Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Award-winning Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga is set to make her highly anticipated return to the musical theater stage, stepping into one of her iconic roles once again in an upcoming play.

Theater Group Asia (TGA) recently announced on social media that Lea will be part of the cast for the Philippine production of Into the Woods. What makes this even more special is that she will reprise her role as The Witch, a character she originally portrayed in the 1994 Singapore production at the age of 23.

Reflecting on her return to the role after nearly 30 years, she said, “Playing her again 30 years later is going to be illuminating. So much life has happened in the intervening years. I'm hoping to bring as much of that as I can to this production.”

This marks Lea's return to the theater stage after six years, following her last play in 2019, Sweeney Todd. "The last show I did in Manila was a Stephen Sondheim masterpiece. Now, I'm coming in 'Into the Woods,' yet another Sondheim masterpiece! If all I do for the rest of my life is perform in Sondheim shows, I'll be very happy,” Lea shared.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by THEATRE GROUP ASIA (@theatregroupasia)

Fans of Lea Salonga quickly flooded the comments section with excitement upon hearing the news of her return to the stage. Many expressed how long they had waited to see their favorite theater star shine in a musical once again.

Into The Woods, based on James Lapine's book (who also directed the original Broadway run), weaves together the plots of several classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood.

The highly anticipated play is set to take place in August 2025 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

Check out other celebrities who also shined at the theater stage, here: