NEW YORK - Broadway superstar Lea Salonga leads an all-star cast of Filipino and Filipino-American performers on Broadway who are all coming together to do Suites by Sondheim, a one-night-only benefit concert at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.
“I’m extremely proud to be a part of a community like this. Not too many performers get to tackle Sondheim and certainly not in a way we’re going to. Not this many Filipino performers in one place will get to perform this material that is classic and intelligent,” Salonga told the Asian Journal in a recent interview in midtown.
The performance falls on November 7, the same day when Lea herself performed at the Carnegie Hall in a concert produced by Victor Lirio’s Diverse City Theater back in 2005.
“The cool part about this concert is that almost every conceivable Filipino-American or Filipino performer that has performed on Broadway in recent history is going to be a part of it. It’s certainly historic,” she added.
Among those who are lending their voices that evening are some of Broadway’s fine leading ladies who have made a name for themselves.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled!” said Ali Ewoldt, who recently played Maria in the first national tour of West Side Story. Ewoldt performed with Salonga in Les Miz on Broadway in 2008, headlining it with another Filipino-American actor Adam Jacobs.
Many other Filipino and Filipino-American theater performers echo that excitement and look forward to sharing the same stage in a special historic evening of Broadway music benefiting education programs in the Philippines.
Rona Figueroa, who has performed in Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Nine on Broadway, is excitedly looking forward to the day of the performance. “It’s always exciting to find out how large the Filipino community [on Broadway] is. Some of us know one another and it’s always great to see each other again. This show is kind of a reunion for our friendships. It’s nice to see how we’ve grown,” she enthused.
PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim is set on November 7, 2011 at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City. Hosted by the Philippine Development Foundation, the funds raised by the concert will support science and technology education for underprivileged youth.
It’s more than just a reunion for these Broadway veterans.
T.V. Carpio, who current plays Arachne in Broadway’s new show Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, recognizes the opportunity to make a difference. “Ultimately, you share your talent to get to a better place—to be able to give back more. When I was asked to join the gala show, I jumped!”
The actors hold composer Stephen Sondheim, to whom the evening is dedicated, in high esteem.
“Sondheim is a genius, really and truly. I got to do West Side Story every night. The lyrics he wrote to it are so profound and beautiful. His work is so far ranging—smart, funny and touching. I think he is a brilliant, brilliant composer,” Ali said. Rona is also excited to perform the Broadway icon’s songs, some of which may be “challenging”. As a child, Carpio loved West Side Story so much that she wanted to change her name to “Maria.”
“The thing about Sondheim, it does get very cerebral. You need a faculty with words and a love of the lyric not just to pull it off but to have an appreciation for it. I need a balance of knowing the material and not knowing where I am going,” said Salonga, who loved the A Little Night Music score and loves singing Another Hundred People and Send in the Clowns.
For one night on November 7, they all get to play their dream roles. Suites by Sondheim marks the first concert event that Sondheim’s creations from shows like Company, A Little Night Music, and Sunday in the Park with George, and Sweeney Todd, will be performed by this group of world-class Filipino-American voices who all have made marks on Broadway.
Lea & Victor: From Carnegie Hall to Alice Tully Hall
The show’s director Victor Lirio has been involved with PhilDev for the past couple of years. Last year, he directed the San Jose and San Francisco performances of fellow Broadway performers.
“I wanted to do something that hasn’t been done before,” Victor said. For a couple of months, he gathered his thoughts and his friends’ ideas. “I wanted it to be a concept. The thing with Sondheim—it’s an embarrassment of riches. I wanted it to be thematic.”
Lea also cited her good friend Victor for asking her to be a part of it as early as March this year, saying she can’t wait to see how it would turn out.
“Given the repertoire of material that he’s assembled and the stars he’s been able to enlist for this very special concert, I think the audience can expect nothing less than excellence. These are all theater artists at the top of their game, who sing like nobody else can, whose understanding of every piece they tackle is not just admirable, but straight from the heart. I’ll be watching from the wings for sure, and at every rehearsal,” she said.
