Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Lea Salonga, David Burnham to sing Broadway, Disney tunes with Lappin, Pops
4 views
Skip to first unread message
Mich
Apr 8, 2012, 8:19:50 PM4/8/12
to
Source: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/arts/lea-salonga-david-burnham-to-sing-broadway-disney-2270457.html
Lea Salonga, David Burnham to sing Broadway, Disney tunes with Lappin, Pops
By Jan Sjostrom
Daily News Arts Editor
Updated: 9:13 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012
Posted: 6:38 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012
Neither Lea Salonga nor David Burnham expected what was to come when they walked into life-changing auditions.
Salonga was a child star in her native Philippines. But she’d decided on a career as a doctor when she was persuaded to audition for the original London production of Miss Saigon. She was just 17 when she was cast as Kim, a part for which she won just about every available award.
Burnham’s break came when he was chosen to replace Donny Osmond as the lead in the tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He’d shown up at a Los Angeles audition for Ragtime, inappropriately dressed in a muscle T-shirt, torn jeans and hair so long it brushed his chest. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” the performer said. He sang a tune from Joseph.
He was told he wouldn’t do for Ragtime, but he was perfect for Joseph, ending a two-year search for Osmond’s replacement. Before he knew it, he was whisked off to Canada, where he joined the tour.
These days Salonga and Burnham are seasoned entertainers. Their next gig will be a concert of Broadway and Disney favorites Monday and Tuesday at the Kravis Center with Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops.
Theater and cabaret
Salonga was in her early 20s when she won a Tony Award for Miss Saigon and played the singing voice of Jasmine in the Oscar-winning animated feature Aladdin.
She didn’t let the recognition go to her head. “I told myself, ‘OK, this is my job,’” she said. “‘I will get up tomorrow and do it all over again.’ I thought of it as a responsibility, not an opportunity to glorify myself.”
She was soon to learn that awards don’t necessarily lead to work. She played in Miss Saigon off and on for years.
After she left the show the first time, she couldn’t secure an audition, much less a part. Roles were scarce for Asian actresses.
Not all theater executives were blinded by race. Cameron Macintosh tapped her to play the French girl Eponine in the well-established Les Miserables. Later, she portrayed Fantine in the long-running hit.
She considers Les Miz the best-crafted musical in which she’s performed. “Think about the finale of the first act, where you have all these characters, each singing a part where they’re in their own little world, yet you hear all the things they’re saying,” she said. “That takes a lot of thought and skill.”
Other highlights of Salonga’s career include the Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song and playing the singing voice of Mulan in the Disney animated features Mulan and Mulan II.
She has a huge Filipino fan base, and performs frequently in Manila, where she shares a home with her husband and 5-year-old daughter.
She’s on the road four to five months a year. In August, she released The Journey So Far, a live recording of her cabaret show at the Cafe Carlyle.
Does she ever wish she’d skipped that Miss Saigon audition and become a doctor? “No, this is way more fun,” she said.
From ‘Wicked’ to ‘Piazza’
Burnham, who has performed with the pops twice before, created the role of Fiyero in the Los Angeles workshops of Wicked. He took over the part on Broadway in 2008.
But The Light in the Piazza ranks No. 1 on his list of the best shows he’s done. “It’s a very sophisticated, elegant jewel box of a show,” he said.
He made his Broadway debut in 2005 understudying the role of Fabrizio in Adam Guettel’s and Craig Lucas’ musical about a mentally disabled young woman who finds romance in Italy and played the Italian lover for the national tour.
Recently, he’s been promoting his album One Day and performing in a new Cy Coleman revue.
He also leads week-long musical theater summer camps designed to help young thespians be better prepared than he was when the part of Joseph tumbled into his lap. “It renews my passion and joy for singing and being in the theater,” he said.
IF YOU GO
What: The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites with Lea Salonga, David Burnham and Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops
Where: Kravis Center
When: 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday
For information: Call 832-7677 or visit PalmBeachPops.org.
