 7 лет назад +21

    So the original cast was criticized because both the Engineer and Thuy were played by Caucasian men sporting "yellow-face". The character of Thuy is, as far as anyone can know, 100% Vietnamese and therefore should always be played by an Asian actor. The Engineer, however, is half-Vietnamese and half-French, so therefore he is as much white as he is Asian. Preferably another bi-racial man should play him, but if there is not a suitable bi-racial actor to play the role, a white man has as much a right to do it as a fully Asian man.
    EDIT: Thuy could also be played by a bi-racial actor with predominantly Asian features.

    • @lejenddairy
      @lejenddairy 7 лет назад +5

      Just because an Asian and a Frenchmen breed, doesn't mean that the offspring is going to look white or biracial. I know someone who looks 100% Asian and it turned out that her mother was white. But set that aside, Jon Jon is the best engineer yet in my opinion and has the perfect voice.

  • @bunnygarden215
    @bunnygarden215 3 года назад +1

    He was just brilliant in this! Made the show!

  • @MadameCorgi
    @MadameCorgi 6 лет назад +1

    Jon Jon is fabulous. Saw him in London.

  • @muzikizfun
    @muzikizfun 3 года назад

    And this guy adds an air of authenticity that can't be matched no matter how great the non Asian actor is!

  • @hannahosullivan5450
    @hannahosullivan5450 6 лет назад +2

    He’s very good looking. Not as the engineer but irl

  • @Teriyaki418
    @Teriyaki418 2 года назад

    I saw the 1991 and the most recent iteration of Miss Saigon. Mr. Briones more than hold his own within the ensemble and the outsized shadow of Mr. Pierce’s performance in the same role.

  • @ServandoWatercolor
    @ServandoWatercolor 4 года назад +8

    i think in one interview with lea salonga, she said that if you are qualified for the role then it doesn’t matter what your race is.....wouldn’t that apply to jonathan price? never demand for a subjective field like art to be fair n politically correct, once you dictate how art is, it becomes fake

  • @airwinserranoditianquin5454
    @airwinserranoditianquin5454 4 года назад +1

    Wow! Just wow.

  • @pbbmlangsakalamtvbeybe
    @pbbmlangsakalamtvbeybe 2 года назад

    Galing talaga Jon Jon briones 🤗🤗🤗

  • @raqsxz03
    @raqsxz03 2 года назад

    Always proud that I’m a Filipino 🇵🇭❤️

  • @trentalpha7749
    @trentalpha7749 3 года назад +1

    He could play a biopic of Jose Rizal

  • @brianeduardo1234
    @brianeduardo1234 6 лет назад +1

    He was superb in the role made all the difference.... mad when you think of it that they had an English man in the role - it would be like an English girl playing Kim....

  • @_preciousamber_
    @_preciousamber_ 6 лет назад +1

    Jon Jon is phenomenal!

  • @BestVietnameseMovies
    @BestVietnameseMovies 7 лет назад +1

    Miss Saigon - Vsense movies

  • @clarencebermundo7395
    @clarencebermundo7395 7 лет назад +1

    Proud Kababayan here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @takerhapsody
    @takerhapsody 6 лет назад +1

    Best Engineer ever

  • @deesanti6212
    @deesanti6212 6 лет назад +2

    Filipinose are really talented. I guess they are one of the best when it comes to talent.

  • @buhkangliwayway
    @buhkangliwayway 2 года назад

    HE IS BRILLIANT WHY HAS HE NOT WON A TONY

  • @matenain3101
    @matenain3101 4 года назад

    So they said he revived his role from the original cast but then later said Pryce played the role in the original cast. I’m confused?

    • @ilaw0220
      @ilaw0220 4 года назад

      he was part of the chorus in the original cast, he was not the engineer at that time. Pryce was the first engineer.

  • @shenic5131
    @shenic5131 Год назад

    "First time speaking in English" What? Being born and raised in the Philippines means at the very start you step into a classroom, kindergarten that is, English was the language used in all subjects except Filipino and AP. You were asked by your teachers in English, right?

  • @Sodapop-gi4bu
    @Sodapop-gi4bu 7 лет назад +7

    Kind of ironic how ny times made this video but gave the show itself a pretty bad review 😂

    • @tomgallowitz
      @tomgallowitz 7 лет назад +11

      Sodapop246 8 It's more of audience show than critics show, it's basically critic proof at this point.

  • @liwang1234
    @liwang1234 Год назад

    loved her laugh❤

  • @nagwagi2000
    @nagwagi2000 4 года назад +1

    Well if ya gonna nitpick then a Filipino actor has no business playing in a Vietnamese role. Pryce was BRILLIANT as The Engineer PERIOD! Get over yourselves!

    • @s.t.santos5928
      @s.t.santos5928 3 года назад

      Vietnamese and Pinoys have similar facial features that may be interchanged; can't be said of a Caucasian vs. an Asian.

    • @nagwagi2000
      @nagwagi2000 3 года назад

      @@s.t.santos5928 Dumb racist comment. You have no business speaking for the Vietnamese, and as a Filipino I have to disagree with your callous statement. Never thought I'd see a "rice is rice" type comment from an Asian!

    • @s.t.santos5928
      @s.t.santos5928 3 года назад

      @@nagwagi2000 Racist? Do you even understand what you are talking about? YOU get over yourself.

  • @ciociosan
    @ciociosan 4 года назад

    And now he’s on Ratched.

  • @Mahal2006
    @Mahal2006 7 лет назад +5

    Well Lea Salonga played Fontene in Les Mis and she's asian playing a white woman. So why can't a white or black play the engineer with all the make up and prosthetic. Yes ideally, you would not to go through extreme measures to alter a look to fit the bill but to say absolutely it should be an asian, i think contradicts the essence of the art of acting, which is putting on make up and prosthetic and make believe accents.

    • @fannishfanning160
      @fannishfanning160 7 лет назад

      Mahal Kita Look up Lea Salonga's answer regards that.

    • @meredithchandler73
      @meredithchandler73 3 года назад

      @@BryanMorcilla I think casting for LES MIZ was color blind *after* Lea. I don't think there were any people of color in lead roles until her.

  • @CrimsonAlchemist
    @CrimsonAlchemist Год назад

    The BEST Engineer! He's better than the white original actor

  • @eugenecombo1873
    @eugenecombo1873 6 месяцев назад

    He was better than Jonathan Pryce to be honest.

  • @TheXeeman
    @TheXeeman 6 лет назад

    omg it's kripp!!

  • @wearashirt
    @wearashirt 5 месяцев назад

    Hooo hiii... _______ ako!

  • @charlotteconnelly6623
    @charlotteconnelly6623 7 лет назад +1

    EVAAA

  • @leotorres6190
    @leotorres6190 3 года назад

    Ow well im a asian, but i prefer the original engineer, not beacause of you and they picked the asian one.

  • @queenShoee
    @queenShoee 4 года назад

    Good artist deserve praises although the paradox is that Miss Saigon is truly A Great Racist Musical

  • @shamcee1893
    @shamcee1893 7 лет назад +9

    on hindsight...isn't Eponine and Fantine suppose to be French(and white)? Can we say then that they casted Salonga and Go incorrectly in Les Miz? lol

    • @fannishfanning160
      @fannishfanning160 7 лет назад +1

      Sham Cee Look for Lea Salonga's answer in regards to that. LOL @ you too

  • @ivianieexinor5540
    @ivianieexinor5540 4 года назад

    Can there be a black Kim toooo