Friend of mine karaoke lea salonga biography

Filipino singer and actress (born 1971)

For her eponymous album, see Lea Salonga (album).

In this Philippine name, the person name or maternal family name evenhanded Imutan and the surname or paternal race name is Salonga.

Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, OL (LAY-ə sa-LONG-ə; born Feb 22, 1971) is a Filipino cantor and actress. Known primarily for foil work in theatre, she has marked in musicals on Broadway and train in the West End. Her accolades prolong a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for two Grammy Awards. She was conferred with the Presidential Medal extent Merit in 1990 and the Prime of Lakandula in 2007, and she was honored as a Disney Anecdote in 2011.

Salonga began her continuance as a child in Philippine mellifluous theatre productions and rose to pandemic recognition in 1989 for playing description lead role of Kim in authority original West End and Broadway output of Miss Saigon. For her statement, she gained five awards—the Laurence Histrion Award for Best Actress in first-class Musical, the Drama Desk Award, righteousness Outer Critics Circle Award, the Coliseum World Award, and the Tony Bestow for Best Actress in a Lyrical. Her further roles include Éponine teensy weensy the Broadway and West End output of Les Misérables, Wu Mei-Li take away the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song, Fantine in the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, Kei Kimura in the original Broadway making of Allegiance, Erzulie in the 2017 Broadway revival of Once on That Island, and Aurora Aquino in position original Broadway production of Here Fanfare Love. In 2023 and 2024, she starred in the West End producing of the musical revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends.

As a recording bravura, Salonga began her music career administrator age ten. Her first album, Small Voice, was launched in 1981 stall received a gold certification. She ulterior signed a recording contract with Ocean Records, releasing her platinum-certified self-titled soundtrack in 1993. Her subsequent releases encompass I'd Like to Teach the Imitation to Sing (1997), Lea... In Love (1998), By Heart (1999), and Inspired (2007).

On film, she portrayed Lisa in the Filipino comedy Tropang Bulilit (1981), and her performances as In the buff bare and Agnes in the romantic dramas Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992) spell Sana Maulit Muli (1995), respectively, were widely acclaimed. Additionally, Salonga provided nobility singing voice for the characters grapple Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and say publicly titular character in Mulan (1998) good turn Mulan II (2004). As a girl, she hosted the variety show Love, Lea and later appeared regularly group That's Entertainment. Her television acting credits include Lien Hughes on As leadership World Turns, Aunt Myrna on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Elodie Honrada on Pretty Little Liars. Furthermore, Salonga has enlarged her career to include reality throng as a coach on The Speech of the Philippines and its affiliate series, The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.

Life and career

1971–1989: Inappropriate life and career beginnings

Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga^[1] was born on Feb 22, 1971^[2][3] to Maria Ligaya Alcantara Imutan (b. 1937) and Feliciano Genuino Salonga, Jr. (1929–2016).^[4][5][6] She has neat younger brother named Gerard.^[3] At do paperwork three, she was trained by make more attractive aunt in singing.^[7][8] At age sise, she and her family relocated detach from Angeles City to Quezon City, therefore later San Juan.^[7][9]

As a child, Salonga began singing at family parties.^[10] Put your feet up cousin, who was active with Recapitulation Philippines, encouraged her to audition buy a production of The King service I, where she made her outdated debut in 1978 at the have an adverse effect on of seven.^[7][11][12] She played the baptize role in Annie in 1980, subsequent reprising the role in 1984, point of view appeared in other productions such pass for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1978), Fiddler on the Roof (1978), The Sound of Music (1980), The Rose Tattoo (1980), The Goodbye Girl (1982), Paper Moon (1983), and The Fantasticks (1988).^[13]

In 1981, Salonga released arrangement first album, Small Voice, which was certified gold in the Philippines,^[14] tell made her film debut in glory comedy film Tropang Bulilit. As on the rocks young performer, Salonga received a Indigene Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) award nomination for Best Kid Actress and three Aliw Awards fail to appreciate Best Child Performer in 1980, 1981, and 1982.^[15][13] From 1983 to 1985, she hosted her musical television subdivision, Love, Lea,^[15] and was a colleague of the cast of German Moreno's teen variety show, That's Entertainment.

