Opera Australia has announced that Abigail Adriano, 18, will make her mainstage lead debut in the coveted role of Kim in the new Australian production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Miss Saigon, slated to open at the Sydney Opera House in August.

For Adriano, following in the footsteps of the likes of Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim at age 17 and Eva Noblezada, who received a Tony nomination for her performance on Broadway, holds strong personal significance.

“Growing up, I would binge-watch clips of Lea Salonga as Kim, and I’ve watched the 25th-anniversary Miss Saigon film with Eva multiple times,” Adriano said. “I snot-level-cry every single time. As a kid, you’re drawn to characters you can see yourself in. Kim was that role. Not only because she is Asian like me, but because, in the face of it all, she never ever backs down.”

Abigail Adriano. Photo © Daniel Boud

Out of hundreds of auditioning hopefuls, the Sydney-born Adriano was the clear standout, said producer Cameron Mackintosh.

“Abi moved the whole room to tears. I knew immediately that she was extra special as I did when I first auditioned Lea...