Lea Salonga’s ‘Once On This Island’ nominated for a Grammy!

FILE: “You are a part of the human heart. #OnceOnThisIsland.” (Photo: @onceislandbway/Instagram)

Filipina Broadway singer Lea Salonga receives her first-ever Grammy nomination as her work in Broadway musical “Once On This Island” is in the running in winning the gramophone trophy for Best Musical Theater Album.

The forty-seven-year-old talent announced the news of being part of the 61st year of the award show last Saturday, December 8 stating, “Had to actually go to Grammy.com to see if it was true. And it’s true! I am officially a Grammy nominee! It may be a while before I get any sleep tonight! So thrilled to share this with my ‘Island’ family. And that at 47 years old, one can still have a first!”

The 2017 Broadway revival of the 1990 one-act musical “Once On This Island” starred Lea as the goddess of love Erzulie. The musical has also previously won a Tony award.

Lea was quickly congratulated by fellow local celebrities, including Erik Santos, Anne Curtis, Rajo Laurel, Mark Bautista, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Karen Davilla, Coney Reyes, and Christian Bautista.

Although this is Lea’s first opportunity to be a part of the Grammys, she became the first Filipina to ever win a Tony award back in 1991 for her work in “Miss Saigon.” Previously, producer Jhett Tolentino was also nominated for Best Musical Theater Album for “The Color Purple” last year, while Filipino-Americans Bruno Mars and Black Eyed Peas’ apl.de.ap have also won a few of the achievements from the prestigious awards show.

Soon after sharing with her fans her Grammy nomination, Lea also announced that she will be returning to the Philippine musical theater scene in 2019 for the local production of “Sweeney Todd,” where she has been cast as Mrs. Lovett and will play opposite Jett Pangan as the main character. She states, “It pleases and tickles me to no end that I’m finally old enough to play Mrs. Lovett! She is such a well-written, thoroughly fleshed-out character that’s equal parts drama, comedy, music and crazy. And I am all about the crazy.” Director Bobby Garcia is the direction of the Sondheim musical, which will be staged in Solaire in October.