Lea Salonga News

Denis Lambert to appear in GETTING TALL at The Laurie Beechman Theatre February 6.

After several readings in 2011 (and a hiatus to perform in Cathy Rigby's PETER PAN), Steven Strafford is bringing back METHTACULAR! for another set of newly work-shopped presentations at TACT Studio.

Denis Lambert to appear in GETTING TALL at The Laurie Beechman Theatre February 6.

Samantha Barks is set to play Eponine in the film version of Les Miserables - the role she played at the 25th anniversary concert.

In Atlantis Productions Inc.'s upcoming musical NINE, which features Maury Yeston's music and lyrics, and Arthur Kopit's book based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8 1/2, Jett Pangan will portray the role of Italian filmmaker Guido Contini; Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo will play Contini's wife, Luisa; Cherie Gil will play Contini's film producer, Liliane Le Fleur; and Eula Valdez will play Contini's leading lady, Claudia Jenssen.

CHRIS ISAACSON has announced the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' second show of their 3rd Season, THE TROUBADOURS, starring American Idol's JACKIE TOHN, MATT WOLPE (The Buddy Holly Story) YVETTE CASON (Dreamgirls, Play On!, Stormy Weather) and JAKE SIMPSON (Star Search Grand Champion, Arena: Born to Rock, Oprah favorite) celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor!

Today we are honoring the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which went on to win in the categories of Best Song and Best Score for Broadway's own Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Disney's tale as old as time; the much-beloved and cherished BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Based on the French fairytale of its namesake, BEAUTY & THE BEAST was a landmark achievement in animated film and proved that Disney's previous animation renaissance mega-hit THE LITTLE MERMAID - also penned by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - was much more than merely a fluke. A new age of animated film treated totally seriously by critics and audiences alike allowed for Disney to continue on with even more success in the following years with even bigger family-friendly hits like ALADDIN and THE LION KING. Yet, BEAUTY & THE BEAST is the most elegant and enrapturing of all Disney animated films from the last century and just may be the very finest of all their animated features that came to pass during that era of renewed interest in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Featuring the vocal talents of legendary stage and screen star Angela Lansbury - check out our extensive InDepth InterView for a few recollections about that experience here - as well as Broadway's own Paige O'Hara and TV/film notable Robby Benson - both of whom will be featured in extensive InDepth InterViews right here on BroadwayWorld next week. Beginning with a prologue and opening song sequence - "Belle" - to rank among the very best not only in film, but stage musicals, as well, BEAUTY & THE BEAST is a rich French country meal topped off by a dizzying array of aural, visual, emotional, comedic and dramatic treats. 'Belle' is merely the starter bread - or, should I say, pain. So, today, we pay tribute to BEAUTY & THE BEAST as it roars back to movie theaters nationwide, now in a diligently-recreated and astonishingly imagined brand new 3D realization. Before you go see all the stunning sights and sounds of the film itself, whether sampling the 3D version in your home 3D studio or out at the Cineplex, here we have some of the finest musical moments to delight in from the storied history of the immensely successful Disney classic in all three of its versions - original animated film, Broadway stage musical and 3D movie experience.

After several readings in 2011 (and a hiatus to perform in Cathy Rigby's PETER PAN), Steven Strafford is bringing back METHTACULAR! for another set of newly work-shopped presentations at TACT Studio.

CHRIS ISAACSON has announced the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' second show of their 3rd Season, THE TROUBADOURS, starring American Idol's JACKIE TOHN, MATT WOLPE (The Buddy Holly Story) YVETTE CASON (Dreamgirls, Play On!, Stormy Weather) and JAKE SIMPSON (Star Search Grand Champion, Arena: Born to Rock, Oprah favorite) celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor!

On December 10th and 11th, Christopher J. Hanke and Telly Leung joined Broadway Artists Alliance to lead master classes. Hanke led a How to Succeed...-themed master class, and Leung led a GLEE-themed master class. Both performers worked on song interpretation with a very fortunate group of students, and led a Q&A session. Check out photos from both events below!

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City was pleased to present an Annie-themed master classes on December 11th with original Annie star Andrea McArdle and a casting representative from Telsey + Company.

Today, the Dallas Pops, American Airlines Center and CBS Radio announced an epic-size concert event coming to the American Airlines Center March 23, 2012. The show Do You Hear the People Sing featuring the music of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and more, will be a Broadway-style concert on a scale seldom seen. The show was created by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, composer and lyricist for Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Pirate Queen, and more.

If you're looking for a quick roundup of this week's events, look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II.

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime), the production features musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, South Pacific). Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), television and film icon George Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes") and Telly Leung (Godspell, Rent) will star.

Bay Area Cabaret, the eight-year-old non-profit presenting top Broadway, jazz, and pop performers, has announced its Spring 2011 lineup for the 2011-2012 season, Venetian Evenings. Opening the season January 15, 2012 is two-time Tony award winner Christine Ebersole, star of Broadway's Grey Gardens and 42nd Street and Hollywood films Amadeus and Tootsie, followed on Sunday, February 26 by two performances, the first by acclaimed jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his quartet and a second performance with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey. Finishing the season on Saturday, May 12 is Tony winner Laura Benanti, star of Broadway's Gypsy.

Andrew Lloyd Webber visits a rehearsal for the 2011 Royal Variety Performance.

Actor/playwright Doug Haverty has had a very busy 2011 both on stage and off. He discusses the local productions given his musicaliGhost and play Next Window, Please and his acting roles in two GRT productions: the recently closed Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and the upcoming My Three Angels, set to open December 9.

The Town Hall, Broadway's landmark theatre and concert venue, (123 West 43rd Street) announces its 91tst Anniversary season with a star-studded lineup that includes some of the biggest names in television, theatre and music.

The Town Hall, Broadway's landmark theatre and concert venue, (123 West 43rd Street) announces its 91tst Anniversary season with a star-studded lineup that includes some of the biggest names in television, theatre and music. Headliners include Grammy nominated musician David Bromberg with the legendary Allen Toussaint as a special guest, the acclaimed musical comedy troupe Capitol Steps, The Soul of Cuba: Sierra Maestra, Tony Award® winner Lea Salonga, Tony Award® Winner and 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski, Grammy Award® Winners Loudon Wainwright III, Judy Collins and Madeleine Peyroux.