Philippine Development Foundation ("PhilDev") announces that Filipino American actor, DeeDee Magno Hall, best known for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway and Nessarose in Wicked's first national tour, has been added to the impressive list of Filipino American Broadway stars led by Tony Award winner Lea Salonga for its upcoming gala concert, PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim, on Monday, November 7th at 7:30PM at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City.
"We are absolutely thrilled that Deedee has joined the cast. She is a phenomenal actor. We have assembled 4 of the 5 Filipino actors who played the lead role of Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway. The evening will be very special," said director Victor Lirio.
Deedee joins Salonga (Kim #1), Rona Figueroa (Kim #3), and Joan Almedilla (Kim #4). She was the longest playing Kim in Miss Saigon, serving the show from 1997 to 1999. She later reprised the role on the show's national tour production.
On joining the concert, she commented: "Sondheim's music can be both beautifully simple and deeply complex. As an artist, I enjoy a healthy challenge. This will be my first time singing Sondheim music in a professional setting, so I am very much looking forward to it."
Directed by actor and director Victor Lirio, with music direction and original orchestrations by Tom Myron, the concert will present "a carousel of Sondheim's worlds and extraordinary characters from such musicals as Company, West Side Story, Saturday Night, Sweeney Todd, Anyone Can Whistle, Follies, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, and Sunday in the Park with George.
New York-based The San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir will also share the stage with Filipino-American Broadway stars in support of the Philippine Development Foundation. The all-Filipino choir-led by music directors Enrico Lagasca, Leo Paolo Leal, and Rogelio Penaverde, Jr.-is composed of volunteers from different fields of work who were brought together by a shared devotion to St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint and who sing in different churches and fundraisers in New York and New Jersey. They have also performed in Rome during the 20th anniversary of the canonization of St. Lorenzo Ruiz.
According to choir member Cecile Dacudao-Salcedo, "We have partnered with PhilDev for fundraising concerts for several years now. We believe in their mission of building a strong base for science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. We look forward to sharing a stage with other artists committed to making a difference."
She added: "To perform with Lea Salonga and other Filipino talents is truly inspiring. We are honored to be invited by the concert's director, Victor Lirio."
"I saw them in a performance at the Philippine Consulate General. I was so moved and impressed by their work. I have asked them to join the concert to render the evening's finale ultimo with a Filipino hymn, ‘Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika,' to share with the world the essence of the Filipino spirit," said Victor Lirio.
With Salonga, DeeDee Magno Hall joins Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables); Alan Ariano (Miss Saigon, The Encounter); Emy Baysic (Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia); T.V. Carpio (Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark); Angel Desai (Company); Ali Ewoldt (Les Miserables, West Side Story); Rona Figueroa (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Lennon, Nine); Lydia Gaston (The King & I, Miss Saigon); Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables, The Lion King); Jose Llana (The King & I, Spelling Bee, The Flower Drum Song, Wonderland); Orville Mendoza (Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon); Paolo Montalban (Pacific Overtures, The King & I, ABC/Disney's Cinderella as Prince Charming opposite Brandy); Emily Morales (Lincoln Center's South Pacific); Jennifer Paz (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Joseph ... Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar); Diane Phelan (South Pacific, West Side Story) and company members Aaron Albano, Marie France Arcilla, Ester Barroso, Billy Bustamante, Liz Casasola, Karl Josef Co, Marc dela Cruz, Ariel Estrada, Albert Guerzon, Joanne Javien, Brian Jose, Jaygee Macapugay, Mel Maghuyop, Jake Manabat, Alan Mangasser, Adam Marcelo, JP Moraga, Lora Nicolas, Catherine Ricafort, EnRico Rodriguez, Vincent Rodriguez III, Chris-Ian Sanchez, Melissa Singson, and Kay Trinidad.
Tickets for PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim can be purchased at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center box office located at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City, online at www.lincolncenter.org, or by calling CenterCharge at 212-721-6500. Ticket prices are $100, $150, $250, and $500. Limited patron/VIP subscriber seats of $1,000 are available which includes a pre-concert VIP reception by contacting Rene Encarnacion at rene@phildev.org or 650-288-3937. 100% of proceeds will benefit Philippine Development Foundation.
Suites by Sondheim is being sponsored by Tallwood Venture Capital, Alvarez & Marsal, Ms. Mercedes Zobel, Mr. Washington Sycip and the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. Media support provided by Asian Journal and the Filipino Reporter.
