Musical theatre royalty and official Disney Legend Lea Salonga returns to Singapore this March, marking a long-awaited homecoming to the Esplanade stage. Last seen here in 2019 in concert and as the delightfully macabre Mrs Lovett in Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Sweeney Todd, Salonga’s relationship with Singapore audiences has long been one of affection and familiarity. Now, she’s back not to conquer new territory, but as she puts it, to reconnect: with friends, fans, and a city she knows well enough to have favourite snacks at the café.

Her upcoming concert, Stage, Screen & Everything In Between, is both a celebration and a reflection—tracing a career that has effortlessly bridged Broadway, the West End, Hollywood animation, and concert halls around the world. Audiences can expect beloved songs from Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Aladdin and Mulan, alongside newer material from Old Friends and a carefully curated mix of musical theatre, pop, and personal challenges. Accompanied by her band and a string ensemble from the Singapore Lyric Opera Chamber Orchestra, Salonga promises an evening rooted in joy, emotional honesty, and a deep love for storytelling through song. Ahead of her return, we spoke to her about legacy, longevity, and why performing here still feels like coming home. Read the interview in full below:

Bakchormeeboy: You’re returning to the Esplanade stage after a number of years; what does it mean to you to be back performing here again, and how does this return feel at this point in your career?

Lea Salonga: Let me answer that in reverse… at this point in my career, making returns to certain venues in certain countries feels more like small homecomings than territory to conquer. I get to commune with fans, see close friends, and perform music that’s more fun and joyful than anything. Performing in this venue (which I’ve performed in at several points over the course of many years) is always fun, whether in the concert hall or the theatre. Never hurts that there’s kaya toast in the little cafe at the venue.

Bakchormeeboy: Stage, Screen & Everything In Between spans musical theatre, film, pop, and new work. How did you approach curating a setlist that reflects both your iconic roles and where you are artistically today?

Lea Salonga: We all made sure that we considered what the audience would like to hear, so we put in a bunch of the more obvious hits from my repertoire, but balanced that with songs that I’ve never sung before prior to putting this list together, or music that would be a vocal challenge (because, why not?). I knew that the audience would come to expect a lot of Miss Saigon and Les Miz; we provide just enough of both shows.

Bakchormeeboy: Audiences will hear songs from Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Aladdin and Mulan, roles that have become inseparable from your name. How has your relationship or the way you perform and see these songs evolved over the years?

Lea Salonga: Please believe me when I say singing these songs never ever gets old. Perhaps as I get older, I’ve grown to appreciate these particular songs all the more, not only for what they signify in my career but also for the music itself. The Boublil-Schönberg catalog contains some of the most unabashedly emotional music created for the theatre. It’s “heart on your sleeve” music, and there’s always a place for it in the hearts of fans and performers.

Bakchormeeboy: You’ll be accompanied by your band and a string ensemble from the Singapore Lyric Opera Chamber Orchestra. How does performing with a string ensemble change the emotional or musical experience for you?

Lea Salonga: Quite honestly, I don’t know if I’m able to put that feeling into words besides that the sound… that sound… it lends so much character to the music, whatever it requires. Sometimes it adds lyricism; at others, something much more tight and strident; or plain joyful and light. And how an arranger or orchestrator decides to use strings will inform how I’ll sing the song.

Bakchormeeboy: You’re also performing songs from Old Friends, which has been warmly received on Broadway and the West End. What drew you to this project, and how does it sit alongside the more familiar milestones of your career?

Lea Salonga: Cameron Mackintosh asked me very, very nicely during a cold day in November 2022 in his office. He asked, “What can I do for your life that would make you say yes to this?” Of course it was Stephen Sondheim’s work that did it, and after having done Sweeney Todd only a few years prior, I knew this would be a project worth doing, if only for the opportunity to see how my sensibilities and his work would match up. But at the end of the day, I was raising a younger teenager at the time (who’s now a fully formed adult also doing theatre), and I needed him to be with me when I did the show in the West End. Cameron made it possible, and so off to London we went. Ultimately, because Cameron valued not just my work but my life, that made saying yes so much easier.

Bakchormeeboy: You’ve performed for audiences all over the world. Is there something distinctive about performing in Singapore or Southeast Asia that stays with you?

Lea Salonga: Oh wait, so the food tripping isn’t enough to set it apart??? I’m southeast Asian (from the Philippines), so it’s all about the food. There’s always a restaurant to discover, a cuisine I haven’t yet tried, and the food scene in Singapore is wonderful. If you have any recommendations, I’d love it!

Bakchormeeboy: Being called a “musical theatre legend” comes with immense respect, but also expectations. There’s no need to prove yourself anymore with how versatile and respected your career has been, but these days, how have you been able to sustain both your voice and your passion for performing and being an artist?

Lea Salonga: Love. That’s it. That’s the simplest and most direct way I can say it. I truly love what I do. I love telling stories in song, and interacting with an audience is so much fun. I can be quite sassy in front of a crowd. As for sustaining my voice, it takes discipline and dedication to taking care of myself. There are things I have to sacrifice and say no to in order to be in great shape for a show.

Bakchormeeboy: What effect do you hope this concert has on audiences, and how likely are you to return to Singapore and Southeast Asia for another concert again in future? 

Lea Salonga: Oh goodness, for as long as I’m invited to return, I’ll be sure to come back. I hope for nothing more than for the audience to leave with a smile on their face having had a wonderful time. That is all.

Photo Credit: Danny Kaan

Lea Salonga – Stage, Screen & Everything in Between plays from 20th to 22nd March 2026 at the Esplanade Theatre. Tickets available here