Lea Salonga's Official Opening Night in Les Miserables

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:51pm

Well a lot of you probably know that tonight is Lea's official start as Fantine in Les Miserables tonight. I wish her nothing but love and the best of luck for tonight.

If anyone is going tonight or anyone who has seen her in her previews, very much appreciate it if you could put reviews on what you think.

I think Lea is such a terrific actress and I wish her well for her run in the show :)
Updated On: 3/6/07 at 12:51 PM

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:45pm

agreed

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:48pm

Congratulations to Lea on her opening night tonight. I'm going tomorrow night just to see Lea in this role...and I'm sure she'll be fabulous.

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 2:35pm

I's so happy for Lea and I know she will do amazing as Fantine. I was spellbound just from that rehearsal footage on broadway.com! I am going to NYC in a couple weeks and was wondering if Les Mis has a lottery. Anyone know anything about that?

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:08pm

We'll be there tonight......

Ken

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:22pm

Ken, we're all counting on you (*and anyone else going, of course*) for a full-on update of Lea's performance!

GOD I don't know if I can wait until JUNE!!!!

BUT yes, ditto the original post.

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:31pm

I'm looking forward to it - it'll be our 21st time seeing Les Mis (over a time period of about 18-20 years).....

Ken

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:36pm

Unless the press is being invited back (which I highly doubt to be the case), Salonga won't have an "official opening night". She just starts her performances like any other replacement would.

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:43pm

Actually she started on Friday night (earlier than originally planned). We were on our way to see "Prelude to a Kiss" (which wasn't bad, by the way) and saw her name on the board as we passed by the theatre.

Ken

[jewelchk]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:16pm

Official or not, some of my friends were in from out of town and coincidentally wanted to get tickets for today (student rush if possible). Apparently it is completely sold out tonight, so congrats to Lea and the rest of the cast... (my friends ended up buying tickets for Thursday).

[NDR]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:24pm

How exciting for Lea and the show!
I too enjoyed the footage on Broadway.com.
Now they just need to bring back Miss Saigon to Broadway and finally bring Martin Guerre!!!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:53pm

Here's a cute picture she took of herself before going on stage (from her blog)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:59pm

Oy, don't steal her bandwidth!

[chino]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 9:01pm

I am watching it again because of her, I am seeing it on the 17th. And I can't wait. If I dont see her I will be pissed!

Wishing her the best, and happiness.

I LOVE LEA, and she'll be amazing as fantine.

I am wishing for a revival cast recording with her!

[augustine73]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 10:33pm

hopefully someone will give us a feedback about her official opening night...

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 11:48pm

Lea Salonga's on the cover page of Broadway.com:
http://www.broadway.com/

Anyway, I passed by the theater and the backstage door was packed! Wow, what a crowd! A friend who saw the show tonight was quite impressed...different take on Fantine.

Article

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 11:48 PM

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:59am

Was there last night, she was great, along with Celia. The standing ovation at the end occurred when Lea and Celia appeared - well deserved! Lea also received entrance applause. Now THESE are the BEST Fantine and Eponine performances I have ever seen, after 20 years and 21 Les Mis performances that we've been to!

Congrats the Lea, and also to Celia who continues to also make Fantine and Eponine shine!

A few substitutes were in, one being Thenardeir... My all-time favorite Thernardier is Nick Wyman, that will never change. Gary Beach was OK (saw him first night of previews), but Nick is still the best in my book.

Also think Alex has improved (voice broke a bit at end of "Who Am I" on 24601....., but an excellent "Bring Him Home"), but wife wasn't thrilled with all the extra nuances that they have now (since first day of previews) thrown into the show - extra expressions/pauses/laughs. She's a purist when it comes to this show - I actually enjoyed the few changes. I really liked the adult Cosette also - lots of emotion, and an operretic voice.

Ken

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:23am

yay for lea!

[NS]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:35am

how long is she contracted for?

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:36am

hopefully a long time

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 9:55am

NS- "how long is she contracted for?"

Per Broadway.com - "Due to strong box-office and enthusiastic audiences, LES MISÉRABLES recently announced an extension through at least the summer of 2007, and Salonga will stay with the production through the entire period."

[NS]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:27am

Im not over until December so am selfishly hoping she stays with the show all year! Unlikely I know!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 10:32am

Im sure she sounds AMAZING, and Im saying Im being picky here but the pix on Broadway.com imo is not a flattering one... that wig looked horrible on her! I would have thought they used a curly one and she looked similarly pretty as Jo Ampil in the Ldn production~
Oh well, Im just sulking that I can't see her live :P

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 11:13am

"A few substitutes were in, one being Thenardeir..."

Um...who was the understudy for Thenardier?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 12:34pm

James Chip Leonard went on both shows Saturday, I believe. (He's great!)