LEA SALONGA

SONGSTRESS

LEA SALONGA NABBED THE OLIVIER, TONY, DRAMA DESK, OUTER CRITICS, AND THEATRE WORLD AWARDS FOR HER CRITICALLYACCLAIMED PERFORMANCE IN MISS SAIGON, A PLAY WHERE SHE REDEFINED THE LEAD ROLE “KIM.” She played Eponine and Fantine in Les

Misérables on Broadway. Lea was also dubbed a “Disney Legend” in 2011 for her work as the voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan. The Disney Legends program recognizes men and women who have made extraordinary and integral contributions to The Walt Disney Company.

If you read through Lea’s Twitter feed (@msleasalonga), you’ll realize that there’s still so much more to her than her legendary singing voice and acting prowess. Occasionally, she talks about her family, her travels, hobbies and interests which include the television shows Family Guy or Game of Thrones and video games Final Fantasy and God of War, among others. Lea is living proof of the success of the motto, “Work hard, play harder.”

Lea is also highly opinionated. She voices (or types) her views strongly through social media. Her penchant for self-expression led to the birth of a now widely-read column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Last month, Lea Salonga performed at Town Hall for her concert “The Journey Continues” which featured a selection Broadway music, as well as personal stories from her great journey. Currently, Lea is preparing for the play God of

Carnage, a winner of three Tony Awards including ‘Best Play.’ It is set to show on July 13 to 22 at the RCBC Plaza in Makati.

In a US Asians interview, she shares that “a few years with Repertory Philippines will shape you up better than an army could.” Lea wishes, “That through whatever I’ve done, the image of the Filipino was made a little more positive, and that somehow, the Filipino was given the chance to smile and be proud. Hopefully, the world’s awareness of the Filipino artist remains.”—CT