Lea Salonga ...SINGS!!

When this perky little lady takes the stage, the evening belongs to Lea. The Tony Award-winning actress, best known for her portrayal of Kim in Miss Saigon, brought her brand new concert last week to the Lenape Performing Arts Center.

Lea captures the crowd with a passionate voice and a magnetic personality, taking the audience on a mini-journey through her life. Paving the path of memories, she shares her love with the audience, enveloping such wonderful songs as "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Over the Rainbow" and "The Way You Look Tonight."

Dressed in a sleek black tuxedo style pantsuit, Lea begins the concert perched on a stool sharing her "not so impressive" first experiences with love and offeres heart-tugging versions of "Broken Vows" and "Someone Else's Story" from the musical Chess.

Lea has been performing professionally since the age of 7 when she was chosen to be among the children in The King and I in her native Philippines. She admits getting the part not because she was the best, but because she was the loudest little girl! She can be heard singing the roles of Jasmine & Mulan in two of Disney's giant animated successes Aladdin and Mulan. After Miss Saigon, she was cast as Eponine in Les Miserables, which has special meaning to her because she was nearly not cast in that role because of her nationality. Hearing that only pushed this fiery little miss to work harder to land the role, and land it she did! She was invited to be part of the Les Miserables Concert as part of the Dream Cast at the Royal Albert Hall in London, celebrating the show's 10th anniversary.

Lea's voice can be described as a tonic that lifts the heart, and her presentation draws you into her intimate little world that she is happy to share. Lea is very proud of her Filipino heritage and they apparently are proud of her as several fellow Filipino fans applaud with great enthusiasm as she dedicates a song about a mother and child called "Anak" in her native language.

About 10 minutes into the intermission, Lea strolls back onto the stage, and encouraging the crowd to "take their break because we're just chatting," sits on the piano bench and takes questions from an enthusiastic audience.

For Act 2, she warms the crowd with stories about family and her new marriage and opens with "It Had To Be You." Lea twice gives credit to an equally talented singer Linda Eder, and offers up her renditions of two Wildhorn songs: "I Didn't Know How To Say Goodbye" and "Someone Like You." At this point, with the audience captured by her charm and flawless voice, she thrills the crowd with her Les Miserables hit "On My Own" which prompts a standing ovation.

She returns to perform two encores, both of which receive standing ovations as well- "Tomorrow" from Annie and "The Very Thought Of You," which she dedicates to her husband.

Lea Salonga is the whole package; wit, charm, and class with a flawless voice that soars!

Photo Credits: Lenape PAC and Richie Schwartz

Song List:

Orange Colored Sky, I've Never Been In Love Before, Over The Rainbow, I Didn't Know How To Say Goodbye, Broken Vow, Someone To Watch Over Me, Our Love Is Here To Stay, Some Else's Story, It Had To Be You, On My Own, The Way You Look Tonight, Anak, The Journey, Imagine, Tomorrow, The Very Thought Of You.

Lea Salonga in Concert played at The Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center- Marlton, NJ July 16 and 17.

For information and tickets for upcoming events: visit www.sjtheater.com or call 856.983.3366

 

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