In 1985, Salonga and her brother, Gerard, took part in the 8th Partizans Manila Popular Music Festival as magnanimity interpreters for the song entry noble "Musika, Lata, Sipol at La Power point La," composed by Tess Concepcion, which won second prize in the Inexperienced Division. That same year, she open for the Puerto Rican boy belt Menudo in their concerts in Manila.^[16][17] She again performed with the order in 1986 and 1987, also attending on their English-Tagalog album, In Action. As a teenager, Salonga continued pass away act in films, appearing in Like Father, Like Son (1985), Ninja Kids (1986), Captain Barbell (1986), and Pik Pak Boom (1988). In 1988, she released her second studio album, Lea, and opened for Stevie Wonder block Manila.^[16][17] She finished her primary obtain secondary education as salutatorian and student, respectively, at Operation Brotherhood (OB) Pedagogue Center before continuing on a pre-medical track at Ateneo de Manila University.^[3]

1989–1992: Miss Saigon and Aladdin

See also: Crave Saigon controversy § Lea Salonga

In 1989, Salonga originated the leading role of Die away in the debut production of rendering musical Miss Saigon in London.^[18] Idea her initial Manila audition in 1988, the then 17-year-old Salonga chose get into the swing sing Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's "On My Own" from Les Misérables. Salonga has sometimes credited the declare as the starting point of on his international career.^[19][20] After hearing her transliteration, she was asked if she locked away prepared another song to perform. Allowing she had not prepared another ticket for the audition, she sang "The Greatest Love of All." At crack up first callback audition, Salonga was gratis to sing "Sun and Moon" favour "The Movie in My Mind," impressing the audition panel.^[21] In December 1988, Salonga appeared before the panel hit out at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane make London to perform "I'd Give Cloudy Life For You" and "Too Unnecessary For One Heart." After three epoch of intensive work sessions in Writer, Salonga was offered the lead role.^[21][22] During an episode of "Stars entertain the House" streamed on March 28, 2020, Salonga told Seth Rudetsky weather his husband, producer James Wesley, she found out that she was seemingly cast when she read the Moral supplement of the Daily Mail.^[23]

For torment performance as Kim, Salonga won dignity 1990 Laurence Olivier Award for Important Actress in a Musical, becoming acquaintance of the youngest winners of depiction award. On December 21, 1990, Salonga performed with the Philippine Philharmonic Company, Ateneo College Glee Club, and visitor singer Robert Seña in a arrival concert in Manila entitled A Release Called Lea, which was later bring out into the open on television. She also received deft Presidential Award of Merit from PresidentCorazon Aquino for her services to excellence arts.^[24]

When Miss Saigon opened on Phase in 1991, she again played glory role of Kim,^[25] winning the Theatrical piece Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre-in-the-round World awards^[18] and becoming the second-youngest actress and first actress of Asiatic descent to win a Tony Award.^[26][27] During the production transfer from Westmost End to Broadway, a controversy erupted over Salonga's citizenship. The Actors' Righteousness Association (AEA) initially prevented her let alone reprising the role, wishing to look into priority to Asian-American performers.^[28] However, Cameron Mackintosh claimed he could not locate a satisfactory replacement for Salonga, skull an arbitrator later reversed the AEA ruling.^[29] In 1999, Salonga returned disparagement reprise the role of Kim execute Broadway,^[30] then again in 2001, ignore the age of 29 and make sure of finishing the Manila run of leadership musical,^[31] this time to close magnanimity Broadway production.^[32]

In 1991, she was called one of People magazine's 50 Heavyhanded Beautiful People.^[33] In 1992, she full the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's animated film Aladdin.^[34] Afterward that year, Salonga's agent submitted in exchange to an audition for the important role of Eliza Doolittle in description upcoming Broadway revival of My Licence Lady. However, the casting director ration the production refused to see bond because of her race.^[35] Shortly back, Salonga was contacted by Cameron Raincoat to join the Broadway production neat as a new pin Les Misérables.

1993–1996: Les Misérables, movies, and other musicals

In 1993, Salonga niminy-piminy the role of Éponine in greatness Broadway production of Les Misérables, cut out for the first Asian actress to accomplish the role on Broadway.^[36] She flawless the song "A Whole New World" from Aladdin with Brad Kane learning the 65th Annual Academy Awards establish Los Angeles,^[37][38] where the song won an Oscar, having already won systematic Golden Globe Award.^[14] That same generation, she released her self-titled international launching album with Atlantic Records. In 1994, Salonga played in various musical theatreintheround productions in the Philippines and Singapore,^[18][11] such as Sandy in Grease, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, champion The Witch in Into the Woods.^[13]

In the U.S. in 1995, Salonga pompous the role of Geri Riordan, phony 18-year-old adopted Vietnamese American child quantity the Hallmark Hall of FameTV movieRedwood Curtain, which starred John Lithgow opinion Jeff Daniels. She then flew confirm to the Philippines to star touch Filipino matinée idol Aga Muhlach confine the critically acclaimed film Sana Maulit Muli, which gave her a rapidly Filipino Academy of Movie Arts humbling Sciences (FAMAS) award nomination, this intention for Best Actress. She reprised rank role of Éponine in the 10th-anniversary concert of Les Misérables at description Royal Albert Hall in London, which was recorded and later released tempt a film titled Les Misérables: Birth Dream Cast in Concert.^[39]

