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In 1984, Lea was one of the Filipino representatives to the Asian Radio and TV Artistes Exchange held in Singapore. In 1985, she opened for Menudo, a Puerto Rican pop group, during their concerts in Manila. She also recorded two songs and a music video with Charlie Masso, a former Menudo member, for the Young People's Project, a campaign to encourage sexual responsibility in adolescents. In 1989, Lea went to London to play the role of Kim in the Sir Cameron Mackintoshs blockbuster musical Miss Saigon for which she received the Lawrence Olivier Award. In 1990, after her stint in London, she flew back to Manila where she had a homecoming concert called A Miss Called Lea. In 1991, she went on to portray that role on Broadway where she garnered the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. While in Miss Saigon, Lea performed in the annual Macys Thanksgiving Parade. She then went on to record the singing voice of Jasmine for Walt Disneys animated hit Aladdin, and soon after, the singing voice of Tuptim in a new recording of The King And I with Julie Andrews, Ben Kingsley. Lea also performed at the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to celebrate the golden anniversary of this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.
In 1994, Lea played the role of Eliza Doolittle in Repertory Philippines' My Fair Lady and the role of the Witch in Singapore Repertory Theatre's production of Into The Woods. She then opened for Frank Sinatra's Manila concerts and performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert entitled Arabian Nights as part of 1994 World Cup Week. Lea also played the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in Team Image Entertainment's production of the musical Grease in Manila and appeared in a special tribute concert called The Music Of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg with other Filipino artists performing selections from the musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. She made her US television film debut when she played the role of Geri Riordan in Hallmark Hall Of Fame's Redwood Curtain on ABC with Jeff Daniels and John Lithgow. Lea also recorded a single with Peabo Bryson called How Wonderful We Are, a part of a new album called People, which includes selections by other artists such as Vanessa Williams, Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. She made another appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert called Music Tells A Tale, appearing with Tyne Daly and Reese Holland.
In 1996, Lea performed in a benefit concert called The Sounds of Christmas at the Meralco Theater in the Philippines, where Gerard Salonga debuted as a musical director. In 1998, Lea was again invited to participate in an all-star tribute concert for Sir Cameron Mackintosh called Hey Mr. Producer!, where she performed in the segments of Miss Saigon, a Sondheim medley and Les Miserables. She then recorded the singing voice of the lead role for Disneys animated film Mulan. Lea also visited San Diego, California to render her talents in a gala benefit for the World Affair Council where she officially announced her return to Broadway. In January 18, 1999, the most anticipated return of Lea Salonga in Broadway took place when the Broadway Theaters red curtains opened up for another performance of the role of Kim in Miss Saigon, the role she originated in London in 1991. She then headed to Singapore to perform the role of Sonya Walsk in the Singapore Repertorys production of Neil Simons musical Theyre Playing Our Song, which opened at the Jubilee Hall of the Raffles Hotel. In November 1999, after a brief trip to Phuket, Thailand, Lea flew back to Manhattan to perform the song "Id Give My Life For You" from Miss Saigon at the New York Hiltons gala of the Actors Fund of Americas Curtain Up to honor Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Bernadette Peters.
On August 17, 2000, together with other popular Filipino artists, Ms. Salonga participated in a concert called The Best of Manila, to benefit the World Wildlife Funds Conservation Program. On September 1 & 2, 2000, Lea will perform in another concert called Songs from the Screen to benefit the Symphony Musicians Cooperative of the Philippines. For three months starting October 1, 2000, together with selected former cast members of the US, European and Australian productions, the first Asian Tour of Miss Saigon will open at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila where Lea will reprise her role as Kim. Lea Salonga is currently working on three soon-to-be-released recordings, in addition to her recent best selling albums, Lea...In Love, By Heart and Lea Live - The Homecoming Concert, Volumes 1 & 2. She will then fly back to the US to continue her studies.
Awards and Recognitions
Performances and RolesMusicals:
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