She was 17 years young when she auditioned and turned 18 just in time before the start of the Miss Saigon show.

The greatest names in musical theater, of course. There's Claude Michel Schoenberg (the man auditioning Lea and Alain Boublil, the duo who wrote the music and lyrics to shows like Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, among others. But since this was an audition held in Manila in the late 80s, very little was known about these stalwarts of musicals. Also present during these auditions were Mr. Producer himself, Cameron Macintosh and the super talented director of stage and film, Nicholas Hytner. Lea was among hundreds of other Filipinos who auditioned for lead roles and ensemble parts. Manila was the "gold mine" that the producers were looking for. The female leads were Filipino and more than half of the ensemble cast were also from the Philippines who flew to the UK to star in the musical. Lea Salonga, of course, won a Tony for her role as Kim.

the singer of the original version of "a whole new world"

Christina Aguilera: I sang Reflection the best. Lea Salonga: that's cute. Hold my balut...

The amazing thing is they searched all over the world to find Kim and the cast of Ms.Saigon. They went to Philippines and pretty much filled the cast.

*Her childhood friend Monique Wilson, auditioned first for the same role - KIM and they thought that they already found the right fit for the role. When they heard Lea Salonga, she became the very first Kim, and Monique was her understudy for the role and played Mimi as well. She made her professional debut in 1978 at the age of seven in the musical with Repertory Philippines. She played Annie, too.*

This was her callback, but she originally auditioned by singing On My Own, the song Eponine sings in Les Mis, which she would eventually play in the 10th anniversary edition of Les Mis. Which is a great full circle moment - auditioning a song that the original composers created, being cast by the same composers/producers for a different musical (winning the Olivier and Tony award for the role - the first asian woman to win a Tony - at 20 years old to boot), then becoming the very character (Eponine) that started this whole journey. And of course fitting in becoming a Disney Princess twice over in the interim. An actual living legend.

Yeah Ms Leah Salonga was Legend indeed...though i'm Filipino i always got a goosebump whenever i heared her singing!

She became best actress of ms saigon , Tony awards.. portrayed le mis.. and the voice of mulan n alladin

It’s from a documentary called, “The Heat Is On - The Making of Miss Saigon” (dvd). You want to know the context? This is a must watch. The process how they went auditioning female leads all over the world and how they found Lea Salonga is absolutely fascinating.

Aside from being busy in theater, movies and music industry, Lea Salonga is a consistent honor student and was even a valedictorian in her school. Her first lead role in Philippine Theater is "ANNIE" when she was 8... that's why she is smart and confident.

The guy that you were talking about was Claude Michel Schönberg (on piano) he's the producer of Les Misérables as well 😊 The other guys inside the room are Alain Boubil, Cameron Mackintosh and Nicolas Hytner. Claude and Alain are both involved in Les Misérables. 😊

When she was young lea played Annie in a production with Repertory Phillippines...

That person who Lea signed for autograph is the creator of Miss Saigon. Her first broadway audition and career abroad. It was 1987 and 80 percent of the cast are Filipinos including Lea who got the lead role.

Yeah, she's been acting in plays since she was 7 years old. That's where she gets her confidence and demeanor. Experience. 😍

Lea Salonga is the Manny Paquiao in the field of music. She's an icon, a legendary.

LEA SALONGA.. A living legend and founder/pioneer of the whole modern Disney Music genre! Awesome singer and personality.

Lea is a princess when born after that MISS SAIGON she became a queen. Now a days she's a LEGEND!

Those guys staring at her had been traveling all over the world auditioning Asian girls who can sing the part of Kim. They listened to hundreds of girls with no luck and were ready to give up. The Philippines was their final stop and they really didn't have much hope of finding that one Asian girl until they heard Lea.

This is actually past the first audition already since Lea's first ever audition for Miss Saigon was never recorded. Schonberg (the guy in the piano) along with Boublil (one of the guys on the table) wrote Les Miserables and also Miss Saigon. She's already an established theater actor in the Philippines by this time but this is her big break on the West End and the Broadway stage! You should watch The Making of Miss Saigon, it details everything about how the musical was made, and the amazing Filipino talent they found along the way like Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson. Also yes we would be very much interested to watch videos of you diving deeper into the careers of these legends! Especially Regine Velasquez in the 1988 Asia Pacific Singing Contest.