Lea Salonga, David Burnham to sing Broadway, Disney tunes with Lappin, Pops
By Jan Sjostrom
Daily News Arts Editor
Updated: 9:13 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012
Posted: 6:38 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012
Neither Lea Salonga nor David Burnham expected what was to come when they walked into life-changing auditions.
Salonga was a child star in her native Philippines. But she’d decided on a career as a doctor when she was persuaded to audition for the original London production of Miss Saigon. She was just 17 when she was cast as Kim, a part for which she won just about every available award.
Burnham’s break came when he was chosen to replace Donny Osmond as the lead in the tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He’d shown up at a Los Angeles audition for Ragtime, inappropriately dressed in a muscle T-shirt, torn jeans and hair so long it brushed his chest. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” the performer said. He sang a tune from Joseph.
He was told he wouldn’t do for Ragtime, but he was perfect for Joseph, ending a two-year search for Osmond’s replacement. Before he knew it, he was whisked off to Canada, where he joined the tour.
These days Salonga and Burnham are seasoned entertainers. Their next gig will be a concert of Broadway and Disney favorites Monday and Tuesday at the Kravis Center with Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops.
Theater and cabaret
Salonga was in her early 20s when she won a Tony Award for Miss Saigon and played the singing voice of Jasmine in the Oscar-winning animated feature Aladdin.
She didn’t let the recognition go to her head. “I told myself, ‘OK, this is my job,’” she said. “‘I will get up tomorrow and do it all over again.’ I thought of it as a responsibility, not an opportunity to glorify myself.”
She was soon to learn that awards don’t necessarily lead to work. She played in Miss Saigon off and on for years.
After she left the show the first time, she couldn’t secure an audition, much less a part. Roles were scarce for Asian actresses.
Not all theater executives were blinded by race. Cameron Macintosh tapped her to play the French girl Eponine in the well-established Les Miserables. Later, she portrayed Fantine in the long-running hit.
She considers Les Miz the best-crafted musical in which she’s performed. “Think about the finale of the first act, where you have all these characters, each singing a part where they’re in their own little world, yet you hear all the things they’re saying,” she said. “That takes a lot of thought and skill.”
Other highlights of Salonga’s career include the Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song and playing the singing voice of Mulan in the Disney animated features Mulan and Mulan II.
She has a huge Filipino fan base, and performs frequently in Manila, where she shares a home with her husband and 5-year-old daughter.
She’s on the road four to five months a year. In August, she released The Journey So Far, a live recording of her cabaret show at the Cafe Carlyle.
Does she ever wish she’d skipped that Miss Saigon audition and become a doctor? “No, this is way more fun,” she said.
From ‘Wicked’ to ‘Piazza’
Burnham, who has performed with the pops twice before, created the role of Fiyero in the Los Angeles workshops of Wicked. He took over the part on Broadway in 2008.
But The Light in the Piazza ranks No. 1 on his list of the best shows he’s done. “It’s a very sophisticated, elegant jewel box of a show,” he said.
He made his Broadway debut in 2005 understudying the role of Fabrizio in Adam Guettel’s and Craig Lucas’ musical about a mentally disabled young woman who finds romance in Italy and played the Italian lover for the national tour.
Recently, he’s been promoting his album One Day and performing in a new Cy Coleman revue.
He also leads week-long musical theater summer camps designed to help young thespians be better prepared than he was when the part of Joseph tumbled into his lap. “It renews my passion and joy for singing and being in the theater,” he said.
IF YOU GO
What: The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites with Lea Salonga, David Burnham and Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops
Where: Kravis Center
When: 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday
For information: Call 832-7677 or visit PalmBeachPops.org.
Mich
Apr 8, 2012, 8:49:57 PM4/8/12
to
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/fl-ppl-lea-salonga-032912-20120329,0,2513209.story
Lea Salonga makes Florida debut with Palm Beach Pops
By Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel
March 29, 2012
Singer Lea Salonga says she has a voice that can dip into almost any music genre, from hook-driven numbers in Disney movies to toe-tapping Broadway tunes to rock ballads.
She should know: the Filipino diva has done all three. Salonga, who's best recognized not for her appearance but as the honeyed voice of Princess Jasmine from Disney's "Aladdin" and as the title character from two "Mulan" movies, has come to fancy her vocals as something of a multipurpose tool.
"It's interesting that my voice is a pliable instrument, and it has gotten me a lot of roles," said Salonga, who lives in the Phillippines with her five-year-old daughter, Nicole. "It's a good feeling that my voice isn't so specific that it demands to be pigeonholed into one genre only."
Salonga is debuting her flexible vocal chops this Thursday for the Palm Beach Pops Orchestra's production of "The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites" at Florida Atlantic University's Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium. Salonga then heads to Eissey Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday and Kravis Center on Monday and Tuesday.
Salonga, a child star who debuted professionally at age 7 with a production of "The King and I," eventually landed roles on Broadway in the late-'80s as both Éponine and Fantine in "Les Misérables" and a Tony-winning role as Kim in "Miss Saigon." But it was her mainstream role as Princess Jasmine, which she landed after the director of "Aladdin" personally sought her out, that brought her the most acclaim, including a Grammy award for her single "A Whole New World."
For her performance this Thursday, Salonga plans to perform selections from – of course – "Aladdin" and "Mulan," plus a smattering of medley hits from the"Tarzan"and"Hercules"films. By the same token, she's reprising "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables, "I'd Give My Life for You" from "Miss Saigon" and "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked."
"A Disney movie a lot like a Broadway musical because they're all story-songs, relaying an action of an emotion going on and giving insight into the character performing it," Salonga said. "Every time I sing those classics, I get new insights every time because I've matured as a singer. It's like singing a song for the first time, even though you've been singing it for the last 20 years."
If you go
"The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites"
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday at Kaye Auditorium; 8 p.m. Sunday at Eissey; and Monday and Tuesday at Kravis
Where: Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; Eissey Campus Theatre, 11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens; and Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
Cost: $29-$89
Contact: 561-832-7677 or PalmBeachPops.org
Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Lea Salonga makes Florida debut with Palm Beach Pops
By Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel
March 29, 2012
Singer Lea Salonga says she has a voice that can dip into almost any music genre, from hook-driven numbers in Disney movies to toe-tapping Broadway tunes to rock ballads.
She should know: the Filipino diva has done all three. Salonga, who's best recognized not for her appearance but as the honeyed voice of Princess Jasmine from Disney's "Aladdin" and as the title character from two "Mulan" movies, has come to fancy her vocals as something of a multipurpose tool.
"It's interesting that my voice is a pliable instrument, and it has gotten me a lot of roles," said Salonga, who lives in the Phillippines with her five-year-old daughter, Nicole. "It's a good feeling that my voice isn't so specific that it demands to be pigeonholed into one genre only."
Salonga is debuting her flexible vocal chops this Thursday for the Palm Beach Pops Orchestra's production of "The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites" at Florida Atlantic University's Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium. Salonga then heads to Eissey Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday and Kravis Center on Monday and Tuesday.
Salonga, a child star who debuted professionally at age 7 with a production of "The King and I," eventually landed roles on Broadway in the late-'80s as both Éponine and Fantine in "Les Misérables" and a Tony-winning role as Kim in "Miss Saigon." But it was her mainstream role as Princess Jasmine, which she landed after the director of "Aladdin" personally sought her out, that brought her the most acclaim, including a Grammy award for her single "A Whole New World."
For her performance this Thursday, Salonga plans to perform selections from – of course – "Aladdin" and "Mulan," plus a smattering of medley hits from the"Tarzan"and"Hercules"films. By the same token, she's reprising "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables, "I'd Give My Life for You" from "Miss Saigon" and "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked."
