New York, June 8, 2011 - BroadwayWorld.com surprisingly bumped into Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) at The Carlyle's lobby a few minutes before she stepped onto the stage at the Café Carlyle last night. Looking elegant and dazzling in her Robin Tomas gown, she talked to us a bit and then said a little prayer prior to facing her opening night audience.
"It's great to be back in New York," Ms. Salonga beamed when she said that in her opening spiel.
Tony Award winner Ms. Salonga is currently in town for an exclusive three-week return engagement, featuring an all-new program entitled Lea Salonga: New York in June, at the Café Carlyle at The Carlyle beginning last night and running until June 25.
Grammy Award winner and stage actress Helen Reddy (Blood Brothers, Anything Goes); cabaret singer and stage actress Marilyn Maye (Mame, Hello, Dolly!); international theater director Bobby Garcia (Next to Normal, Sacrifice); Broadway Beat reporter Richard Ridge; Ms. Salonga's five-year-old daughter Nicole Beverly and mom Ligaya; were among those who showed a warm welcome to The Carlyle's featured artist of the month.
"For our second outing at Café Carlyle, we've assembled the original members of the creative team who were part of Lea's debut at the famous nightspot last year. Diana Basmajian is writer, Larry Yurman is musical director, John Miller is bassist and Jack Cabari is guitarist," show director Daniel Kutner said.
Keeping in mind Café Carlyle's intimate performance space, Ms. Salonga had refrained from belting out big Broadway songs for this particular gig. She still tackled an eclectic song selection. However, she carefully chose her musical numbers -- from show tunes and jazz standards to American love songs and Filipino ditties -- that were more subdued.
Broadway icons who had already performed at the Café Carlyle were Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Barbara Cook and Elaine Stritch.
For tickets, call 212-744-1600 or visit www.thecarlyle.com. Ticket prices: Tues.-Thurs.: General seating, $75 per person; VIP seating, $125 per person; Bar seating, $45 per person /Fri. & Sat.: General seating, $85 per person; VIP seating, $125 per person, Bar seating, $45 per person.
Café Carlyle at The Carlyle is located at 35 East 76th St. New York, N.Y.
Ms. Salonga's new live album, "The Journey So Far" (Recorded live at the Café Carlyle last year) is available for pre-order on www.leasalonga.com.
Photos by Oliver Oliveros
