In 1991 Lea Salonga at the age of 21, won a Tony, Drama Desk and a Theatre World award for Best Actress in a musical in the original production of Miss Saigon. She became an overnight theatre legend. She removed barriers for other Asian artists, when she was cast in Les Misérables. She has been a Disney princess twice and on May 5th, Ms. Salonga, releases her newest album, “Blurred Lines”, on the LML Music label. She returns to Feinstein’s/54 Below May 9, where the CD, was recorded live last year. T2C was thrilled when offered a chance to talk and learn more about this amazing artist.
In Miss Saigon
T2C: Does the revival of Miss Saigon bring back memories? What is your favorite?
Lea Salonga: I have various memories. The one that is the most memorable was turning 20 and getting an amazing cake that said “Now you teens are past their best give that virgin act a rest. “ It was a normal rehearsal day and boom happy birthday. It was great to be 20 and starring in a Broadway show.
In Les Miserables
T2C: Your audition song for Miss Saigon was On My Own from Les Mis. What was it like getting to play that role after singing that song to start your career?
Lea Salonga: I was more terrified of playing that role. I was conscious of making sure everything was right. It was the first time an Asian was cast into this role so I needed to be connected.
T2C: In Aladdin you worked with Alan Menken. What are your favorite memory from that?
Lea Salonga: One of my favorite scores is the Hunchback of Notra Dame. I just love “God Help the Outcasts” and “Out There.” Menken was at my audition for Aladdin, as was Tim Rice. I sang “Part of Your World” and they all watched with their heads down, because in a animated feature it is all about the voice. When I was done heads bounced up and out of his chair Alan went directly to the piano. He starts playing “Part of Your World going up ½ steps every measure. Very vivid memory.
T2C: In Mulan you had a chance to break barriers. It seems in your career you have done that a lot. Did you set out to do this or was it just par for the course?
Lea Salonga: I wasn’t conscious in Miss Saigon, but in Les Mis I conscious, of that. I was the first Asian, so now others can play those roles. In Miss Saigon, there was so much controversy about Jonathan Pryce and we went the other way, so it seems right to that I did what I did.
Alligence
T2C: You fought for Allegiance. Why were you so passionate about this show?
Lea Salonga: I was passionate because George Takei is so passionate. This show told of WW11 and a specific ethnic group that was singled out because they look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. George Takei was included in that. The passion was steaming from post 911 and irrational fears that we saw happening again.
In Japan I loved Les Mis because it has such heart. Commitment and storytelling is important for a company of actors. They have to have a higher singular mind in telling the story. Heart is important. I jumped up on my feet for that production. I look for that in everything I do.
The Voice
T2C: You became a part of “The Voice” in the Philippines. What did you learn from that?
Lea Salonga: So many talented people are in the Philippines. The newest version is teens 13 -17 and these 13 year olds are remarkable. You wonder how are you so talented at such a young age? Many genre’s are represented. It’s fulfilling. Being able to mentor and teach and ensure talented people have a chance. We get to change lives and make dreams come true.
T2C: What shows would you like to do?
Lea Salonga: I don’t know anymore. I’m 46 and don’t know what’s available. Ms Lovett in Sweeney Todd or Dot in Sunday in the Park With George.
T2C: In your concert what would you like your audience to take away?
Lea Salonga: Besides that I can sing, it depends, an emotional experience, inspired. I can’t really say how someone should feel.
T2C: What song most describes who you are?
Lea Salonga: I’m a person who tends to gravitate towards sad songs “Burn,” I’m Still Hurting.” I think “Blurred Lines” is sexy.
T2C: What inspired your new album? I know it is a live recording of your show, but how did you put that together?
Lea Salonga: Repertoire and with help from my residential musical director Lawrence Yurman who is conducting War Paint. Suggestions and Mash-ups and figuring out what would this be right for Feinstein’s/ 54 Below crowd. It also comes out of several concerts.
T2C: Are there plans for another Broadway show in the works?
Lea Salonga: I do hope so.
T2C: What composers would you like to work with?
Lea Salonga: Sondheim directly, new or old, John Kander, Pasek and Paul. I worked with Stephen Schwartz and I have done Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, but I would like to work with him personally.
