Lea Salonga goes ‘Into The Woods’
Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has announced that Olivier and Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will be stepping into the iconic role of The Witch in its production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods,” set for August this year at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
Clint Ramos, Tony Award-winning creative visionary and a founding collaborator of TGA, says, “We are so pleased and proud to have an actress of Lea’s caliber lead the spectacular and stellar ensemble of TGA’s production of ‘Into The Woods.’ This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines in six years, and what a grand comeback it’s sure to be!”
Ramos adds that their version of “Into the Woods” will “consider the Filipino condition.”
Salonga’s last musical in the Philippines was “Sweeney Todd,” directed by another founding collaborator of TGA, the late theater maverick Bobby Garcia.
Salonga says, “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. But most of all, to my dear friend, this one is for you, Bobby!”
Taking on the role is both exciting and exhausting, says the legendary performer. “Sondheim is no joke! Learning the material before day one of rehearsals takes a few weeks because his patterns can be puzzling and challenging, but so rewarding once it all comes together. It’s also cool that I get to revisit a role that I played as a younger adult. I was about 23 years old when I previously played The Witch. 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.”
“Into The Woods” is based on the book by James Lapine, who also directed the original Broadway run. The plot intertwines the exploits of several fairy tale characters, tied together by a childless baker and his wife who set off on a journey to break a witch’s curse preventing the couple from having a child.
Salonga muses, “What I love about this piece is the whole ‘what if’ premise of fairy tales. Continuing past ‘happily ever after’ is very interesting. Through the material, we realize that a witch isn’t always bad, and good people aren’t always entirely good. The famous line from the musical, ‘Nice is different than good,’ is one that hits home every time. The message is so poignant. The final song, ‘Children Will Listen,’ is a reminder that what we do as adults impacts impressionable minds. Act One is about fairy tales, but Act Two explores darker, less defined territory. That’s when things get interesting!”
This Philippine production of “Into The Woods” follows the groundbreaking success of TGA’s “Request sa Radyo” in 2024, the wordless play that had Manila talking, headlined by Salonga and Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon.
Ramos serves as co-producer, overall artistic director, and stage and costume designer. Ramos is the producing creative director of Encores New York City Center, the group that produced the last Broadway revival of “Into the Woods.” Chari Arespacochaga, with whom Garcia was set to co-direct “Into The Woods,” helms this project as a tribute to her creative partner, mentor, and friend.
Visit www.theatregroupasia.com.
