Lea Salonga joins Philippine staging of 'Into the Woods'

Lea previously played The Witch in 1994 in the Singapore production when she was 23 years old.

“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,” Lea said in a statement.

This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines after six years. The last was “Sweeney Todd,” directed by founding collaborator of TGA and late theater maverick Bobby Garcia.

“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 said.

Lea added that she is dedicating her performance to Garcia. “But most of all, to my dear friend, ‘This one is for you, Bobby!’”

Clint Ramos, a Tony Award-winning creative visionary and another founding collaborator of TGA, said that they're "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.’”

“’Into the Woods’ is a very complex and thought-provoking piece. We want to create a version that considers the Filipino condition. Hopefully, our context will give more meaning to the already rich work that is this Sondheim musical,” Ramos said. “And Lea, with her remarkable talent and abilities will be very instrumental in imparting that message.”

“Into The Woods” is based on James Lapine’s book, who also directed the original Broadway run. It intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales such as "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," and "Little Red Riding Hood."

Their adventures are tied together by a baker and his wife who set off on a journey to break The Witch’s curse preventing the couple from having a child. What happens is a magical event that portrays the impact and consequences of the characters’ actions.

TGA is the same organization behind “Request sa Radyo” in 2024, the wordless play headlined by Lea and Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon.

Chari Arespacochaga, with whom Garcia was set to co-direct “Into the Woods,” helms the project as a tribute to her creative partner, mentor, and friend.

“Into the Woods” will be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News