Lea Salonga News

On Monday, February 5 Theater People podcast welcomes Tony winner Lea Salonga. For the episode, Salonga Talks about taking on the role of Erzule, The Goddess of Love in Michael Arden's Broadway revival of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, which is currently playing at The Circle in the Square theater on Broadway.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell (Artistic Director, Kira Simring) will present the Off Broadway Premiere of BASTARD JONES, a rock musical comedy based on Henry Fielding's bawdy 18th century novel, The History of Tom Jones. With book, lyrics, & direction by Marc Acito (Broadway's Allegiance) and music & lyrics by Amy Engelhardt (Grammy nominees The Bobs), performances begin June 14 at the cell. Opening is slated for Thursday, June 22.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has teamed up with Washington, DC chapter of The National Society of Arts and Letters for their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow."  The final round audition will take place on Friday, March 23 at 8:00 PM in Washington, DC at Arena Stage in The Kreeger Theater. Judges for competition will include Baayork Lee (Tony winning Broadway Legend), Jim Caruso (Birdland Jazz Club), Kelly d'Amboise (Signature Theater and APO Resident Director), and Robert Pullen (Emmy-nominated Producer and owner of Nouveau Productions). Tickets - which are $20 for adults and $10 for students - will be on sale Friday, February 2. Please visit www.TheAmericanPops.org.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Taikoz will give a new work by young Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth its first ever airing this month when they join forces for three concerts at the Sydney Opera House.

Moderated by Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre, the exclusive luncheon will explore the current Broadway landscape with some of Broadway's leading players and stars, with a panel that includes Heather A. Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing; Keegan-Michael Key, Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer (Meteor Shower, Hamlet, "Key and Peele"); John Leguizamo, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor and playwright (Latin History for Morons, Freak, Mambo Mouth); Daryl Roth, award-winning Broadway producer (Kinky Boots, Indecent); Lea Salonga, Tony Award-winning actor (Once On This Island, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) and Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the Tony-nominated and Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning songwriting and book-writing team behind Come From Away.

When given time to chat with yet another legendary performer of the stature of Austin Pendelton, you must take it.  He continues to act, write, teach, and direct.  About to take the stage again in the upcoming play, Delta in the Sky With Diamonds, or Maybe Not.  He chats with me about his role in the show, as well as, his long career. Take a listen and enjoy. 

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: the short musical film SING ALONG, starring Alice Ripley, Heidi Blickenstaff, and more, makes its TV debut today, and more!

Manhattan Concert Productions (MCP) has announced casting for Broadway Classics in Concert, on Tuesday, February 20, 8:00 PM, in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The concert will feature Michael Arden (Ragtime, Hunchback of Notre Dame), Sierra Boggess (The Secret Garden), Carolee Carmello (Broadway Classics 2013), Allan Corduner (Titanic), Quentin Earl Darrington (The Secret Garden), Ramin Karimloo (Parade, The Secret Garden), Norm Lewis (Ragtime), Laura Osnes (Crazy For You), Lea Salonga (Ragtime), Ryan Silverman (Titanic), and Tony Yazbeck (Crazy For You).

Lea Salonga took to Instagram today to share a photo she took with Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, who visited Once on This Island today with his wife! 'So Lin-Manuel came to the show today!!!' Salonga writes. 'Needless to say, we all were thrilled. Thanks to you and Vanessa for coming to the island!!!'

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Atlanta Real Housewife @Kandi Burruss makes her Broadway debut in @ChicagoMusical, and more!

On Monday, January 8, Theater People podcast welcome's back Broadway favorite Telly Leung. For the episode, Leung discusses recently winning the title role in Disney's ALADDIN on Broadway. He also shares stories from his recent work on IN TRANSIT and ALLEGIANCE.

If you are lucky enough to have something like a podcast that people are actually listening to and supporting, then the new year is always a time to find out the most listened to podcast of the previous year. Last year, I thought 20 was a great number to countdown without realizing how much time it would be to crunch the numbers. SO, this year I am gonna keep it very simple, and thankfully after almost 100 episodes this past year, here are the most listened to podcasts of 2017. Please revisit and enjoy.

Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will continue their star-studded third season with Around the World in 80 Days, the world premiere of a new family-oriented musical written by Claybourne Elder ('Gossip Girl,' Broadway's Sunday in the Park...) and directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise.

The new musical POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN will have its first industry presentation in New York City on January 12th. This timely new musical features a book by Crystal Skillman (Geek, Mary & Max) and music and lyrics by Lynne Shankel (Allegiance, Cry- Baby, bare: The Musical, Altar Boyz), with direction by Stafford Arima (Allegiance, Carrie, bare: the Musical, Altar Boyz), musical direction by Michael Gacetta (Groundhog Day, Matilda) and music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Mean Girls, Tuck Everlasting, Finding Neverland, Company).

Recently on Broadway, Leung has starred in the musicals Allegiance and In Transit. He also appeared on Broadway in Flower Drum Song and Pacific Overtures and was part of the final Broadway company of the hit musical Rent. He originated Boq in the Chicago production of Wicked and played Dalton Academy Warbler Wes on Fox's smash television series 'Glee.'

The votes have been counted... Check out the fill list of winners for the 2017 BWW Regional Awards!

The cast of Once on this Island recently got visits from Tina Fey, Brian d'Arcy James, Will Chase, Ingrid Michaelson, and David Henry Hwang. The show's official Twitter account posted photos of cast members with the visitors. Check out the tweets, and the photos here!

Presumed to be a first: Jason Robert Brown and Kelli O'Hara performing together in concert. Undoubtedly a first in Utah: two Tony winners performing together in concert. Definitely: a Tony-deserving concert. In a major coup, the BYU Bravo! performing arts series assembled the vanguard composer and the luminous muse for his last Broadway musical -- for what appears to have been their first performance together in concert. And they decisively demonstrated how divinely delightful a concert can be.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Mama Will Provide...a cast album for the revival of Once on This Island! Broadway Records announced that the album will be released on CD and digitally at most major music retailers on February 23, 2018. The release of Once On This Island will mark the 100th new release by Broadway Records since the label was established in 2012. The album is produced by Elliot Scheiner, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Hunter Arnold and Ken Davenport.