T2C: What performers would you like to work with?
Lea Salonga: Streisand!
T2C: You inspire a lot of people. Who inspires you?
Lea Salonga: My daughter, my husband, my mom, my brother, numerous friends who work in musical theatre and people who make the world a better place.
T2C: What would you like our audiences to know about you?
Lea Salonga: My career is 40 years old and what ever has been asked has been said. I would like to not have everything be known I like to keep some things to myself.
Tony Award® winner Santino Fontana brings his tremendous talent to 54 Below and it is a show that wraps you up in his humor, charm, vocal prowess, laid back demeanor, jeopardy style musical choices and over all entertaining. By the end of the show you feel as if you know him or at least a part of him. Starting off with Charles Strouse and Lee Adams’s “Stick Around,” the night turned into a Russian roulette of material. The audience picked numbers and as Santino put it “if you don’t like the show, it’s your fault.” First up for my show was the naughty but amusing “Making Love Alone” followed by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella‘s “Do I Love You,” which made for an amusing combination of songs. During Cinderella Mr. Fontana had shoes that were built up 2 inches inside and 2 inches outside, which cause a tremendous amount of pain, so the song told the story of his plight, which made the song take on a much different meaning. Sondheim’s “Anyone Can Whistle,” was sung for a Carol Burnett tribute, that luckily we were treated to.
His guest for the evening was Sarah Steele (“The Good Wife,” The Humans, The Country House) who sang “out There On My Own” from Fame. On the 14th it will be Greg Hildreth (Company, Disney’s Frozen, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella). Click on the name and you can hear that version.
Showing off his baritone side with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “If I Loved You.” We almost got to see Santino in Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields”s Sweet Charity, instead we got hint of what that would be like with “Too Many Tomorrows.” A hilarious version of “I feel Pretty” from West Side Story lightened the mood and had the room in tears. Recreating his duet “Love Is An Open Door” from Frozen, Santino channeled Dorothy Michaels from Tootsie. Again the room was laughing with the sheer comedic genius that won Mr. Fontana a Tony Award. Bringing the energy to a calmer state was the emotional Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s “Who Can I Turn To?”
Vocally the most impressive song of the night was “Joey, Joey, Joey” from Most Happy Fellow. Mr. Fontana’s voice was glorious in the tones and the subtle texturing. Keeping in the ballad mode and honoring Marilyn Bergman he launched into the iconic “Where Do You Start,”while accompany himself on the piano, which was highly impressive. Back to the uptempo mode “I Met A Girl” from Bells Are Ringing, was given a rigorous, amusing take. This was his original audition song. Lerner and Loewe’s “How to Handle a Woman,” from the recent Camelot, showed how Santino would have made an excellent King Arthur.
Another favorite moment of the night was “Buddy’s Blues” from Follies. Already a personal favorite, this made me want to see Santino play this role at a later date, though personally I would cast him as Ben.
For the finale songs “The Music In You” from Cinderella, told how he and the cast loved watching the magnificent Victoria Clark perform. “This Can’t Be Love” from 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse, ended up in an encore, of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones’s “They Were You” from The Fantasticks, which made my guest producer Pat Addiss extremely happy.
Cody Owen Stine
Santino was backed by his musical director and accompanist Cody Owen Stine, who played flawlessly.
Santino Fontana
Santino Fontana opened September 10th at 54 Below and you can still catch this marvelous show tonight September 14th. 54below.com
This is a do not miss!
I met Emmy Award winner Mauricio Martínez when he was performing in Children of Salt and have watched him ever since. He then became known for the Broadway musical On Your Feet!, but before that he appeared in the Emmy Winning TV Show El Vato NBC, the hit Señora Acero Telemundo and several Mexican telenovela. T2C talked to this prolific actor/ singer to learn more.
His new show at 54 Below talks about all the self-tape sides filling up his Dropbox. In his new show, 5’11, Based in NYC, Mauricio is putting those to good use in a musical “What If…,” sorting through what might have been. Pushing aside the ring light, you will lean more about this uber talented Mexican American.
