Lea Salonga News

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.

The 2018 Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company kicks off with five intimate concerts by award-winning stars of the Great White Way, including Tony Award-winner FAITH PRINCE (Guys and Dolls), L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award-winner JASON GRAAE (RTC's Return to the Forbidden Planet, Falsettos), Helen Hayes Award-winners DAVID BURNHAM (The Light in the Piazza) and TAMI TAPPAN (RTC's Streetcar Named Desire, Miss Saigon), husband-and-wife duo MEGAN MCGINNIS and ADAM HALPIN (Daddy Long Legs), Ovation nominee ERIC KUNZE (Evita), and Nashville-based singer MELISSA HAMMANS (Back to the Garden).

Director Isaac Klein stops by the studio to talk about his new book, SCHOOL OF DOING, featuring the lessons of Master Teacher, Director, and personal mentor, Gerald Freedman.

The producers of Broadway's newest hit, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, announced today that Broadway veterans Norm Lewis and Tamyra Gray will step into the roles of Agwe and Papa Ge, respectively, on January 8. Merle Dandridge exits for a contractual leave to shoot her television series Greenleaf. Quentin Earl Darrington will also be on a contractual leave.

In one of the most versatile careers on record, Richard Jay-Alexander has pretty much done it all. Starting first as a PA on Broadway, then moving his way up to stage manager, it was his collaboration with uber-producer Cameron Mackintosh where Richard really thrived, becoming the Associate Director and Executive Producer of a new show called LES MISERABLES.

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.

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.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will present a special holiday concert not to be missed, with special guest stars Rumer Willis ('Dancing with the Stars,' Broadway's Chicago), Lea DeLaria (Broadway, comedy and jazz star, 'Orange is the New Black'), Claybourne Elder ('Gossip Girl,' Broadway's Sunday in the Park...), Nova Payton (Helen Hayes Award winner), Mobley (singer/songwriter featured on HBO, Fox and NBC) and Luke Hawkins (Star tap dancer from 'America's Got Talent').

In Broadway by Design, BroadwayWorld is shining a spotlight on the stellar designs of this Broadway season, show by show. Today, we continue the series with Dane Laffrey and Clint Ramos, who acted as scenic and costume designers for Broadway's most vibrant revival, Once On This Island.

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.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the cast of Once On This Island, the Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, on stage now at the Circle in the Square Theatre, will head to the studio for a brand new cast recording of the revival.

Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis rings in the holiday season at Feinstein's at the Nikko with Norm Lewis Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas tonight, December 8 (8 p.m.), tomorrow, December 9 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, December 10 (5 p.m.).

ALLEGIANCE...The Broadway Musical on the Big Screen, starring Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga and George Takei, is returning to theaters for a special 75th Anniversary Commemoration of Pearl Harbor on December 7th.

In commemoration of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, straight from its Broadway and cinematic premieres, and inspired by the true-life experience of its star George Takei ('Star Trek,' 'Heroes'), the Broadway film of ALLEGIANCE returns to cinemas across the U.S., telling the story of one family's extraordinary journey in a troubling time for a nation plunged into war by the events of Pearl Harbor.

Broadway's brightest will celebrate six weeks of dedicated fundraising in a spectacular showcase of songs and skits when the 29th Annual Gypsy of the Year competition returns at 4:30 pm Monday, December 4, 2017, and at 2 pm Tuesday, December 5, 2017, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Returning to the Big Screen ALLEGIANCE... The Broadway Musical on the Big Screen. SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT EVENT, Thursday, December 7 in select cinemas nationwide featuring exclusive cast interviews and footage from a special ceremony honoring the 442nd regimental combat team.

While there's nary a mention of global warming or human-made climate change in Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens', captivating and joyous Caribbean story-theatre musical ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, director Michael Arden's exhilarating new Broadway production of the popular 1990 hit based on Rosa Guy's novel My Love, My Love, smacks audience members with the issue as soon as they enter Circle In The Square.

The new Broadway production of Once On This Island officially opened last night, December 3rd, at the Circle in the Square Theatre (235 W. 50th street, NYC), and is directed by Tony nominee Michael Arden, and choreographed by the critically-acclaimed Camille A. Brown. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and brings you interviews with the company below!

On Sunday, December 3, the company of Once On This Island gathered in the lobby of Circle in the Square to celebrate the opening of the show and the passing of the Gypsy Robe to Grasan Kingsberry.

Inspired by the true life of its star George Takei ( Star Trek, Heroes ), Allegiance returns to cinemas on December 7, telling the story of one family's extraordinary journey in a troubling time for the nation.