Theater veteran Lea Salonga was selected to be a presenter at the 71st Tony Awards where the best in Broadway this year were recognized.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/dAGKnoQcWt
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
The über-talented Salonga is the first Asian woman to win a Tony Award in 1991, for her performance in the hit musical “Miss Saigon”.
Prior to her New York trip for the Tonys this year, she scoped out other celebrity presenters who would be at the awards show and vowed to take selfies:
Making a list in my head of the selfies I intend to take on Sunday @TheTonyAwards. Wheeeee!!! Good luck to meeeee!!!
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 7, 2017
Dear @Lin_Manuel, please promise me just one selfie on Sunday. Thanks, Pare! xxx
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 6, 2017
She requested her friend and “Hamilton” actor-composer Lin-Manuel Miranda for a picture, to which he replied, “Yes beshtie.” He is well-versed in Filipino slang and once had a Twitter exchange with Salonga in Filipino.
Her mission has so far been successful, as she was able to meet “Beauty and the Beast” actor Josh Gad, Star Wars’ Mark Hamill, and of course Miranda himself.
Here is the first selfie of #TonyAwards2017: @joshgad!!! pic.twitter.com/xYcr21Hbmh
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
And here it is!!! @HamillHimself, thank you for being so gracious and sweet. #TonyAwards2017 pic.twitter.com/NaPNzCRJxM
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
As if this isn’t adorable enough, Hamill retweeted their photo and used the hashtags #MysecondfavoriteLea and #LeaandLuke.
First @HamiltonMusical related selfie: with creator and all-around badass @Lin_Manuel! pic.twitter.com/VPlhmIGSbp
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
Salonga snapped photos with “Hamilton” actors Christopher Jackson and Oak Onaodowan:
And here’s the other: @OakSmash and @ChrisisSingin!!! pic.twitter.com/sIerFp2suZ
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
She also met theater actors Justin Guarini and David Abeles from the a cappella musical “In Transit”:
Another #TonyAwards2017 selfie: with @JustinGuarini and @iamdavidabeles! @InTransitBway pic.twitter.com/zJBvRLeJ9K
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
She reunited as well with another esteemed Hollywood and theater veteran John Lithgow, who starred in the TV movie “Redwood Curtain” with Salonga in 1995:
Reunion pic: with @JohnLithgow! #TonyAwards2017 pic.twitter.com/WZgpo44UWl
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
She thanked New York-based Pinoy actor Brian Jose for “taking care” of her:
And this is probably the most important selfie of the day: the man taking care of me, my friend @bjose. Thanks, Brian! pic.twitter.com/IgG7y5FHtO
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 11, 2017
During the awards show, Salonga looked sleek and sharp in a Rajo Laurel suit, and had the chance to meet more stars, including nominees and winners of the night.
The musical “Dear Evan Hansen” took six Tony awards, which included Tonys for its actors Ben Platt and Rachel Bay Jones, and its musical composer, Benj Pasek:
With the man of the night, @BenSPLATT!!! Congratulations on your Tony! #TonyAwards @DearEvanHansen pic.twitter.com/Gxul5bSYCA
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
With @rachelbayjones, newly minted Tony winner for @DearEvanHansen! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/NintPxqUcY
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Yaaaaaas! With another huge winner, @benjpasek!!! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/FCe99JeuTa
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Actress Cobie Smulders from the TV series “How I Met Your Mother” has also been doing theater:
With @CobieSmulders from the cast of #PresentLaughter! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/xJVtfQWwQp
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Salonga also met talented actresses whom she’s shared roles with. Courtney Rhodes Reed played Princess Jasmine in the Broadway version of Aladdin while Salonga took on singing vocals for the character in the Disney animation:
Here with Courtney @RhodesReed! #PrincessJasmines #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/czrdp5E6Go
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Filipino-American and Tony nominee Eva Noblezada now plays Kim in “Miss Saigon”, which was Salonga’s debut role:
With @EvaNoblezada! For the rest of her life she will have the “Tony Nominee” label preceding her name. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/HsNtFgsQxa
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Frances Ruffelle was in the original West End cast of “Les Misérables” as Éponine, which Salonga played on Broadway:
And we two Eponines found each other! @francesruffelle #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/pF8b4N2SJo
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
She also ran into singer Josh Groban and former Vice President Joe Biden.
With @GreatCometBway‘s @joshgroban!!! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/c9skRbfb0N
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
With one of my favorite people of the night, former vice-president @JoeBiden. What a cool, sweet guy! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/nQ4cDfvHM6
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 12, 2017
Certainly her fellow thespians and celebrities were just as delighted to meet her. Other celebrity presenters included Scarlett Johansson, Orlando Bloom, Glenn Close, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend and Taraji P. Henson. JB
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