Lea and Victor go way back, as far back as 1993 when they first met in New York. Their friendship blossomed in Manila when they worked together in the show, Grease! in late 1994 to early 1995.
“Lea is a very loyal friend and a big supporter of mine. She supports the projects that I promote however small especially meaningful social causes that we share a passion for such as LGBT-related issues, the environment, the empowerment of the Filipinos and betterment of our country and our global profile,” said Victor.
Asked to comment on their professional relationship, Lea replied, “Actually, our relationship is much more of a personal nature than a professional one, the biggest endeavor being the concert at Carnegie Hall which benefitted Diverse City.”
“We’ve known each other nearly 20 years, been best friends for most of that time, so we’ve seen each other through quite a bit, and he’s provided excellent babysitting duties for my daughter. He’s seen me through most of my romantic relationships, was “Gay of Honor” when I got married, and is my go-to guy in the city for a theater date,” Lea added.
Victor, as a director, is infinitely delighted to be working with great Filipino-American talents on this once-in-a-blue-moon project.
“I am thrilled to be working with all of them. I am very excited to see Lea’s work in some of Sondheim’s iconic numbers. They have been performed and popularized by the likes of Bernadette Peters, Barbra Streisand, Patti Lupone, and Audra McDonald. And I am excited that Lea gets to finally put her own stamp on these iconic songs. One of them is an arrangement that Larry Yurman, her music director, is writing for her for this concert. It’s going to be special. As the saying goes, “one for the ages!”” Victor added.
Carpio, Ewoldt, and Figueroa will join Tony Award winner Salonga in leading roles in the Sondheim concert. With them will be Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables); Alan Ariano (Miss Saigon, The Encounter); Emy Baysic (Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia); Angel Desai (Company); Lydia Gaston (The King & I, Miss Saigon); Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables, The Lion King); Jose Llana (The King & I, Spelling Bee, The Flower Drum Song, Wonderland); Orville Mendoza (Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon); Paolo Montalban (Pacific Overtures, The King & I, ABC/Disney’s Cinderella as Prince Charming opposite Brandy); Emily Morales (Lincoln Center’s South Pacific); Jennifer Paz (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar); and Diane Phelan (South Pacific, West Side Story) with other rising Filipino American actors in musical theater Aaron Albano, Ester Barroso, Billy Bustamante, Liz Casasola, Karl Josef Co, Marc dela Cruz, Ariel Estrada, Albert Guerzon, Joanne Javien, Brian Jose, Jaygee Macapugay, Mel Maghuyop, Jake Manabat, Alan Mangasser, Adam Marcelo, JP Moraga, Lora Nicolas, Catherine Ricafort, Enrico Rodriguez, Vincent Rodriguez III, Chris-Ian Sanchez, Melissa Singson, and Kay Trinidad.
The concert is for the benefit of the Philippine Development Foundation, “PhilDev,” a US-based non-profit organization, whose purpose is to develop much-needed programs and to support initiatives that accelerate the sustainable social and economic growth in the Philippines through science and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In addition, it is the major conduit for Filipino Americans to support education and training, arts and culture, enterprise and livelihood, the environment, healthcare, rural development, governance, persons with special needs, and women’s and children’s issues in the Philippines.
Suites by Sondheim is sponsored by Tallwood Venture Capital, Alvarez & Marsal, Ms. Mercedes Zobel, Mr. Washington Sycip, the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Gladney Center for Adoption, Philippine Airlines, Convergex, Prince Street Capital Management, Ms. Elena Abella Brim and Jay and Renate Green. Media support provided by Asian Journal and the Filipino Reporter.
Tickets for PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim can be purchased at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center box office located at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City, online at www.lincolncenter.org, or by calling CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500. Ticket prices are $100, $150, $250, and $500. Limited patron/VIP subscriber seats of $1,000 are available which includes a pre-concert VIP reception by contacting Rene Encarnacion at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (650) 288-3937. 100% of net proceeds will benefit Philippine Development Foundation.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ Oct 14-20, 2011 LifeEASTyle pg.2)
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