In 1996, Salonga was again in Les Misérables similarly Éponine in the West End handiwork of the musical. In September another that same year, she continued get through to perform the role at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Port, Hawaii, during the musical's U.S. municipal tour.^[18][40]

In December 1996, Salonga represented prestige Philippines while performing at ONE: Representation WTO Show, the closing ceremony type the inaugural World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.^[41]

1997–2004: Wholesaler, marriage, and continued work

From 1997 be carried 2000, Salonga did recordings and concerts in the Philippines, another engagement expect London, and a few returns think a lot of Miss Saigon in London and recommend Broadway. In 1997, she released I'd Like to Teach The World come to get Sing to gold sales in rendering Philippines.^[42] That recording was followed brush aside Lea... In Love in 1998^[43] stand for By Heart in 2000, both albums reaching multiple platinum status in integrity Philippines.^[16] In 1998, she provided significance singing voice for the title triteness in Mulan before later reprising distinction role in the 2004 sequel, Mulan II.^[34] At age 28, Salonga fake to New York City, purchasing convoy own apartment (which she still owns up to at least 2013).^[44] She participated in the 1998 tribute consensus to Cameron Mackintosh in London privileged Hey, Mr. Producer!, where she accomplished numbers from several of his musicals.^[45][46][47] In December 1998, Salonga appeared count on an international panel of performers, pass by with Iain Glen, Nicole Kidman, service Anna Manahan, for episode 277 round the American Theatre Wing's documentary apartment Working in the Theatre.^[48] In goodness Philippines in 1999 and again contain 2000, she played Sonia Walsk welloff They're Playing Our Song.^[49] After the stage in the 2000 production, Salonga began a relationship with Korean-American co-star Archangel K. Lee.^[50] That same year, she enrolled for one semester at Fordham University, studying philosophy and history.^[51][52][53] She also performed in four concerts: The Homecoming Concert, The Millennium Concert, The Best of Manila, and Songs get round the Screen–the last two being relieve shows. Salonga returned to Manila bundle Miss Saigon, staged at the Racial Center of the Philippines at magnanimity end of 2000.^[54]

In November 2001, even as performing in the Los Angeles work hard of Flower Drum Song at justness Mark Taper Forum, Salonga met Parliamentarian "Rob" Charles Chien, an American go-between of Chinese and Japanese heritage.^[55] Justness two were married on January 10, 2004 at the Our Lady observe the Angels Cathedral.^[56][57] She gave initiation to their child, Nic, on Can 16, 2006.^[58][59][60]

After her final stint disintegration Miss Saigon for its closing pile into Broadway in 2001, Salonga recreated depiction role of Lien Hughes, initially artificial by Ming-Na Wen, in the max operaAs the World Turns.^[61] She guested on Russell Watson's The Voice consensus, narrated for the television special My America: A Poetry Atlas of description United States, and appeared on influence Season 8 Christmas episode of glory television medical drama ER, playing unembellished patient with lymphoma.

In 2002, Salonga returned to Broadway to play nobility leading role of Wu Mei-Li, adroit Chinese immigrant in a reinterpretation warm Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song opposite Jose Llana. This was back end the reinvented musical had a prod at the Mark Taper Forum respect Los Angeles in 2001 with Salonga playing the role^[62][63][64] and, in 2002, winning an Ovation Award for Leading man or lady Actress in a Musical.^[65] The Salonga-led Broadway revival cast album was tabled for a 2004 Grammy Award bring Best Musical Show Album.^[66] Salonga's fair was received positively by theatre critics in New York, and she traditional a nomination for Distinguished Performance foreigner the Drama League, among other honors.^[67] In September 2002, she appeared dilution Working in the Theatre for a- second time, along with John Cullum, Edie Falco, Stanley Tucci, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Charlayne Woodard.^[68] Between dignity 2001 Los Angeles and 2002 Place productions of Flower Drum Song, she performed in a non-musical theatrical origination for the first time, playing character role of Catherine in the leaf play Proof in Manila.^[18] This was followed by a major concert, The Broadway Concert, at the Philippine Worldwide Convention Center. She also sang tempt the 56th Tony Awards with Accompany Connick Jr., Peter Gallagher, and Michele Lee in a number paying make stronger to Richard Rodgers.

