Lea as Cinderella

Lea is ‘Cinderella’ on Asian tour ’08

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer
First Posted 11:24pm (Mla time) 01/29/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino singer-actress Lea Salonga will play “Cinderella” on the Asian tour of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the same name.

This was reported in playbill.com and broadwayworld.com and confirmed by Lea herself.

The tour, which takes the Tony-winning star to mainland China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, premieres in Manila between June and August next year.

Lea will join the “Cinderella” tour after her Broadway comeback as Fantine in “Les Misérables,” which starts on March 6.

The “Cinderella” musical is based on a TV special that starred Julie Andrews in the title role. Aired by CBS in 1957, the special is considered “the most widely watched program in the medium’s history,” having attracted 107 million viewers.

Subsequent versions, also on TV, featured Lesley Ann Warren (1965) and Brandy (1997) as the chimney sweeper-turned-princess.

The significance of portraying a role originated by her idol Julie Andrews is not lost on the Filipina.

Lea worked with Dame Julie in a 1992 recording of another Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “The King and I.” (Julie was Anna; Lea, Tuptim; and Ben Kingsley, the King.)

“Cinderella is not one of (Julie’s) iconic roles like ‘The Sound of Music,’ but it will be interesting. I know I’ll have a good time,” Lea tells Inquirer Entertainment. “The version I am familiar with is the one with Brandy and (Filipino-American actor) Paolo Montalban (Prince Charming).”

The “Cinderella” Asian tour is being mounted by Broadway Asia Entertainment which, according to its web site, is the exclusive theatrical representative for the Rodgers & Hammerstein Theater Library in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Lea says her good friend, Bobby Garcia, is directing “Cinderella.” Rehearsals start in Manila in mid-2008.

Leah is laos na.Arnel Pineda rules!
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