Filipino Night Celebrated in Broadway

Ms. Lea Salonga (center) joins Consul General Theresa De Vega, Consulate personnel and Filipino-American Community members at a Talkback after a staging of the hit Broadway production of Once on This Island (photos by Ms. Julie Lewis, AKA NY)

27 February 2018 NEW YORK – AKA NY, a New York-based Theater marketing group in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Filipino-American organization Broadway Barkada held a “Filipino Night” for the February 25 staging of the critically-acclaimed revival of “Once on this Island” at the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway.

Over 150 members of the Filipino-American community, making up a significant percentage of the evening’s audience came to see the popular show featuring Tony-award winner Ms. Lea Salonga who played one of the show’s major roles. Some members of the Fil-Am Community stayed on after the performance for a talkback with Ms. Salonga and other members of the cast and production team.  The talkback was moderated by Mr. Billy Bustamante, a member of Broadway Barkada and a rising Filipino-American theater artist, last seen in the 2017 revival of “Miss Saigon”.

The talkback was likewise an opportunity to introduce to the Filipino-American and mainstream audiences, the advocacy of Broadway Barkada in supporting more Filipino and Fil-Am artists in the international performing scene.

Ms. Salonga encouraged the audience to support Filipino and Filipino-American artists in their various projects as this contributes greatly to more inclusiveness and diversity in the arts. She noted the need to develop larger Filipino and Fil-Am audiences for the arts globally so that producers, casting directors, writers and other creatives would be encouraged to cast more Filipino artists and experiment with Filipino storylines for projects.

Other cast members like Tony-nominee Norm Lewis, lead actress Hailey Kilgore, and Alex Newell likewise took time out to meet the Filipino audience members.

The costumes for the latest revival of Once on This Island were designed by sought-after Filipino Broadway costume designer Tony winner and University of the Philippines Theater Arts graduate Clint Ramos. 

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Mrs. Lourdes Locsin, Consul Arman Talbo, Cultural Officer Olive Magpile joined the Filipino audience at the Pinoy Night. END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/