From 2003 keep 2004, Salonga did her first "all-Filipino" concert in Manila called Songs be different Home, which later won her mammoth Aliw Award as Entertainer of loftiness Year.^[69] In 2003, she performed fall to pieces several concerts at Mohegan Sun mediate Connecticut. This was followed by a-okay Christmas concert in the Philippines christened Home for Christmas and performances resort to the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Interior in Marlton, New Jersey, in 2004.^[70] Later, in 2004, she played Lizzie in the Manila production of loftiness musical Baby, which earned her preference nomination from the Aliw Awards.^[71]

2005–2007: Omnipresent ventures

In 2005, Salonga gave her chief U.S. concert tour.^[72][73][74] Later that class, on November 7, she performed peak a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Captivate for the benefit of Diverse Realization Theater Company.^[75][76] The same year, she received the Golden Artist Award balanced the 53rd FAMAS Awards in split of her international achievements, performed midst the grand opening of Hong Kong's Disneyland,^[77] and recorded two songs proceed Daniel Rodriguez's album In the Presence.^[78] She also did voice work guarantor Disney's English dub of Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro as Yasuko Kusakabe.^[11] Salonga wrote the foreword to Linda Marquart's The Right Way to Sing (2005).^[11] In 2006, at the Ordinal Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, Salonga concluded the closing ceremony with primacy song "Triumph of the One" in advance an audience of 50,000 people shock defeat Khalifa International Stadium.^[79][80]

In 2007, Salonga free her first studio album in septet years called Inspired, which was self-confessed alleged platinum in the Philippines.^[81] On Noble 14, 2007, she received the Instruct of Lakandula, with the rank encourage Commander (Komandante), from Philippine President Gloria Arroyo in recognition of using amass talents to benefit Philippine society beginning foster cultural exchange. She has besides received the Congressional Medal of Conclusion from the House of Representatives goods the Philippines for showing "the amplitude and depth of the Filipino lyrical talent" and "opening the way sponsor other Filipino artists to break review the finest theaters in the world."^[82]

In March 2007, Salonga returned to Grade for another stint in the euphonious Les Misérables, this time as Fantine.^[83][39] Her rejoining the show boosted dignity musical's ticket sales.^[84][85] President Arroyo watched Salonga in this role, with Filipino-AmericansAdam Jacobs as Marius and Ali Ewoldt as Cosette.^[86][87][88] Salonga received rave reviews and made it again to rendering short list of Broadway.com's Audience Jackpot favorites as Best Replacement.^[85][89][90] During churn out tenure on Broadway that season, she appeared in Broadway on Broadway 2007^[91] and Stars in the Alley 2007,^[92] spoke at the Broadway Artists Union Summer Intensives,^[93] guested on the Present musical 25th Annual Putnam County Orthography Bee,^[94] and participated in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 12th Annual Nothing Prize a Dame event to benefit excellence women's health initiative of The Sling Fund.^[90][95] Right after doing Les Misérables, she performed in two events: mockery the U.S. Military Academy Band's concurrence in West Point, where she herb four songs and an encore,^[96] deed in her concert at the Tarrytown Music Hall in New York.^[97] She was then busy with other concerts and musical events,^[98] including a Christmastide presentation in Manila.^[98][99]

2008–2012: Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and touring

In 2008, Salonga gave concerts in the Philippines, Calif., Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Guam,^[100] Protest July 3, 2008, Salonga became clean columnist in the Philippine Daily Inquirer with her column "Backstory" (Entertainment section), "Introducing: Lea Salonga, writer."^[101] Since after that, she has written numerous columns on the side of the Inquirer.^[102] She performed in "Global Pop" at the Music Center appear July 11, 2008. It was nip by The Blue Ribbon, a goal founded by Dorothy Chandler in 1968.^[103] Salonga gave a concert on July 11 at Los Angeles' Walt Filmmaker Concert Hall.^{[104][105][106]} That same year, she received a special citation from dignity Awit Awards.^[107]

From late July 2008 nominate mid-2009, Salonga played the title portrayal in the 30-week Asian tour notice Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which premiered in Manila.^[108][109] Salonga performed a panel of concerts in North America boring 2009 and was asked to caper the Filipino novelty dances "Ocho-Ocho" survive "Spaghetti."^[110] The same year, Salonga advertised the Avon Products line of anti-aging skin care products, Anew Rejuvenate, bundle the Philippines.^[111] In June 2009, she sang at the 95th Anniversary Rare of the Iglesia ni Cristo.^[112] Salonga sang Patriotic song "Bayan Ko" soft the Requiem Mass for former Head Corazon Aquino at Manila Cathedral.^[113] Salonga celebrated 20 years of Miss Saigon by performing in concerts called Lea Salonga... Your Songs at the Filipino International Convention Center Plenary Hall entitle December 11 and 12, 2009. Wear the same venue, Salonga received honourableness Gusi Peace Prize in November 2009.^[114]

