IMA CASTRO played the lead role in “Miss Saigon” for almost ten years, not only in London but also in Manila and many other parts of the U.K. during its tour. She met her husband, a British actor named David who was playing Chris to her Kim, while doing “Miss Saigon” in London. They got married in 2003. Sadly, the marriage didn’t work and they parted ways in 2007. “We officially got divorced in 2009,” says Ima. She won’t go into the details of their separation we gather that her husband found another woman. “May asawa na uli siya. I never thought I’d be a diborsiyada. We’re not friends and I don’t want anything to do with him.”
After her stint in “Miss Saigon” ended in 2006, she did ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’. “But it didn’t do well. I then did ‘Bohemia’ for the National Theatre and some short films. I also became a member of a compilation theatre called ‘A Touch of West End’ that performed all over U.K. and also in Dubai.”
Director Bobby Garcia of Atlantis Productions asked her if she’d like to audition for their staging of “Aida”. “I sent him an audition reel from London and now, I’m playing the title role of the slave who falls in love with an Egyptian prince. Not only that, I’m also in the cast of their next production, ‘In The Heights’. Both shows did good in Broadway but they were never staged in London. Siguro they thought hindi bagay sa audience doon. But I really love ‘Aida’ and the music of Elton John so I feel so lucky that I’m doing it here in Manila. I get to do five solo numbers, including the fabulous ‘Written in the Stars’ and ‘Dance of the Robe’. I’m also losing weight kasi tumaba ako. I already lost 10 lbs. but I need to lose some more before we open on June 14 at the RCBC Theatre in Makati.”
After her stint in “Miss Saigon” ended in 2006, she did ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’. “But it didn’t do well. I then did ‘Bohemia’ for the National Theatre and some short films. I also became a member of a compilation theatre called ‘A Touch of West End’ that performed all over U.K. and also in Dubai.”
Director Bobby Garcia of Atlantis Productions asked her if she’d like to audition for their staging of “Aida”. “I sent him an audition reel from London and now, I’m playing the title role of the slave who falls in love with an Egyptian prince. Not only that, I’m also in the cast of their next production, ‘In The Heights’. Both shows did good in Broadway but they were never staged in London. Siguro they thought hindi bagay sa audience doon. But I really love ‘Aida’ and the music of Elton John so I feel so lucky that I’m doing it here in Manila. I get to do five solo numbers, including the fabulous ‘Written in the Stars’ and ‘Dance of the Robe’. I’m also losing weight kasi tumaba ako. I already lost 10 lbs. but I need to lose some more before we open on June 14 at the RCBC Theatre in Makati.”