His show on October 5 and 6 at 7pm is at 54 Below. The show feature Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella, On Your Feet!) and Alexis Michelle (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) and is written by Mauricio Martínez & Robbie Rozelle, with musical direction and arrangements by Brian J. Nash. Directed by Robbie Rozelle.
Video by Magda Katz
Last night Linda Purl took the audience at The Green Room 42 on a magical journey.
Linda Purl and Ryan Spahn
In 2020 Linda Purl starred as Ryan Spahn mother in Vivian Neuwirth’s Mr. Toole at 59E59 Theaters.
Ms Purl just released her fourth album of standards, This Could Be the Start. If the CD is anything like the concert this s a must have,
You know Linda Purl, for her work on Movies of the Week, Happy Days, The Bold and the Beautiful, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, The Office and more. Recently she released her fourth album of standards, This Could Be the Start, and she celebrated its debut with a special concert Monday, September 11th at The Green Room 42.
Standards such as “This Could Be The Start,” I’ve Gotta Lot of Living,””Shall We Dance,” “Caravan,“Blue Moon,” “Let’s Get Lost,” “Taking a Chance on Love,” “Here’s To Life” and more were given a sultry, laid back, come hither approach. You can tell Ms. Purl is an actress first, as these song, all told stories that wrapped you in their spell. The lyrics become front and center, but are thrown away with a knowing that surpasses time. Part of the magic is the alternating rhythms to the originals that make these versions stand out and draw you in.
Penny Fuller, Lorna Dallas, Linda Purl
Part of this intoxication is her musical director Ted Firth, who is a musical genius. Purl has been working with him for 15 years. When ever I fall in love with an arrangement, inevitably it is always Ted Firth at the helm. Firth was on piano with David Finck on bass and Ray Marchica on drums. Purl smartly uses the best of the best.
Linda and Ted Firth
During Ms. Purl’s patter we learned about her love of hiking, she hails from Colorado, her partner, Patrick Duffy, and their sourdough starter company, as well as painting old trees with paint and glitter.
Kevin Spiritus, Jamie deRoy, Linda and Pat Addiss
Purl knows how to keep her audience in the palm of her hand and wanting more. She is warm, engaging and a song stylist, that will keep you coming back for more.
Pat Addiss, Dan Lauria, Linda Purl, Kevin Spiritus
Penny Fuller, Lorna Dallas, Linda Purl, Richard Hillman, Ted Firth
Linda Purl, Richard Hillman, Ted Firth
All photo’s and video are Magda Katz
Classical/rock violinist Daisy Jopling, vocalist Frank Shiner and her fabulous band performed at Chelsea Table + Stage Saturday, September 9 at 9:30 PM. The duo perform an eclectic mix of music from blues and standards to classical. The magical band that accompanied them included Ray DeTone on guitar, Sofia Gould on saxophone, Jeff Miller on piano, Lavondo Thomas on bass and Dan Weiner on drums.
17 year old, Sofia Gould was a Daisy Jopling student and one of the reasons this foundation is so needed.
For a special treat 17 year old Melisa Muñoz played a mean trumpet.
Daisy tours the world with her own band, and also runs a music mentorship foundation.
The Daisy Jopling Foundation has given 6,810 children world class music performances for free.
4,500 hours of time volunteered.
1,000 residents given free tickets to our concerts.
920 children served in their mentoring programs.
Partnered with over 50 non-ройt organizations to.
transform their student’s lives.
Daisy was the first international violinist to perform a major concert at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on November 4, 2022, collaborating with Egyptian stars Hany Adel, Wust El Balad and Noha Fekry.
Daisy started off by playing a concerto at the Royal Albert Hall in London at the age of 14, the opening of the Vienna Festival, 53 stunning concert halls in China, creating “Illuminance” on Bannerman Island, NY which aired on PBS in 2021 and 2022, and performing her own “Awakening” Concert at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.
Daisy Jopling, Frank Shiner
Frank Shiner released his debut album, The Real Me, in 2014, A second LP, Lonely Town, Lonely Street, he released on his own Bakerson Records label. He is now writing a musical about his dad, in which he debuted one of the songs.
They ending the concert with “Joy To The World.” This was a great night of raising funding for children and music.
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