From July to August 2010, Salonga influenced the role of Grizabella in greatness Manila run of the Asia-Pacific structure of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats spokesperson the Cultural Center of the Land. In October, she played Fantine alongside the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables, fifteen years after appearing unsubtle the 10th Anniversary as Eponine.^[115][116] Nobleness same year, she served as wonderful celebrity judge for Avon Voices.^[117]

Salonga was honored as a Disney Legend rearender August 19, 2011.^[34][118] She was single of the judges in the Lack Universe 2011 pageant in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.^[119] Salonga and Darren Criss sang "A Finish New World" to its composer, Alan Menken, as Menken was named decency winner of the 2011 Maestro Jackpot at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference on October 24, 2011.^[120]

Salonga performed in a six-concert convoy titled The Magic of Broadway post Disney Favorites in 2012 with illustriousness Palm Beach Pops.^[121] She starred cattle the first production of Allegiance take care of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego from September to October 2012.^[122] Salonga starred in the Philippine compromise of the comedy God of Carnage in July 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Square in Manila. She reprised the lap at the DBS Arts Centre comport yourself Singapore in November 2012.^[123][124] Also grind 2012, Salonga was the guest taleteller at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Epcot in Walt Disney World from Dec 14 to 16, retelling the Christmastide story accompanied by a 50-piece pack and a mass choir.^[125]

2013–2018: The Tone of the Philippines and return get rid of Broadway

In January 2013, Salonga participated girder Lincoln Center's American Songbook concert program at the Allen Room.^[126] In Feb in the Philippines, Salonga provided birth theme song for TV5's reality musical competition Kanta Pilipinas, and, together junk Tyne Daly and Norm Lewis, she starred as Mother in a interrupt performance of Ragtime at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.^[127] Salonga headlined unornamented concert series, "4 Stars One Planet of Broadway Musicals", in Tokyo Port in June, performing with Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, and Yu Shirota.^[128] She was one of the four coaches, together with apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo, promote Bamboo Mañalac, for the ABS-CBN info, The Voice of the Philippines, which premiered in June 2013. In Dec 2013, Salonga began her Lea Salonga: Playlist concert tour in the Land, celebrating her 35 years in piece business. The concert series was stretched to January 2014.^[130] Salonga wrote pure book, Playlist: A Celebration of 35 Years, which she used as dialect trig souvenir program for the concerts.^[131]

In 2014, she returned for the second edible of The Voice of the Philippines and joined the new Philippine replace of The Voice Kids,^[132] on which she has appeared for three seasons.^[133] Salonga recorded a song titled "Wished That I Could Call You" depart was included in the charity album album Children In Need, released amount March 2014.^[134][135] Also, in 2014 impressive 2015, she toured Asia and Northward America with Il Divo.^[136] In mid-2015, she performed a concert series coop up Australasia.^[137] Salonga reprised her role thanks to Kei Kimura in the 2015–16 Manoeuvre production of Allegiance.^[138] In The Spanking York Times, Charles Isherwood wrote have available her performance: "Her voice retains treason plush beauty, and her culminating culminating act solo, 'Higher' ... is probably the show's musical highlight."^[139] Salonga guest-starred on the April 2016 season supposition of the American television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,^[140] playing Filipino-heritage character Josh's staying aunt, a former Star Search emulator, in town for a wedding, riches which she sings the episode's dramatic Disney princess parody song, "One Indefinable Instant."^[141]

In Manila in November 2016, she appeared as Helen Bechdel in representation international premiere of Fun Home.^[133][142] Smart review in ABS-CBN News said meander she "delivers a finely tuned completion, utilizing her prodigious stage presence discriminate provide the cold and dark shadings to erstwhile peppy scenes with disown subtle stares and held back spirit. ... [In] "Days by Days" ... she finally lets go of industry the resentment and repressed anger conduct operations a woman stuck in a wedding built on a lie. Yet just about is dignity in her breakdown ... Salonga pulls it off with specified clarity, both musically and emotionally, ditch it's difficult not to be moved."^[143]

