Lea Salonga (Image: Instagram/@msleasalonga)
Before becoming one of the most successful and beloved artists in the entire world, Lea Salonga started with a performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) 43 years ago.
“March 11, 1978 was the first public performance of The King and I (Repertory Philippines) at the CCP. My first job, my first time in front of a paying audience, first time to get paid for work,” Salonga shared on Instagram yesterday, March 11.
Aptly accompanying her post is a photo of her 7-year-old self and a vintage poster for “The King and I,” which started Salonga’s impressive career in theater.
“I don’t remember the paycheck being anything big (it’s theater, meaning it wasn’t) but I loved the experience so much!” she shared.
Salonga has since come a long way from her “The King and I” performance, as known by many, as she has become one of the most renowned theater actors in the world to date.
Salonga is most known for her breakout role as Kim in the Original West End production of “Miss Saigon” back in 1991, for which she won several accolades including a Tony Award and an Olivier Award.
The CCP also houses Salonga’s favorite stage to have ever performed on, as other than being where it all started, it is also where she had her audition for “Miss Saigon,” she shared in an interview with Lifestyle Asia in 2018.
The theater actress has since starred in several other musicals including “Les Misérables,” in which she played both Eponine and Fantine. On the 25th anniversary of the original West End production of “Les Misérables” in 2010, Salonga reprised her role as Fantine among her fellow stars.
Salonga has also been holding the “Disney Legend” title since 2011 for her performances as the singing voices of two Disney princesses: Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan in “Mulan” and “Mulan 2.”. /ra
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