Salonga, Lea 1971–

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SALONGA, Lea 1971–

PERSONAL

Full name, Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga; born February 22, 1971, in Manila, Luzon, Philippines; daughter of Feliciano Genuino (an engineer and owner of a shipping company) and Maria Ligaya (a homemaker and manager; maiden name, Imutan) Salonga; sister of Gerard Salonga (a conductor and musical director); married Robert Charles Chien, January 10, 2004. Education: Attended Ateneo De Manila University, 1988–89, and Fordham University, 2000. Religion: Roman Catholicism. Avocational Interests: Music, reading, collecting raised–trunk elephants, collecting swatches, working on computers.

Addresses:

Agent—Sarah Clossey, Paradigm, 360 North Crescent Dr., North Building, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Manager—Jeff Berger Management, 301 West 53rd St., New York, NY 10019; Don Spradlin, Essential Talent Management, 6399 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 401, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (some sources cite 6565 Sunset Blvd., Suite 415, Los Angeles, CA 90028). Publicist—Christina Papadopoulos, Baker/Winokur/Ryder, 909 Third Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Career:

Actress and singer. Performed in concerts in the Philippines, the United States, and elsewhere.

Member:

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild.

Awards, Honors:

ALIW Award, best child performer, 1980, 1981, and 1982; Tining Award, one of ten outstanding singers, 1983, 1992, and 1994; Cecil Award, best recording by a child, 1984; AWIT Award, Philippines Recording Industry, outstanding performer, 1990; Presidential Medal of Merit, Philippines, 1990; named outstanding Manilan by the government of the city of Manila; Laurence Olivier Award, Society of West End Theatre, outstanding actress in a musical, 1990, Antoinette Perry Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, best actress in a musical, and Theatre World Award, outstanding debut, 1991, all for Miss Saigon; ASEAN Industry Award, performing arts, 1992; AWIT Award, outstanding service to Philippines recording industry, 1993; Asian American Heritage Award, Better Chinatown Association, 2000.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

The King and I (musical), Repertory Philippines, Manila, Philippines, 1978.

Title role, Annie (musical), Manila, Philippines, 1980.

The Rose Tattoo, Manila, Philippines, 1980.

The Bad Seed, Manila, Philippines, 1981.

The Goodbye Girl, Manila, Philippines, 1982.

The Paper Moon, Manila, Philippines, 1983.

The Fantasticks (musical), Manila, Philippines, 1988.

Kim, Miss Saigon (musical), Theatre Royal, London, 1989–90, then Broadway Theatre, 1991–93. Eponine, Les Miserables (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1992.

Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady (musical), Repertory Philippines, 1994.

Witch, Into the Woods (musical), Singapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore, 1994.

Eponine, Les Miserables in Concert, Royal Albert Hall, London, c. 1996.

Sonia Walsk, They're Playing Our Song (musical), Singapore Repertory Theatre, 1999, then Manila, Philippines, 2000.

Best of Manila (benefit show), 2000.

Homecoming (concert), 2000.

Millennium (concert), 2000.

Songs from the Screen (benefit show), 2000.

Miss Saigon, Manila, Philippines, 2000.

Mei–Li, Flower Drum Song (musical), Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 2001, then Virginia Theatre, New York City, 2002–2003.

Catherine, Proof, Manila, Philippines, 2002.

Something Good: A Broadway Salute to Richard Rodgers on His 100th Birthday, George Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 2002.

Songs from Home: The Concert (concert), Philippine International Conference Center, Pasay City, Philippines, 2003.

Lizzie, Baby (musical), Meralco Theatre, Manila, Philippines, 2004.

Appeared as Sandy Dumbrowski, Grease (musical), Team Image Entertainment, Manila, Philippines; in the musicals Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music, both Manila, Philippines and the musical Making Tracks; and in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Performer in the concerts Music Tells a Tale (concert), Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA; and an anniversary concert for Miss Saigon, London, 1999.

Major Tours:

Eponine, Les Miserables (musical), beginning c. 1996.

Film Appearances:

Lisa, Tropang bulilit, [Philippines], 1981.

Angela, Like Father, Like Son, Viva Films, 1985.

Rosemarie, Captain Barbell, Viva Films, 1986.

Yoko, Ninja Kids, Viva Films, 1986.

Rosie, Pik pak boom, Viva Films, 1988.

Voices of Satsuki and Mei's mother for English version, Tonari no Totoro (anime; also known as My Neighbor Totoro), Toho Company, 1988, dubbed version released in the United States by 50th Street Films, 1993.

Dear Diary, Viva Films, 1989.

Sandy, Bakit labis kitang mahal, Octo Arts, 1992.

Singing voice of Princess Jasmine, Aladdin (animated), Buena Vista, 1992.

Agnes, Sana maulit muli, Star Cinema Productions, 1995.

Singing voice of Fa Mulan/Fa Ping, Mulan (animated), Buena Vista, 1998.

(Uncredited) Voice of Jasmine, Mickey's PhilharMagic (animated), Walt Disney, 2003.

Singing voice of Fa Mulan, Mulan II (animated), Buena Vista Home Video, 2004.

Appeared in the Filipino film I Wish It Happens Again.

Television Appearances; Series:

Cohost, Love, Lea (musical variety show), [Philippines], c. 1983–85.

That's Entertainment, [Philippines], c. 1985.

Lien Hughes, As the World Turns, CBS, 2001, 2003.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

The 100 Greatest Musicals, Channel 4 (England), 2003.

(In archive footage) Broadway: The American Musical, PBS, 2005.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Making of "Aladdin": A Whole New World (also known as The Magic of "Aladdin"), The Disney Channel, 1992.

