Lea Salonga Broadway.com Q&A

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:36pm

More Fabulousity. Updated On: 3/12/07 at 07:36 PM

[suzycat]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:51pm

Love it.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:58pm

Thanks...good that her comeback in this play has increased ticket sale for the production. Good for you Ms. Salonga and Cameron Mackintosh! I do hope that with this production she lands a new project on Broadway after her stint in Cinderella tour.

[augustine73]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:54pm

"Biggest rise of the week was seen by the revival of "Les Miserables" ($672,531), which stepped up by more than $150,000 -- perhaps due in part to fans turning out for Lea Salonga ("Miss Saigon"), who played her first full week in the production."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117960960.html?categoryid=15&cs=1

wow!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:54pm

That's awesome!

[ulkis]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:57pm

Did Lea Salonga live in the Philippines right up until she did Miss Saigon? I'm just curious because she's so well spoken she has no accent whatsoever.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:37pm

"Did Lea Salonga live in the Philippines right up until she did Miss Saigon? I'm just curious because she's so well spoken she has no accent whatsoever."

The Philippines is the world's third largest English speaking country (in terms of population) so speaking in English was pretty native to her. As far as her accent, she had been doing theater all her life and part of that training is doing accents from different countries. It makes it easier for her to adjust her accent depending on the country she is at.

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:42pm

I love Lea. So much. She's been my idol ever since I was very little and I'm so glad I'll have the opportunity to see her soon!

When we lived in the Philippines, my dad said that some people used to comment on her -lack- of accent, actually.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:55pm

The Philippines was also a colony of the United States after liberation from the Japanese occupation in the 40's. With that plus the establishment of the biggest military housing and base in the south pacific (base is now closed), english language became a second language to the locals.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 10:55 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 1:08am

watch some videos of her on a certain site.... when she was a guest judge on Philippine Idol her accent was THICK! but then in interviews on broadway.com... its gone... then you watch stuff from when he as only 18 in miss saigon and she has a british accent... and she does them all so convincingly!

[kimchi]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 3:43am

check this out


Link: http://www.audreymagazine.com/February2005/Features01.asp

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 5:35am

i'm curious as to which musical didn't want her because she was asian... anyone know??

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 6:59am

Two awesome interviews, thanks for posting!

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 8:11am

I am completely and totally in love with this woman! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:15am

I think Lea lives in Hong Kong

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:46am

This is wonderful! LOVE LOVE her

[ulkis]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 5:41pm

Thanks to everyone who answered my question. Much appreciated!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 6:15pm

I think Lea lives in Hong Kong

You think wrong.

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 6:25pm

>watch some videos of her on a certain site.... when she was a >guest judge on Philippine Idol her accent was THICK!

I noticed that and it drives me insane at times, did the same on the Dream Academy clips. You think she turns it on and off on purpose a la Madonna or that it's one of those things, like me, when I go back down south my twang seems to just naturally re-appear

I'm almost convinced between the accent and also looking at pictures then the interview and performances that there are two Lea Salongas running around because she looks totally different at times.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 7:00pm

If she doesn't adjust her accent, it makes it difficult for people to understand her. If she speaks in the US with her Filipino accent, people will keep asking her to repeat what she's saying, and vice versa. If you're able to do multiple accents and do it properly, why not use it?

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 7:08pm

point taken

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 7:15pm

my parents both no longer have a filipino accent... but when they speak in their native language and are around their friends... it comes back... quite hilarious... i don't have an accent at all... but i have a natural one that comes out when i'm around other filpinos for some reason... haha... i guess lea salonga is like that... eh... she's still awesome!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 7:20pm

^Do you have to... after every sentence?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 8:59pm

eatlasagna - "i'm curious as to which musical didn't want her because she was asian... anyone know??"

Not in a musical but from good sources, she auditioned for a tv pilot and the casting agent or director thought she was "too asian for the role." Go figure what he's thinking. I wonder if they ever say "too caucasian or too egyptian or too swiss..." and so on and so forth.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/13/07 at 9:56pm

no i don't have to write in elipses (....) after each sentence... but i do anyways... it's just habit... i usually have to stop myself at work from doing it when i do work e-mails... it's just my thing...