New York, June 7, 2011 -- Tony Award winner Lea Salonga's (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) pristine voice once again fills the ultra-chic Café Carlyle at The Carlyle as she returns for her second exclusive three-week cabaret-style show entitled "New York in June," which is opening tonight and is running until June 25.
In preparation for the show's curtain raising, Salonga, along with her stage director Daniel Kutner, musical director Larry Yurman and writer Diana Basmajian , welcomed BroadwayWorld.com and some friends to her final run-through held yesterday at the Ripley-Grier rehearsal studios in Midtown Manhattan.
Neither wearing makeup nor her Robin Tomas' dress, Salonga walked her audience through her spiels and song numbers -- running around 70 minutes -- at yesterday's rehearsal.
"For our second outing at Café Carlyle, we've assembled the original members of the creative team who were part of Lea's debut at the famous nightspot last year. Larry still plays the piano, John Miller plays the bass and Jack Cabari plays the guitar," said Kutner.
Keeping in mind Café Carlyle's intimate performance space, Salonga refrains from belting out big Broadway songs for this particular gig. She still tackles an eclectic song selection. However, she carefully chooses her musical numbers -- from show tunes and jazz standards to American love songs and Filipino ditties -- that are more subdued.
Salonga also talks about her overprotective Filipino mom; her most obscure concert venues; her very few Twitter squabbles; among others, in the show.
Broadway icons who had already performed at Café Carlyle were Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Barbara Cook and Elaine Stritch.
For tickets, call 212-744-1600 or visit www.thecarlyle.com. Ticket prices: Tues.-Thurs.: General seating, $75 per person; VIP seating, $125 per person; Bar seating, $45 per person /Fri. & Sat.: General seating, $85 per person; VIP seating, $125 per person, Bar seating, $45 per person.
Cafe Carlyle at The Carlyle is located at 35 East 76th St. New York, N.Y.
Salonga's new live album, "The Journey So Far" (Recorded live at the Café Carlyle last year) is available for pre-order on www.leasalonga.com.
Photos by Oliver Oliveros