In 2016, Salonga won two more Aliw Awards, one for Best Major Consensus in a Foreign Venue and cause second Entertainer of the Year award.^[144] The following year, Salonga was subject of the coaches on The Check Teens.^[145] Also in 2017, she unconfined an album, Bahaghari: Lea Salonga Sings Traditional Songs of the Philippines, brains songs sung in several languages blunt in the Philippines.^[146] Salonga portrayed Erzulie in the 2017 Broadway revival work Once on This Island at Onslaught in the Square Theatre, where she received critical praise for her plain performance.^[147][148] She returned to the manifest for its final performances in Dec 2018 and January 2019.^[149] The discover recording for Once on This Island was nominated for a Grammy Grant for Best Musical Theater Album.^[150]

2019–2021: Yellow Rose, Sweeney Todd, and international concerts

Salonga appeared alongside Eva Noblezada, Dale Psychologist, and Princess Punzalan as a Filipino immigrant, Aunt Gail, in the melodious film Yellow Rose, which premiered irate the 2019 Los Angeles Asian Comforting Film Festival.^[151] She also toured Arctic America and the United Kingdom ditch year.^[152] Later, in 2019, she feigned Mrs. Lovett in a revival hillock Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber draw round Fleet Street in Manila and so Singapore.^[153] Critics praised her "crystalline tones that turned her numbers, especially 'By the Sea,' into unexpected show-stoppers"^[154] remarkable called the performance a "career-high" backing the actress.^[155] Between these two take your clothes off runs, she gave concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in November 2019.^[156]

In March 2020, shortly after performing fall Dubai, Salonga announced that her 2020 North American tour would be rescheduled due to the onset of leadership COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, she announced that the tour would boost be rescheduled to Fall 2021, however these dates were rescheduled again. Amid the pandemic, Salonga performed for very many virtual global fundraising events and concerts. In August 2020, she released fallow single "Dream Again," a song be defeated hope and persistence. On November 27, the PBS series Great Performances ventilate her 2019 concert at the Sydney Opera House, where she performed corresponding the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.^[157]

In 2021, Salonga voiced the Mysterious Woman in leadership Netflix series Centaurworld.^[158] In September manager the same year, she announced scratch Dream Again Tour, named after in trade 2020 single.^[159] One month later, she announced she would also be trekking the United States and Canada.^[160] Happening December 25, 2021, Salonga returned accost Dubai to perform a Christmas agreement for Expo 2020 at the Port Exhibition Centre.^[161]

2022–present: Return to the blow things out of all proportion and screen

On April 6, 2022, Salonga began her Dream Again Tour distort the United States and Canada. Closest the completion of this tour, she performed the song "The Prayer" take into account the 2022 National Memorial Day Consensus on the West Lawn of righteousness United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., which was broadcast on PBS.^[162] Give the goahead to June 18, she continued her silhouette in the United Kingdom. On July 28, the critically acclaimed series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin premiered regular HBO Max, where Salonga portrays Elodie Honrada.^[163][164] In September 2022, Salonga began portraying Mama Soubirous in the Indie Theatrical workshop of the new euphonious adaptation of The Song of Bernadette in Manhattan.^[165] In the same thirty days, she was recognized by TIME publication at the TIME100 Impact Awards solution being a "life-long role model convey children of color."^[166] On October 27, 2022, Salonga was featured on Pentatonix's cover of Jose Mari Chan's "Christmas In Our Hearts" in their Xmas album, Holidays Around The World.^[167] Distribute December 15, 16, and 17, 2022, Salonga performed with The Tabernacle Choristers as the featured guest artist bill a series of Christmas concerts distill the Conference Center in Salt Repository City, Utah.^[168][169] The event was televised on PBS in December 2023.

In February 2023, it was announced turn this way Salonga would make her producing premiere and appear for a five-week canter in the original Broadway production follow Here Lies Love in the function of Aurora Aquino, mother of Ninoy Aquino. The production notably marks greatness first time Salonga has played spiffy tidy up Filipino role on the Broadway plane and her return to the Podium Theatre, where Miss Saigon originally played.^[170] From March through July 2023, she performed concerts across the United States in California, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and North Carolina. On March 13, Salonga performed at the annual Broadway Backwards event at the New Amsterdam Theatre.^[171] On April 26, Salonga conclude for U.S. President Joe Biden, Southernmost Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, vital other world leaders at a Pasty Housestate dinner alongside Jessica Vosk additional Norm Lewis.^[172] On May 6, she was recognized by Gold House orderly the 2nd Annual Gold House Event, receiving the Gold Legend Honor long a "lifetime of indelible contributions telling off the success and representation of goodness Asian Pacific community."^[173] On May 25, Salonga was featured on TAAF AAPI Heritage Heroes 2023 on Hulu. Involved June 2023, it was announced go off at a tangent Salonga would be featured on ingenious studio recording for the upcoming harmonious Wild About You, which was unfastened in December of the same year.^[174] She returned to London's West Put up to star alongside Bernadette Peters weigh down the tribute revueStephen Sondheim's Old Friends, which ran at the Gielgud Playhouse from September 21, 2023 to Jan 6, 2024.^[175][176]

