‘Miss Saigon’ actor to celebrate 30th year in business with fundraising concert

Filipino “Miss Saigon” alumnus Miguel Braganza II will celebrate his 30th year in dance and theater with a fundraising concert in May.

Dubbed “Salamat, Salamat, New York,” the concert aims to raise funds for Braganza's various advocacy projects.  

“For the last three years, besides supporting about 40 musical theater and dance scholars at Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation in Manila, I’ve also been collaborating with various foundations and nonprofit organizations in the Philippines, giving out free arts workshops for Filipino youths,” Braganza said.

“But I need your help to sustain these projects,” he added as he invited “friends in the entertainment industry, both longtime and new supporters, or anyone who has the heart for the arts” to join him in the concert scheduled on May 2.

Braganza said part of the proceeds from the dinner show will go to various arts programs developed by FilinArts for Filipino American youths in the New York Tri-State area.

Originally from the Philippines, Braganza is a Walter Terry scholar in the dance performance and choreography program at Harvard University in the ‘80s, and assistant to Tony Award-winning director John Dexter in the original Broadway production of “M. Butterfly” from 1988-1990.

He joined the cast of the US and international productions of Cameron Mackintosh’s megamusical “Miss Saigon” for 14 years.

Produced by the nonprofit organization Filipinos in the Arts in America, Inc. (FilinArts), in cooperation with Queens Asian Fest, “Salamat, Salamat, New York” will feature an international cast and fashion designer Arielle Agasang’s haute couture collection.

“Salamat, Salamat New York” will take place at Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel at 7:30 p.m. — KBK, GMA News