Tuptim, The King and I: Recording a Hollywood Dream, PBS, 1993.

(In archive footage) The Best of Disney Music: A Legacy in Song—Part 1, CBS, 1993.

Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993.

A Musical Christmas at Walt Disney World, ABC, 1993.

The Olsen Twins Mother's Day Special, ABC, 1993.

Geri Riordan, "Redwood Curtain," Hallmark Hall of Fame, ABC, 1995.

(Uncredited) Singing voice of Jasmine, Aladdin on Ice (also known as Disney's "Aladdin on Ice"), CBS, 1995.

People: A Musical Celebration of Diversity, The Disney Channel, 1995.

Eponine, Les Miserables in Concert, PBS, 1996.

Hey Mr. Producer! (also known as Hey Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh), PBS, 1998.

Russell Watson: The Voice, PBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991.

The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1993.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1991.

Narrator, "Silent Lotus," Reading Rainbow, PBS, 1993.

Amparo, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," ER (also known as Emergency Room), NBC, 2001.

Narrator, "My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States," Reading Rainbow, PBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Other:

Host of Kulit Bulitit; cohost, Patok Na Patok!; also appeared in Iba Ito!, Naku, Ha!, Sunday Special, and This Is It!

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Small Voice—Little Miss Lea Salonga, Volume 1, [Philippines], 1980.

Tomorrow—Little Miss Lea Salonga, Volume 2, [Philippines], 1980.

Miss Saigon (original London cast recording), Decca, 1990.

Aladdin (soundtrack recording), Walt Disney, 1992.

Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, 1992.

The King and I (soundtrack recording), Polygram, 1992.

The Little Tramp (studio recording), WEA, 1992.

Bill Shontz, Animal Tales, 1993.

Lea Salonga, Atlantic, 1993.

Miss Saigon (London cast highlights), Geffen, 1993.

(With others) Music behind the Magic, 1994.

(With others) Academy Award Winning Songs, 1934–1993, 1995.

People: A Musical Celebration of Diversity (soundtrack), Lightyear, 1995.

(With others) Academy Award Winning Songs, Vol. 5 (1982–1993), 1996.

Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert Album, 1996.

Royal Couyabyab: The Silver Album, 1996.

Tim Rice, Collection: Stage & Screen Classics, 1996.

Narrator, Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Helicon Records, 1997.

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, 1997.

Lea Salonga: OPM Timeless Collection, 1997.

In Love, BMG Philippines, 1998.

Mulan (soundtrack recording; also known as Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack), Walt Disney, 1998.

Ariel Rivera, Aawitin Ko Na Lang …, 1999.

By Heart, BMG Philippines, 1999.

The Christmas Album, 2000.

Live, two volumes, BMG Philippines, 2000.

(With others) Disney's Greatest Hits 1 & 2, 2001.

(With others) John Mauceri: Greatest Hits, Philips, 2001.

(With others) Princess Collection, Walt Disney, 2001.

Songs from the Screen, BMG Philippines, 2001.

The Ultimate OPM Collection: The Story of Lea Salonga (import), EMI, 2001.

The Broadway Concert, BMG Philippines, 2002.

Making Tracks: Songs from the Musical (original cast recording), Sony Music Taiwan, 2002.

(With others) More Broadway's Greatest Love Songs, Decca, 2002.

(With others) Disney's Princess Favorites, Walt Disney, 2002.

(With others) Classic Disney (box set), Walt Disney, 2003.

Flower Drum Song (cast recording), DRG Records, 2003.

Baby (cast recording; also known as Baby the Musical), BMG Philippines, 2004.

(With others) Disney's Princess: Ultimate Song Collection, 2004.

Songs from Home: The Concert, BMG Philippines, 2004.

Other albums include 100% Lea Gives Her Best, BMG Philippines; The Ultimate Collection, Octo Arts; and Happy Children's Club.

Singles:

(With Simon Bowman) "Last Night of the World," Geffen, 1990.

(With Simon Bowman) "Sun and Moon," c. 1990.

(With Brad Kane) "We Could Be in Love," Atlantic, 1993.

(With Peabo Bryson) "How Wonderful We Are," Lightyear, 1995.

(With Ariel Rivera) "Miong" (also known as "Suddenly in Love"), 1998.

Other singles include "The Journey" and "100%." Recorded songs with Charlie Masso for a public awareness campaign, Young People's Project. Performer of songs used in films, television productions, and videos.

Videos:

The Heat Is On (also known as The Making of "Miss Saigon"), c. 1987.

Singing voice of Princess Jasmine (in archive footage) Disney Sing–Along–Songs: Friend Like Me, Walt Disney, 1996.

Singing voice of Fa Mulan, Disney Sing–Along–Songs: Honor to Us All, Walt Disney, 1999.

The Broadway Concert, BMG Philippines, 2002.

Lea Salonga Live, [Philippines], 2003.

Other videos include 100% Lea Gives Her Best, BMG Philippines.

Music Videos:

Music videos include "100%." With Charlie Masso, recorded a music video for a public awareness campaign, Young People's Project.

Video Games:

Singing voice of Princess Jasmine, Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge (also known as Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge), Sony Computer Entertainment America, 2001.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers, Issue 3, Gale, 2003.

Notable Asian Americans, Gale, 1995.

Periodicals:

New York Times, March 17, 1991, pp. 5, 37.

People Weekly, June 17, 1991, pp. 55–56.

Playbill, July 22, 2002; September 6, 2002.

Science World, November 19, 1993, p. 16.

Electronic:

Theatermania.com, http://www.theatermania.com, October 16, 2002.