As she prepares to launch her major North American concert tour with a sold out performance right here in Athens, Tony Award winner Lea Salonga sits down with the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center’s director, Jeffrey Martin, to discuss her long and illustrious career. Free admission, tickets not required.

Part of our season-long Dialogues series. Part of UGA’s Signature Lectures.

ABOUT LEA SALONGA

Multiple award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga is renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. Lea most recently starred on Broadway in Old Friends (alongside Bernadette Peters) after headlining the Los Angeles and London productions.

Lea is best known for her Tony Award winning role in Miss Saigon. In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards. She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway and returned to the beloved show as Fantine in the 2006 revival. On Broadway, Lea starred in the 2018 Broadway revival of Once on This Island as the Goddess of Love, Erzulie. The show’s return to the Broadway stage earned a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and also garnered Lea and the cast a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. She has also been seen on Broadway in Here Lies Love, Allegiance and Flower Drum Song.

Many fans of all ages recognize Lea as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. For her portrayal of the beloved princesses, the Walt Disney Company bestowed her with the honor of Disney Legend.

In addition to her stage and screen credits, Lea served as a judge on the Philippines hit version of The Voice, including the ratings juggernaut The Voice Kids. She has released multiple solo albums, toured the world with legendary popopera quartet Il Divo, and received rave reviews for her many cabaret engagements, including a record setting run at New York’s 54 Below. Her latest album, Sounding Joy | The Holiday Album, was released by Center Stage Records last November.

In her 45-year career, Lea has performed for six Philippine presidents (from Ferdinand Marcos to Benigno S. Aquino III), four American Presidents (George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Joe Biden), and for Diana, Princess of Wales and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was honored by Time Magazine as a Time100 Impact Award Recipient and received the Gold House 2023 Gold Legend Award.