Lea Salonga in Negotiations for New Broadway Musical Allegiance | Playbill

News Lea Salonga in Negotiations for New Broadway Musical Allegiance Tony winner Lea Salonga, who created the role of Kei Kimura in the 2012 Old Globe production of Allegiance— the new musical that charts the lives of Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps on U.S. soil during World War II — hopes to repeat her work on Broadway.

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Lea Salonga

As previously reported, producers Lorenzo Thione and Andrew Treagus announced Feb. 5 that they hope to begin Allegiance Broadway previews with "Star Trek" star George Takei at a Shubert theatre to be announced Oct. 6 with an official opening Nov. 8. However, no theatre has yet been announced and the production is not yet firm.

Salonga, who won the Best Actress Tony Award and an Olivier Award for playing Kim in Miss Saigon, told the Associated Press, "Of course I'd like to be a part of it, if only to be part of something that's very important in Broadway history."

Salonga said discussions are currently underway between the show's producers and her agent.

The acclaimed singing actress, who will offer a solo concert at New York's The Town Hall March 14, added, "This kind of prejudice and bigotry [that is explored in Allegiance] is actually still happening…It's still relevant and that's the sad and scary part of it."

About her Old Globe co-star Takei, whose childhood experiences inspired the musical, Salonga said, "George Takei who is almost 80 years old is going to make his Broadway debut which is really, really exciting for me as a friend of his and as one who worked with him and he's somebody I used to watch on TV when I was a kid." Takei played Mr. Sulu in the original TV cast of "Star Trek" and in the various movie adaptations. He is now also a popular blogger. Allegiance has a book by Marc Acito with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Helming the production is Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima.

Allegiance, according to press notes, is a "touching and uplifting story about a family’s love, loss and heroism during the period of the Japanese–American internment in World War II. A tale that will resonate with everyone: a story you’ve never heard about a family you will never forget."

For more information go to www.AllegianceMusical.com.

 
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