BALIK-Broadway ang Tony Award-winning actress at Grammy Award nominee na si Lea Salonga sa musical na Once On This Island. Muling gagampanan ng Filipina actress-singer ang role na Erzulie, ang goddess of love.
Sa kanyang Facebook page, masayang ibinalita ni Lea sa kanyang followers ang muling pagganap niya as Erzulie sa Once On This Island sa New York on December 27, 2018.
“Aaaaaaand back in the sand I go!!! I’m so happy that I get to close this beautiful Tony-winning and Grammy-nominated production!!! The show is the gift that keeps on giving, and I’m thrilled that I get the gift back this Christmas!!! Once On This Island Broadway,” post ni Lea.
Matatandaang nagpaalam si Lea sa Once On This Island noong June 25, at ang pumalit sa kanya ay si Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child. Dalawang linggo lang ang nagawang performances ni Michelle sa musical dahil sa kanyang health concerns, at kinailangan niyang magpahinga muna.
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Bago ang Once On This Island, magkakasunod na musical ang pinagbidahan ni Michelle, tulad ng Aida, Chicago, Fela!, at The Color Purple.
Habang hinihintay ang pagbalik ni Lea on the 27th, ang understudy na si Cassondra James ang gaganap bilang Erzulie from December 12 until December 26.
Si Lea ang magsasara sa naturang musical on Broadway, na ang final performance ay sa January 6, 2019.
Nominated para sa Best Musical Theater Album ng Grammy Awards ang cast album ng Once On This Island. Lea shares the nomination with other soloists ng musical na sina Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell and Isaac Powell, and producers Lynn Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, Stephen Flaherty, at Elliot Scheiner.
Nakakuha naman ng eight Tony Award nominations ang Once On This Island, at napanalunan nito ang Best Revival of a Musical.
-ADOR V. SALUTA
