If her schedule permits it, Filipina international singer Lea Salonga prioritizes commitments at her homefront precisely because it is her brand of nationalism or if you may, patriotism.
Lea loves performing at home especially for her fellow Filipinos.
That's how she values her roots even if she can always say "No."
Salonga also admires local productions that are meaningfully Filipino-driven to boost the morale of her countrymen.
Her latest caper is the adaptation of the Broadway play "Into The Woods" (it already has a film version).
The classic literary creation is now a local production to be presented this year to the Filipino people from Aparri to Jolo, from Pampanga to Iloilo, from Quezon to Bacolod.
By enumerating these places, it doesn't mean this musical will be brought to them but rather, they are just representations of the whole Philippines.
Synecdoche, anyone?
Here's publicist Toots Tolentino's account on the production of "Into The Woods" to be shown locally:
"Theatre Group Asia has just announced that Olivier and Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will be stepping into the iconic role of The Witch in its production of Stephen Sondheim’s 'Into The Woods,' set for August this year to be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
"Tony Award-winning creative visionary and a founding collaborator of TGA, Clint Ramos shares, 'We are so pleased and proud to have an actress of Lea’s caliber lead the spectacular and stellar ensemble of TGA’s production of 'Into The Woods.'
"This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines in six years, and what a grand comeback it’s sure to be!
"'Into the Woods' is a very complex and thought-provoking piece. We want to create a version that considers the Filipino condition. Hopefully, our context will give more meaning to the already rich work that is this Sondheim musical. And Lea, with her remarkable talent and abilities will be very instrumental in imparting that message.”
Salonga’s last musical in the Philippines was Sweeney Todd, directed by another founding collaborator of TGA, the late theater maverick Bobby Garcia.
On performing back home, Salonga remembers, “The last show I did in Manila was a Stephen Sondheim masterpiece. Now, I’m coming to 'Into the Woods,' yet another Sondheim masterpiece! If all I do for the rest of my life is perform in Sondheim shows, I’ll be very happy. But most of all, to my dear friend, 'This one is for you, Bobby!’”
This is the comeback you’ve all been waiting for!
So hold tight to your cows, capes, golden hairs, and glass slippers… the journey into the woods is about to unfold!
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