Lea Salonga Broadway Followers Snuck Backstage
Lea Salonga is arguably one of the vital adored Broadway and Disney stars, in my view. She’s finest identified for originating the function of Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway, and he or she’s supplied the singing voice for 2 Disney princesses: Jasmine and Mulan.
She received a Tony Award in 1991 for Finest Efficiency by a Main Actress in a Musical for Miss Saigon, making her the primary Asian American lady to win a Tony for efficiency, and he or she’s one of many youngest actors to win a Tony Award in that main class.
At present, Lea has returned to Broadway within the manufacturing of Right here Lies Love, which tells the story of former Filipina First Girl Imelda Marcos’s rise to energy (and subsequent fall) by the hands of the Philippine Folks Energy Revolution.
Lea is enjoying Aurora Aquino within the musical from July 11 by way of Aug. 13 because the manufacturing seems to be to spotlight varied visitor actors from the Philippines in varied roles.
Right here Lies Love can be identified for its distinctive seating model contained in the Broadway theater. Followers can both sit within the mezzanine, gallery, or membership lounge, or elect to buy standing tickets to allow them to be immersed inside the motion on the dance flooring.
Whereas the manufacturing permits followers to be up shut and private with the performers, correct etiquette remains to be a should. Whereas most individuals are little question respectful of this Broadway expertise, Lea not too long ago had a, frankly, weird state of affairs occur that required her to handle respecting individuals’s boundaries.
After a current efficiency of Right here Lies Love, a gaggle of individuals reportedly snuck backstage in an try to fulfill Lea.
In a video posted by NBC New York, you possibly can see individuals come to Lea’s dressing room and say they’re followers who wish to meet her. Lea, very politely, tells the group, “Unless you are on the guest list, we cannot have you back here. So, you’ll have to go to the door. I’m sorry because if I allow this now, then other people are going to take advantage.”
Then, you possibly can hear one of many individuals declare that their buddy is “a co-producer” of Right here Lies Love. Lea tells the group they don’t seem to be on the visitor record, apologizes once more, and he or she affords to fulfill them by the exit door, and tells them to “please, don’t do this again.”
After the incident, Lea took to social media to handle what occurred, specifically calling out individuals’s lack of etiquette and the way they felt “entitled” to be in her dressing room and get a photograph along with her.
“The money you pay for a theater/concert ticket does not mean all-access,” Lea tweeted in response to a fan who referred to as out how the group stored saying how a lot they paid for his or her tickets. “You pay for that performer’s art, and that’s where it stops.”
Lea even added that she checked in with Right here Lies Love producer Giselle Töngi, whom the group claimed to have identified, and he or she “had no idea who they were.”
Additionally, Lea revealed that the identical group that got here to her dressing room “rushed” to her on the dance flooring after the present, and “security had to surround [her] at that point because they got scared.”
In one other tweet, Lea said, “When one of our lead producers and our dance captain saw the video and learned about what happened, they said, ‘You were still very nice, if that were me, I would’ve cussed at them and kicked them out.’ I’m not the type to cuss people out, but I will protect my territory and my boundaries. If I lose fans as a result, so be it.”
“Boundaries exist for every human being,” she tweeted. “And once they’re crossed, there will be consequences.”
Lea additionally made positive to provide props to the followers who comply with correct Broadway present etiquette, specifically ready patiently exterior the stage door for performers to come back and signal Playbills, take pictures, and many others.
“I gotta say, the folks at the stage door have been so incredibly kind, which only makes us (well, me) enthusiastic to say hello and spend the time to talk to them,” she tweeted.
This Broadway incident additionally comes after a string of concert events the place performers like Bebe Rexha, Kelsea Ballerini, Harry Types, and extra have been hit by objects individuals have thrown at them onstage.
I am unable to consider I even need to say this, however whether or not it is a live performance, a Broadway present, or ANY stay occasion, the performers should be revered.
