Lea Salonga Leads All-Filipino Concert at Alice Tully Hall, 11/7

Philippine Development Foundation USA ("PhilDev") has announced that it will hold its annual fundraising gala at the prestigious AlIce Tully Hall, Lincoln Center with a concert event entitled "PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim," directed by Victor Lirio, on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 7:30PM. Tom Myron will serve as conductor and music director.

PhilDev, a US-based non-profit organization, develops much-needed programs and supports initiatives that accelerate the sustainable social and economic growth in the Philippines through science and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In addition, it is the major conduit for Filipino Americans to support education and training, arts and culture, enterprise and livelihood, the environment, healthcare, rural development, governance, persons with special needs, and women's and children's issues in the Philippines.

PhilDev Trustee Loida Nicolas Lewis commented: "We are thrilled to be presenting a one-of-a-kind and historic concert event for our gala this year showcasing the world-class talents of the Filipino-Americans to raise awareness and much-needed funding for PhilDev's programs. There are millions of Filipinos back home who are in dire need of assistance. And thebayanihan spirit among the Filipino-Americans and our American friends is truly moving. We are extremely grateful."

The concert-conceived and co-produced by actor, director, and producer Victor Lirio, artistic director of Diverse City Theater Co. (DCT), and PhilDev Trustee Ronna Reyes Sieh-will be the first New York gala for PhilDev. It also marks the first all-Filipino concert at Lincoln Center presenting top Filipino-American talents who have all made marks on Broadway in leading roles

The evening's repertoire will be devoted to the works of internationally celebrated American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and will include songs from some of Sondheim's iconic musicals such as Anyone Can Whistle, Company, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Saturday Night, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story,among others.

In a letter Sondheim wrote to Lirio, he expressed: "I am delighted that you want to devote an evening to my work. Thank you so much for the compliment."

Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Flower Drum Song, Disney'sMulan and Aladdin) leads an impressive cast of Filipino-American Broadway stars. Joining her are Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables); Raul Aranas (Miss Saigon, The King & I); Ali Ewoldt (Les Miserables, West Side Story); Rona Figueroa (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Lennon, Nine); Lydia Gaston (The King & I, Miss Saigon, The Red Shoes); Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables, The Lion King); Jose Llana (The King & I, Spelling Bee, The Flower Drum Song opposite Lea Salonga, Wonderland); Orville Mendoza (Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon); Paolo Montalban (Pacific Overtures, The King & I, ABC/Disney's Cinderella as Prince Charming opposite Brandy); Emily Morales (Lincoln Center's South Pacific); Jennifer Paz (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Joseph ... Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar); and company members Aaron Albano, Alan Ariano, Marie France Arcilla, Emy Baysic, Billy Bustamante, Liz Casasola, Marc dela Cruz, Ariel Estrada, Brian Jose, Luz Lor, Jaygee Macapugay, Mel Maghuyop, Jake Manabat, Adam Marcelo, JP Moraga, Lora Nicolas, Diane Phelan, Chris-Ian Sanchez, and Melissa Singson.

Victor Lirio, who also produced Salonga's sold-out and critically-acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert debut in November 2005, commented: "Sondheim's works are some of the greatest in the musical theater canon and it is a privilege to breathe life into some of his iconic works. I am grateful to him for giving us this tremendous opportunity. We are looking forward to sharing with the New York audiences our expression of his work."

He added: "A vital part of PhilDev's mandate is to raise the profile of the Filipinos in the global landscape. This is a dream cast. I am grateful to be working with them again in support of PhilDev's mission. Furthermore, this concert will underscore the contributions Filipino artists have made to America's rich and diverse theater culture."

Last year, Lirio produced the first New York Filipino-American theater festival, The Pearl Project, at Theatre Row. He also directed a concert presentation of a musical based on Filipino writer and revolutionary Carlos Bulosan, Long Season, by Chay Yew and Fabian Obispo at PhilDev's 2010 gala in San Francisco, attended by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Lirio founded Diverse City Theater, a non-profit theater company in New York City, in 2003. He directed the New York Times-acclaimed production of Warren Bodow's Race Music, award-winning playwright Cassandra Medley's Noon Day Sun (Time Out New York Critic's Pick) earning several nominations for the Audelco Awards including Best Dramatic Production of the Year and Best Play. For DCT, he has developed and produced over 18 original plays, in nine critically-acclaimed productions in six seasons, since 2005.

Music director Tom Myron is an American composer, arranger, and conductor who is active in the fields of live concert performance and independent film. Tom's work is heard regularly at Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center where he has written charts for singers Marilyn Horne, Kate Pierson, Rosanne Cash, Andrea McArdle, Phyllis Newman, Kelli O'Hara, Christiane Noll, among others; composer/pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi; cellist/composer David Darling; and popular ensembles such as the New York Pops, the Young People's Chorus of New York City, and the band Le Vent du Nord. His film scores include Wilderness & Spirit, A Mountain Called Katahdin, and Henry David Thoreau: Surveyor of the Soul.

Tickets will be on sale beginning Monday, August 8th, 2011 and can be purchased at the AlIce Tully Hall, Lincoln Center box office located at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City, online at www.lincolncenter.org, or by calling CenterCharge at 212-721-6500. Ticket prices are $100, $150, $250, and $500. Limited patron/VIP subscriber seats of $1,000 are available which includes a pre-concert VIP reception by contacting Rene Encarnacion at rene@phildev.org or 650-288-3937. 100% of proceeds will benefit Philippine Development Foundation USA.

ABOUT PHILDEV:
Formerly known as Ayala Foundation USA, PhilDev is a public charity registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization. It focuses on building an ecosystem of science and technology-based entrepreneurship and innovation for social and economic development in the Philippines. As part of its commitment to diaspora philanthropy, PhilDev also generates resources from U.S.-based donors for non-profit organizations in the Philippines.

For more information about PhilDev, visit www.phildev.org.