LOOK: Lea Salonga takes selfies at the Tonys with Broadway’s best

Theater veteran Lea Salonga was selected to be a presenter at the 71st Tony Awards where the best in Broadway this year were recognized.

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:

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.


As if this isn’t adorable enough, Hamill retweeted their photo and used the hashtags #MysecondfavoriteLea and #LeaandLuke.

Salonga snapped photos with “Hamilton” actors Christopher Jackson and Oak Onaodowan:

She also met theater actors Justin Guarini and David Abeles from the a cappella musical “In Transit”:

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:

She thanked New York-based Pinoy actor Brian Jose for “taking care” of her:

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:

Actress Cobie Smulders from the TV series “How I Met Your Mother” has also been doing theater:

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:

Filipino-American and Tony nominee Eva Noblezada now plays Kim in “Miss Saigon”, which was Salonga’s debut role:

Frances Ruffelle was in the original West End cast of “Les Misérables” as Éponine, which Salonga played on Broadway:

She also ran into singer Josh Groban and former Vice President Joe Biden.

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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