Posted: 11/18/15 at 12:47pm
It seems that Lea's next role will be Helen in Fun Home… in the Manila staging.
http://entertainment.inquirer.net/183745/tony-winning-play-is-coming-to-manila
What are the chances she could someday play the role on Broadway as well? And how does Manila get all these productions before the rest of the world does? We probably won't see it here in LA till 2017
Updated On: 11/18/15 at 12:47 PM
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:01pm
I have always admired Salonga's commitment to performing in her home country, especially now that she is U.S.-based. She has been a great advocate for theater in the Philippines. Helen should fit her like a glove.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:10pm
Wildcard said: "We probably won't see it here in LA till 2017"
That reminds me. Is the tour starting in Chicago or is it only announced for Chicago?
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/fun-home-national-tour-will-play-chicago-366964
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:35pm
It is a 100% going on tour in the next touring season 2016-2017. http://www.thebookinggroup.com/
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:55pm
This is excellent. Excited to hear about the rest of the cast.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:57pm
So am I! Auditions are this weekend:
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:58pm
This sounds wonderful, but also kind of the most random casting news ever.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 1:59pm
How so?
Posted: 11/18/15 at 2:05pm
First Judy Kuhn, now Lea Salonga, I hope this means a trend of only Disney princesses playing the role.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 2:36pm
Lilly7 said: "First Judy Kuhn, now Lea Salonga, I hope this means a trend of only Disney princesses playing the role.
I was thinking Schonberg-Boublil leading ladies, but that works, too.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 2:37pm
Lilly7 said: "First Judy Kuhn, now Lea Salonga, I hope this means a trend of only Disney princesses playing the role.
"
Yes! Anika Noni Rose next!
Posted: 11/18/15 at 3:24pm
I don't know if this will be considered by them, but when I thought of Fun Home in the Philippines, I immediately thought of Charice Pempengco who came out as a lesbian and has the perfect short hair for Alison. She can sing really well, has the look and would bring in a lot of people to see it. I don't know how well she is an actress though. Her appearance on Glee doesn't really tell us anything about her acting.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 4:01pm
Charice would be great as medium Alison, she is far too young to play older Alison.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 4:15pm
Lilly7 said: "First Judy Kuhn, now Lea Salonga, I hope this means a trend of only Disney princesses playing the role."
That would make me so happy.
I think this casting is terrific, although she doesn't read middle-aged to me, which I feel the character should. Still, I'm sure she'll be wonderful in the role and I'd be all for the casting of the show on Broadway to represent different ethnicities. I think that would be a very cool thing for the show to do, though it may be difficult to change the entire cast at once.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 4:45pm
What does mean about allegiance?
Posted: 11/18/15 at 4:57pm
It could mean that either her contract with Allegiance will be over by then and the role will be taken over by a new person (if the show is still open) or she will take a month or two off to do Fun Home.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 5:05pm
Lea Salonga stated that her contract with Allegiance us up in June 2016, if the show lasts that long.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 5:55pm
I agree that this was quite a surprise. Honestly, when I first read the announcement, I thought she was gonna be Alison herself and it would have really been something new for her, character-wise. Lol...
Posted: 11/18/15 at 6:39pm
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "I agree that this was quite a surprise. Honestly, when I first read the announcement, I thought she was gonna be Alison herself and it would have really been something new for her, character-wise. Lol...
I thought that they were referring to 'Big Alison' too lol. I was picturing Lea as a butch lesbian cartoonist before I read that she would be playing the mother.
Posted: 11/18/15 at 7:00pm
So excited for Lea!!! I have not been in a rush to see Fun Home on Broadway and the only song that appealed to me in the cast recording is Helen's "Days and Days" So I'm glad Lea will take on that role in the Manila production. I wish I can see her in this!
With Rachelle Ann Go (currently Fantine in West End's Les Miz) going to be Fantine in the Manila production in 2016 and with Lea's news, it will surely be fun times in the Philippines theater scene next year!
Updated On: 11/18/15 at 07:00 PM
Posted: 11/30/15 at 8:40am
I am also completely onboard with Charice as Medium Alice! I'd love to see her take on the role.
Posted: 1/8/16 at 7:59pm
So I assume this means Lea won't be touring with Allegiance? It seems like she and Takei were main draw so definitely wanted to see her...
Posted: 1/8/16 at 8:51pm
mcsquared said: "So I assume this means Lea won't be touring with Allegiance? It seems like she and Takei were main draw so definitely wanted to see her..."
Did Allegiance even announce a tour? It seems extremely unlikely that one would happen.
