“I am ready,” Vina Morales said when asked by Lea Salonga if she is prepared to make her Broadway debut! The Filipina actress is filling the shoes of multi-awarded Filipino Broadway legend Lea Salonga in “Here Lies Love.”
Following Salonga’s final performance as Aurora Aquino last Saturday, August 19, Morales is set to enter the stage from September 22 to October 22. In the meantime, the role is portrayed by cast member Reanne Acasio.
Related: THE TRAILER OF THE “HERE LIES LOVE” MUSICAL IS HERE
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“I am still overwhelmed with how God works and for the warm welcome about my Broadway debut,” Morales said as she announced the big news on her social media page. Apparently, Morales first auditioned for “Here Lies Love” 10 years ago, “and that’s why our directors Alex Timbers and David Byrne are familiar with me.”
She also shared that this dream of hers to star in a Broadway show began in 2012 when she played the role of Sherrie in “Rock of Ages.” And then, “10 years later, while I was doing my Australian concert tour, I got a call from dear friends Lea Salonga and Direk Bobby Garcia to do a self-shot video audition for the part of Aurora Aquino.”
She exclaimed, “Can you imagine more than 10 years of waiting?!?”
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This remarkable feat proved to Morales that good things come to those who wait. “This is another check off my bucket list. A dream come true, indeed,” she continued.
In addition, she shared how Salonga mentored her to play the part, saying, “My ‘coach’ Lea was very kind and supportive [throughout] the process until I got accepted.”
To express her gratitude to the people who cheered and prayed for her, Morales promised to give her best in every show before signing off, “See you soon mga Kababayan on Broadway.”
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Salonga continues as a co-producer for the upcoming Imelda Marcos-inspired Broadway musical, collaborating alongside comedian Jo Koy and musical artist H.E.R.
Other “Here Lies Love” cast members are Arielle Jacobs as Imelda, Jose Llana as Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino, to name a few.
Related: JO KOY JOINS THE PRODUCTION OF ”HERE LIES LOVE” WITH H.E.R. AND LEA SALONGA
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