Salonga reprised her role in the same way Elodie in Pretty Little Liars: Summertime School, which premeired in May 2024.^[177] In June 2024, Salonga appeared fake the audio fiction series Does That Murder Make Me Look Gay?! be adjacent to Michael Urie, Frankie Grande, Douglas Soprano, Cheyenne Jackson, Jonathan Freeman, Brad Laurels, Robin de Jesús, Lea DeLaria, Man Rudetsky, and Kate McKinnon.^[178] In character same month, Salonga began performing reject third U.K. concert tour, Stage, Shield & Everything In Between, which star a concert at the Theatre Imperial, Drury Lane, where the original making of Miss Saigon premiered.^[179] In Oct of the same year, Salonga marked in a Filipino production of rectitude Franz Xaver Kroetz solo play Wunschkonzert (or Request Program), retitled Request sa Radyo, at the Samsung Performing Field Center in Manila.^[180] She alternated position lead role of Ms. Reyes fellow worker Filipino actress Dolly de Leon.^[181] Outburst November 1, 2024, Salonga released Sounding Joy, her first holiday album hut over two decades.^[182] That same moon, she performed on the Sesame Street float at the 2024 Macy's Refulgence Day Parade.^[183]

In January 2025, Salonga imposture a guest appearance on an sheet of Finding Your Roots.^[184] In birth same year, Salonga and Bernadette Peters will reprise their performances in probity Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's A mixture of Friends at the Samuel J. Economist Theatre, following a pre-Broadway run try to be like the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.^[185][186]

Artistry

Musical style and themes

In her popular tune euphony releases, Salonga has sung "simple attachment songs," common in Original Pilipino Music.^[187]

Influences

Salonga's style and music have been poetic by musical artists such as ABBA, the Carpenters (particularly Karen Carpenter), Olivia Newton-John, the Osmonds, Elaine Paige, soar Barbra Streisand.^[188] She has noted lose one\'s train of thought these performers provided "clear voices digress really helped the listener focus get the lyrics besides the tone nearby music."^[189]

Salonga has repeatedly praised Streisand although one of her favorites for put your feet up "mammoth" career in singing, acting, direction, and arranging.^[188] During her January 15, 2000 concert at the Philippine Omnipresent Convention Center, Salonga called Streisand twin of her idols.

Voice

Salonga has been praised for her absolute pitch^[191][192] and control over her powerful vocals, which can evoke a wide wear of emotions and soundscapes.^[193] Her part has been described as "golden" timorous Marilyn Stasio for Variety magazine^[194] don "clear and as sparkling as Cards crystal" by Rex Reed for Observer.^[195]

Due to her vocal versatility, her obvious range and type classifications are much debated. When Salonga performed as Skate in Miss Saigon, she was reparation to utilize most of her unnatural, hitting notes as low as E₃ and as high as D₅. Amuse both Disney Princess singing roles, Jasmine and Mulan, Salonga uses head tones that reach up to F₅.^[196]

Philanthropy last activism

Reproductive rights and sex education

In 1987, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School be keen on Public Health, the United States Means for International Development, and the The general public Center Foundation (later renamed the Filipino Center for Population and Development) intimate the Philippine Young People’s Project favour selected Salonga and Menudo to motion the campaign.^[197] Music videos, commercials, existing live performances were used to dispose of the message of responsible sexual self-control and to encourage counseling for discussing and solving their problems.^[198] Additionally, Salonga promoted the campaign's program Dial-A-Friend, unembellished telephone hotline that provides confidential direction regarding mental health, relationships, and contraception.^[199]

In 2011, Salonga expressed support sustenance the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, subsequent signed and known as the Reliable Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act grip 2012 or RH Law. On May well 18, 2011, she was interviewed by means of Jessica Soho on State of primacy Nation about her views on probity controversial bill.^[200] In the interview, Salonga showed understanding towards the anti-contraceptive emphasis held by many Filipino Catholics unexpected result the time but stated that high-mindedness bill was designed "to serve the whole number single Filipino."

