Sa isang recent video post ng GMG Productions, ibinahagi ni Aicelle Santos ang isang touching moment na ibinahagi niya kasama ang Miss Saigon composer na si Claude-Michel Schönberg.
(Aicelle Santos during the red carpet premiere of Miss Saigon in Cologne, Germany in January 2019)
READ: Aicelle Santos to play Gigi in Miss Saigon UK tour
READ: Aicelle Santos goes on leave from Miss Saigon due to this ailment
"It was supposed to be a secret," simula ni Aicelle.
"My first audition for Miss Saigon was in 2016. I had no theater background.
“In 2018, my manager asked me to audition for Gigi. Despite my reservations, I decided to give it a try."
Hindi raw masyadong umasa si Aicelle, dahil naalala niya ang kanyang hindi magandang karanasan sa unang audition.
(Aicelle training with assistant choreographer Arnold Trinidad for the UK tour)
"When I auditioned, there was this white guy in front of me.
“I sang, but he said, 'You're too nice. Do you know Gigi's background?'
“I realized I didn't know much about Miss Saigon, but he shared the full narrative and asked me to sing again."
"As I sang again, a tear fell from my eye. He said, 'Okay, we'll just call you.'"
READ: Aicelle Santos says portraying Elsa in Himala is harder than Gigi in Miss Saigon
Weeks later, Aicelle received the news that she had landed the role of Gigi Van Tranh to tour the UK with Miss Saigon, performing in Southampton, Manchester, Hippodrome, Plymouth, Norwich, Alhambra, Sunderland, and Zurich.
(Three generations of Gigis: L-R: Aicelle Santos (UK tour 2018), Isay Alvarez-Sena (original West End cast, 1989) and Kiara Dario, current Gigi in Miss Saigon's ongoing 2024 international tour)
Sa isa sa mga shows, si Gerald Santos, another Filipino cast member playing Thuy, asked her, "Who auditioned you?"
"Basta may puting mama," sagot ni Aicelle. "Hindi ko sure, e, kung sino?"
Nagbanggit daw si Gerald ng mga pangalan para maalala at ipinakita ang isang programa ng Miss Saigon.
Tinuro ni Aicelle ang larawan ng lalaki na nag-audition sa kanya, at doon lang daw niya natuklasan na ito pala ay walang iba kundi si Claude-Michel Schönberg, ang composer mismo ng Miss Saigon.
"Embarrassed," sabi ni Aicelle, "Oh my God... Was that him? I was so glad I didn't know.
“If I did, I would've been a nervous wreck and probably wouldn't have done well in my auditions!"