| In 1989, Lea went to London to play the role of
Kim in the hit musical Miss Saigon for which she received a Sir Lawrence Olivier Award,
and in 1991 went on to portray that role on Broadway where she garnered the Tony, Drama
Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. While in Miss Saigon Lea recorded the singing voice
of Jasmine for the Walt Disney animated hit, Aladdin, and soon after recorded the role of
Tuptim in a new recording of The King and I with Julie Andrews, Ben Kingsley and The
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In 1993, Lea played
the role of street waif Eponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables. She has
also appeared in the London and Honolulu productions of Les Misérables. She has also
performed the song "A Whole New World" at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where
the song won an Oscar. In the same year, she released her self-titled international debut
album with Atlantic Records, which has gone platinum and gold in parts of Southeast Asia.
In 1994, Lea played the role of Eliza Doolittle in Repertory Philippines' My Fair Lady and
the role of the Witch in Singapore Repertory Theatre's Into The Woods. She was also the
opening act for Frank Sinatra's Manila concerts, then performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a
concert entitled Arabian Nights as part of World Cup Week 1994.
Lea also played the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in Team Image
Entertainment's production of Grease in Manila, and appeared in a special concert called
The Music Of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg with other Filipino artists
performing selections from the musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. She made her US
television film debut when she played the role of Geri Riordan in Hallmark Hall Of Fame's
Redwood Curtain on ABC with Jeff Daniels and John Lithgow. Lea also recorded a single with
Peabo Bryson called "How Wonderful We Are" which is part of a new album called
People, which also includes selections by other artists such as Vanessa Williams, Al
Jarreau and Chaka Khan. She made yet another appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert
called Music Tells A Tale, appearing with Tyne Daly and Reese Holland.
Lea also participated in the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary
Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, as well as the star heavy tribute concert for Sir
Cameron Mackintosh, Hey Mr Producer filmed last May and subsequently released on album,
video and book.
In 1998, she also appeared as the singing voice of the lead
for a Walt Disney animated film called Mulan. Moreover, BMG Records (Pilipinas) released
her album aptly called, "In Love" which reached quintuple platinum in the
Philippines.
Earlier this year, Lea came full circle as she reprised her
award-winning role of Kim on Broadway's Miss Saigon.
Currently, Ms. Lea Salonga is back in Manila to record her
second album for BMG Records. The new album will contain revival compositions of Ryan
Cayabyab, Jose Mari Chan, Louie Ocampo, and songs such as "How Can I?,"
"Smile," "Afraid of Love," Baron Barbers' original "I Will Always
Stay (This Way) In Love With You," and a duet with Ariel Rivera.
Ms. Lea Salonga has performed and appeared in numerous
concerts and television shows in the United States, the Philippines and around the world. |
