Lea Salonga News

A stellar cast of Broadway's finest performers will be on hand Wednesday, April 11, when The New York Friars Club honors show business tour de force Jamie deRoy at a celebration marking her 30th anniversary as one of the Club's first eight female members. The event, Jamie deRoy, 30 Years a Friar, will be at The Friars Club, 57 East 55th Street, starting at 6 PM for cocktails, 7 PM for dinner and 8:30 PM for the show.

What began as a small, grassroots concert performed at The Center in 2006 quickly grew into a highly anticipated event presented in Broadway's best theatres. Monday night marks the return of Broadway Backwards- Broadway's annual gender-swapped celebration of love and the LGBT community. In its 12 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $3.4 million for Broadway Cares and The Center.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, due to overwhelming demand, is adding a third performance on Thursday, December 28, at 7:00 p.m.     The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to Music Hall with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert, the second film in the Harry Potter series. Previously announced, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform John Williams' unforgettable score live from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen on December 29-30.

Tickets have sold out to next month's Broadway Backwards, Broadway's annual gender-swapped celebration of love and the LGBT community, as more stars of stage and screen join the already distinguished lineup of performers.

According to Deadline, Broadway darling Lilla Crawford is set as the lead in ABC's untitled single-camera comedy pilot from My Name Is Earl executive producer Bobby Bowman, Conde Nast Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment and ABC Studios. In addition, Will Kindrachuk (School of Rock) has been cast in a series regular role.

The Drama League's 2018 Spring Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring forty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages. The impressive offerings include celebrity experiences with Alan Cumming (Legal Immigrant at Joe's Pub), Jessie Mueller (Carousel), Lea Salonga (Once On This Island); Andrew Rannells (The Boys in The Band), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Log Cabin), Condola Rashad (Saint Joan), Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots), Matthew Broderick (The Seafarer); House Seats to the hottest shows on and off Broadway, like The Iceman Cometh, Escape to Margaritaville, Sweeney Todd, In & Of Itself and more!

Quentin Earl Darrington returns to Broadway's smash Once On This Island as Agwe tomorrow Friday March 16 after a brief leave of absence.

Broadway stars Phillip Boykin, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell, Lea Salonga and additional cast members of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, along with composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty celebrated the release of the musical's cast album recording (available now through Broadway Records) at Barnes and Noble last night, March 14.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Frozen have partnered with The Actors Fund to celebrate International Women's Day with two special events: 'Women's Day on Broadway: Celebrating Stories By, For & About Women,' a free symposium that took place this week at The St. James Theatre and a special performance of Frozen to benefit The Actors Fund and its Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative.  

Festival Napa Valley announces the lineup for the 2018 summer season, featuring a host of world premieres, debuts and exclusive engagements set in iconic Napa Valley settings. The 2018 season, July 20-29, is dedicated to the first responders who saved lives, homes and properties in the recent Wine Country wildfires.

In honor of International Women's Day, the Broadway League asked 25 leading ladies of Broadway to describe Women in one word. Watch below as strong women of Broadway unite!

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their star-studded third season with Let's Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark at the Orchestra's new home, Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street SW) on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 PM. Let's Misbehave will feature guest stars Betty Who (the pop star making her orchestra debut), Liz Callaway (Tony Award nominee, voice of Disney's Princess Jasmine and Anastasia), Ali Ewoldt ((Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Helen Hayes Awards Winner), Vishal Vaidya (Groundhog Day on Broadway), and Mo Rocca ('CBS Sunday Morning,' NPR's 'Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!'). Conductor Luke Frazier will lead a 20-piece orchestra in an evening directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

Scott Alan is an internationally acclaimed songwriter who has worked with some of the brightest stars of theatre, TV, film and recording. He recently released his new album 'Lifeline' and has now shared one of the tracks, 'Once Upon a Time,' on YouTube. Listen below!

I get so many great opportunities to chat with the legends, and under normal circumstances, I try to hold it together. Holding my Broadway fan boy energy at a safe distance, while maintaining a professional and coherent conversation with probing questions is something that I try to balance with every interview that I do. However, when you are in the room with 2x Tony Award Winning actress, singer, dancer, Chita Rivera, AND 2x Tony and Emmy Award Winning, dancer, actress, singer, Bebe Neuwirth, the balancing act is soooooooooo hard.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Wayne Brady returns as Lola in Kinky Boots tonight, get a first look at a teaser trailer for Mary Poppins Returns, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emily Blunt, and more!

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2018 season with the Broadway hit The Will Rogers Follies, A Life In Revue. The exuberant dance-filled musical will be running April 13 - June 21 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.

As we approach the middle of the season, and the new musicals and plays start previews in preparation for Tony Award considerations, Broadway Enthusiast and fellow Theater Ambassador, William Cortez-Statham, joins me to talk about the music that is available so far this season: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE BAND'S VISIT, and ONCE ON THE ISLAND.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Frozen have partnered with The Actors Fund to celebrate International Women's Day with two special events: "Women's Day on Broadway: Celebrating Stories By, For & About Women," a free symposium that will take place at The St. James Theatre and a special performance of Frozen to benefit The Actors Fund and its Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. The events aim to highlight the importance of a continued investment in the encouragement and mentorship of women that is crucial to establishing and maintaining gender equality in the Broadway community.

To celebrate the special day, Kids Night on Broadway Ambassadors Lea Salonga (Once on This Island), Ethan Slater (SpongeBob Squarepants), and Christy Altomare (Anastasia) joined Broadway kids at Sardi's. BroadwayWorld's own Kid Critics were on hand to join in the fun and they're taking you behind the scenes below! 

Festival Napa Valley announces the lineup for the 2018 summer season, featuring a host of world premieres, debuts and exclusive engagements set in iconic Napa Valley settings. The 2018 season, July 20-29, is dedicated to the first responders who saved lives, homes and properties in the recent Wine Country wildfires.