"A Disney movie a lot like a Broadway musical because they're all story-songs, relaying an action of an emotion going on and giving insight into the character performing it," Salonga said. "Every time I sing those classics, I get new insights every time because I've matured as a singer. It's like singing a song for the first time, even though you've been singing it for the last 20 years."
If you go
"The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites"
Where: Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; Eissey Campus Theatre, 11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens; and Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
Cost: $29-$89
Contact: 561-832-7677 or PalmBeachPops.org
Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mich
Apr 8, 2012, 8:52:17 PM4/8/12
to
Source: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/arts/palm-beach-pops-soloists-offer-strong-season-close-2280728.html
Palm Beach Pops, soloists offer strong season close with Broadway, Disney theme
By DAVID A. FRYE
Special to the Daily News
Posted: 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Maestro Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops rounded out their 20th season with a bang Monday night, bringing a delightful two-fold tribute to the Great White Way and what could be called the “Music of the Mouse” to the Kravis.
The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites, the last of this season’s six programs, brought a healthy dose of both genres — with a few nice surprises — in a professionally packaged presentation that hit on all cylinders every step of the way.
An exceptional sound mix, a revised lighting design that coordinated with both the flow of the music as well as the wardrobe of the performers, along with thoughtfully planned pacing and staging combined to make for a very enjoyable experience. Having two bona fide Broadway stars sitting in certainly didn’t hurt either.
The first of the final two shows of the season opened with a hometown favorite: 13-year-old Olivia Schiappa from Jupiter kicked things off with a strong performance of the National Anthem that immediately warmed up the crowd. The All Saints School student held her own, both with the orchestra and during some cute banter with Lappin.
The orchestra began the evening “On Broadway” with the overture from A Chorus Line, in an arrangement that featured the string section — and a fine solo from violinist Rafael Elvira — on the ballad What I Did For Love. This was followed by one of the very best numbers: the stunning Larry Wilcox chart of Jimmy Van Heusen’s Here’s That Rainy Day, that soothed like a hot cup of soup on, well, a rainy day. Granted, it had no Broadway or Disney connection, but it was so easy on the ears you just didn’t care.
Then came the guest artists, who were wisely put to good use early and often. First up was Pops favorite David Burnham, who scored big with a smooth, swaggering reading of Cole Porter’s It’s All Right With Me (from Can-Can). Best known for his Broadway performances in Wicked and The Light In The Piazza, Burnham’s effervescent tenor was in fine form on more modern show tunes such as the blockbuster This Is The Moment (from Jekyll and Hyde).
Next came the lovely Lea Salonga with the touching I Give My Life For You from Miss Saigon, for which she won a Tony Award. This Filipina mezzo-soprano also played two different roles in Les Miserables (including a solid performance as Fantine in the 2010 25th anniversary concert). She also has the distinction of providing the singing voice for two Disney “princesses”: Jasmine in Aladdin and the title role in the two Mulan animated features, making her a natural choice for the evening’s assignment.
The soloists did most of the heavy lifting in the second half, taking turns in a Broadway/Disney sing-off, with Burnham opening with I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles, then moving from Schubert Alley to Lake Buena Vista with a warm and fuzzy reading of the chestnut When You Wish Upon A Star that had the crowd wistfully singing along. Salonga countered with Colors of the Wind, the Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-award winning song from Disney’s Pocahontas, and then the beautiful Reflection from Mulan.
Of special note was a powerful Les Miz twin-spin by the duo: I Dreamed A Dream — which Salonga absolutely nailed — and Bring Him Home, featuring Burnham’s soaring tenor.
A pair of knockout duets — As Long As You’re Mine from Wicked and another Oscar-winner, A Whole New World from Aladdin (which Salonga actually sang on the Oscar telecast the night it won the trophy) — closed out the evening on a high note.
Overall, the combination of an easily accessible theme, featuring exceptional guests soloists, singing from a well-paced set list, accompanied by a stellar group of musicians, made for a strong, satisfying close to the Pops season. Add to that proven formula substantially enhanced production values across the board and you have the kind of cultural experience worthy of the Pops brand; a point of reference for future seasons and a new standard that could help this organization thrive where others have failed. Season 21 for the Pops kicks off in November.
On Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:19:50 PM UTC-5, Mich wrote:
Palm Beach Pops, soloists offer strong season close with Broadway, Disney theme
By DAVID A. FRYE
Special to the Daily News
Posted: 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Maestro Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops rounded out their 20th season with a bang Monday night, bringing a delightful two-fold tribute to the Great White Way and what could be called the “Music of the Mouse” to the Kravis.
The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites, the last of this season’s six programs, brought a healthy dose of both genres — with a few nice surprises — in a professionally packaged presentation that hit on all cylinders every step of the way.
An exceptional sound mix, a revised lighting design that coordinated with both the flow of the music as well as the wardrobe of the performers, along with thoughtfully planned pacing and staging combined to make for a very enjoyable experience. Having two bona fide Broadway stars sitting in certainly didn’t hurt either.
The first of the final two shows of the season opened with a hometown favorite: 13-year-old Olivia Schiappa from Jupiter kicked things off with a strong performance of the National Anthem that immediately warmed up the crowd. The All Saints School student held her own, both with the orchestra and during some cute banter with Lappin.
The orchestra began the evening “On Broadway” with the overture from A Chorus Line, in an arrangement that featured the string section — and a fine solo from violinist Rafael Elvira — on the ballad What I Did For Love. This was followed by one of the very best numbers: the stunning Larry Wilcox chart of Jimmy Van Heusen’s Here’s That Rainy Day, that soothed like a hot cup of soup on, well, a rainy day. Granted, it had no Broadway or Disney connection, but it was so easy on the ears you just didn’t care.
Then came the guest artists, who were wisely put to good use early and often. First up was Pops favorite David Burnham, who scored big with a smooth, swaggering reading of Cole Porter’s It’s All Right With Me (from Can-Can). Best known for his Broadway performances in Wicked and The Light In The Piazza, Burnham’s effervescent tenor was in fine form on more modern show tunes such as the blockbuster This Is The Moment (from Jekyll and Hyde).
Next came the lovely Lea Salonga with the touching I Give My Life For You from Miss Saigon, for which she won a Tony Award. This Filipina mezzo-soprano also played two different roles in Les Miserables (including a solid performance as Fantine in the 2010 25th anniversary concert). She also has the distinction of providing the singing voice for two Disney “princesses”: Jasmine in Aladdin and the title role in the two Mulan animated features, making her a natural choice for the evening’s assignment.
The soloists did most of the heavy lifting in the second half, taking turns in a Broadway/Disney sing-off, with Burnham opening with I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles, then moving from Schubert Alley to Lake Buena Vista with a warm and fuzzy reading of the chestnut When You Wish Upon A Star that had the crowd wistfully singing along. Salonga countered with Colors of the Wind, the Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-award winning song from Disney’s Pocahontas, and then the beautiful Reflection from Mulan.
Of special note was a powerful Les Miz twin-spin by the duo: I Dreamed A Dream — which Salonga absolutely nailed — and Bring Him Home, featuring Burnham’s soaring tenor.
A pair of knockout duets — As Long As You’re Mine from Wicked and another Oscar-winner, A Whole New World from Aladdin (which Salonga actually sang on the Oscar telecast the night it won the trophy) — closed out the evening on a high note.
Overall, the combination of an easily accessible theme, featuring exceptional guests soloists, singing from a well-paced set list, accompanied by a stellar group of musicians, made for a strong, satisfying close to the Pops season. Add to that proven formula substantially enhanced production values across the board and you have the kind of cultural experience worthy of the Pops brand; a point of reference for future seasons and a new standard that could help this organization thrive where others have failed. Season 21 for the Pops kicks off in November.
On Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:19:50 PM UTC-5, Mich wrote:
On Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:19:50 PM UTC-5, Mich wrote:
0 new messages