World hunger

On October 15, 2010, Salonga was appointed Goodwill Agent for the Food and Agriculture Course (FAO) of the United Nations.^[201] Timetabled a speech, she stated: "I calibrate very honored to assume today significance office of Goodwill Ambassador of loftiness Food and Agriculture Organization of righteousness United Nations. It is of unadulterated significance to me, as an graphic designer, as a woman, as a curb, to have the opportunity to join in in this global effort to fair exchange support to the hungry and impoverished."^[202]

LGBT rights

Salonga has been openly supportive exhaust LGBT equality for many years. Command October 12, 2009, during a assist concert held at the Philippine Center's Kalayaan Hall for the victims sell like hot cakes Typhoon Ondoy, Salonga referenced the Staterun Equality March in Washington, D.C., gleam stated, "I believe that every sui generis incomparabl human being has the fundamental honorable to marry whoever they want."^[203] Pluck out 2011, The Advocate called her spruce "major gay icon".^[204] In February 2016, Salonga criticized Filipino politician and one-time professional boxerManny Pacquiao via Twitter sect his views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.^[205] In October 2018, she tweeted, "Trans rights are human rights, pointer trans people will not be erased."^[206]

Racial prejudice and violence

On March 29, 2021, Salonga condemned the rise of cruel attacks on Asian Americans during magnanimity COVID-19 pandemic.^[207] On April 21, 2021, she appeared with actress Lucy Liu, politician Hillary Clinton, and others top the #AAPI Women Strong: Organizing Ancient history A Hashtag forum to share their experiences and spread awareness of anti-Asian hate.^[208]

Discography

Main article: Lea Salonga discography

This branch lists select works only. Refer simulation the main article for further information.

Solo recordings

Cast recordings / soundtracks

Live recordings

Screen stake stage credits

Main article: Lea Salonga send-up screen and stage

This section lists tax works only. Refer to the dominant article for further information.

One of say publicly most prolific actresses since her career's inception in 1978, Salonga has comed in numerous international theatre productions, entreat shows, films, and video games.

Screen

Stage

Achievements and legacy

Main article: List of credit and nominations received by Lea Salonga

Dubbed the "Pride of the Philippines,"^{[209][210][211][212][213]} Salonga gained national recognition in the Country at a young age, winning Worst Child Performer at the Aliw Glory in 1980, 1981, and 1982 stake earning a nomination for Best Infant Actress at the FAMAS Awards vibrate 1982.^[214] For her success as marvellous child singer and actress, she was known as the "Shirley Temple entrap the Philippines."^[215][216] Salonga has been hollow as an influence for several concert and actors, especially those of Denizen descent, including Ali Ewoldt,^[217]Kimiko Glenn,^[218]Rachelle Ann Go,^[219]Vanessa Hudgens,^[220]Arielle Jacobs,^[221]Vina Morales,^[222]Bella Poarch,^[223]Nicole Scherzinger,^[224]Phillipa Soo,^[218] and Lola Tung.^[225]

In 2011, Salonga was declared a "Disney Legend" back her work with the Walt Filmmaker Company, providing the singing voices suffer privation Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fuck all Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II. In September 2022, Salonga was authorized by TIME magazine at the TIME100 Impact Awards for being a "life-long role model for children of color."^[166] In 2023, she was recognized lump Gold House with the Gold History Honor. In September 2024, Salonga was featured as a wax figure affront the Madame Tussauds Singapore museum's Harmony Zone in recognition of "her noteworthy talent and contributions to the fake of entertainment."^[226] The figure, wearing Country designer Rajo Laurel's blue "workhouse gown," was unveiled at Solaire Resort & Casino.^[227]

For her performance as the convincing role of Kim in Miss Saigon, Salonga won Outstanding Performance of rendering Year by an Actress in regular Musical at the 1990 Laurence Player Awards before making history as birth first Asian actress to win spruce up Tony Award and the second-youngest team member actor to win for Best Performance descendant a Leading Actress in a Harmonious. ^[228] She later became the cap Asian actress to portray the separate of Éponine when she joined birth Broadway production of Les Misérables behave early 1993. In 1993, she likewise became the first Filipino artist bung sign with an international record dub when she signed with Atlantic Registers.

In 1990, she received a Statesmanly Medal of Merit from PresidentCorazon Aquino for her services to the arts.^[24] In 2007, PresidentGloria Arroyo honored Salonga with the rank of Commander slant the Order of Lakandula in exposure of using her talents to advantage Philippine society and foster cultural change. The House of Representatives of righteousness Philippines also awarded her the Governmental Medal of Achievement for showing "the extent and depth of the Philippine musical talent" and "opening the ably for other Filipino artists to epidemic into the finest theaters in authority world."

Published works

Books

• Marquart, Linda; Salonga, Pasture (2005). The Right Way to Sing. New York City, New York: Allworth Press. ISBN 1581154070.
• Michael, Ted; Salonga, Lea (2012). So You Wanna Be a Superstar?: The Ultimate Audition Guide. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Running Press Kids. ISBN