The clip you showed was from the movie documentary "The Heat is On: The Making of Miss Saigon". The first 30 minutes show auditions from NY, LA, and Honolulu with the hope finding an Asian girl who can sing really well for the lead role in "Miss Saigon". The final city was in Manila where the producers discovered 17 year old Lea Salonga who was a first-year pre-med student at a university in Manila. As the saying goes the rest is history. The man who autographed her Les Miserables poster was Claude-Michel Schönberg who not only co-wrote "Les Miserables", but also "Miss Saigon". The clip you showed of Lea was not her audition but her callback. For her audition she sang a song from "Les Miserables". For a 17 year old to pick that song knowing who she was auditioning for - now that's bold and savy.

Hahaha you guys crack me up. Lea started singing early and had her own tv show back in our country. She did stage plays in Repertory Philippines, The King & I @ 6 I believe and Annie at 9. Her father was a businessman. She was at the top of her class in Ateneo HS preparing for pre med when she heard about the Miss Saigon auditions coming to the Philippines. The man in the first few sec of this video is Claude Michel Schoenberg. He is known for his work Les Miserables and Miss Saigon in collaboration with with Alain Boublil. English is our second language. We don’t speak it like we do here or like Lea but it’s easy for us to pick up because it’s the only language allowed to be spoken in private catholic schools. As for the way she conducts herself, that’s the only acceptable way for a young girl to behave in every catholic school in the Philippines.

omg, I'm back again.. Filipino support here

Yes 🇵🇭 as Morissett is to Asias Phoenix. Leah is the Real Disney Princess that at a early age sang on Broadway. Living Icon like Gary V.

When 'Lea Salonga' was 8'yrsOld she played Little Orphan Annie, She's already a stage performer way back then... 'Mabuhay' Philippines!...

HI BUBS AND DOE I REALLY LOVE YOUR VIDEO AND THANKS FOR REACTING MY FAVE SINGER MS. LEA SALONGA

Lea is amazing! Even Regine Velasquez has complimented Lea for having the perfect pitch while considered herself to be just of relative pitch. “Perfect pitch means you can pluck an existing note out of the air and sing it in tune very accurately, while relative pitch means that a singer could hear an existing note and then use it as a reference point for every other note they sing.”

This era and time of music discovered many female lead singers. This was the era of Renaissance Disney’s classic films. The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, soon followed by Aladdin and The Lion King.

When you watch all her interviews after the first Miss Saigon was launched OMG. Her prowess in British and American accents is incredibly amazing!

She is 2 disney princesses! Jasmine and Mulan. If I'm not mistaken she's the only one to do the singing voice for 2 different disney princesses.

"Coz I don't act like her even though she's younger than me. Does that make sense to you?" "Yah it really does, GROW UP" hahaha that was so sudden but epic

Theater icons Boublil, Macintosh, and Hytner are the 3 admiring persons watching atop the piano

Lea Salonga, she's a very good singer! She's a Broadway performer. She was the singing voice of Mulan and Jasmine; and on 2011 she was awarded as a Disney Legend. She played Éponine and Fantine in Les Miserables, she was one of the original cast of Miss Saigon; she played Kim in her role, she won the best actress for portraying her role. She played Erzulie in the Tony Award Winning Show 'Once on This Island'. She won a Tony Award on 1991. She won a Laurence and Olivier Awards. She was 17 when she auditioned for Miss Saigon by the way. She is truly a Legend! 🙌❤ By the way, this is the link for the full vid, incase you want to know what happened next. ---> kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rbqdaNx5r9nSh5s.html

I just love how natural their reactions are.

Lea is iconic no doubt...every word is clearly pronounced and pitch perfect. On another singer I wonder if you've listened to another Filipina - Renee Dominique. She's a more laid back singer covering most songs with her ukelele and guitar. Angelic voice.

Very nice. Next up should be KZ's audition for X-Factor Phils which she eventually won. You will enjoy watching this one. Two of the four judges are Charice Pempengco and Gary V. Charice became her coach/mentor. Please do make a reaction and thanks.

that's actually her second call her audition piece is "On My Own" which is a suicide cause that guy in the video was the composers and creator of Les Miserable. There's a saying that don't you ever sing "On my Own" in auditions cause you'll definitely fail but she didn't.

She was 17 that time Bubs.

Lea the real pinoy prideeee!!! She deserve to be recognized around the world! She's a legendary singer, not gonna lie.❤️✊🇵🇭

Lea Salonga had her first theater debut when she was 7 in 1978. She was in King and I. She had her first title role in Annie The Musical in 1980. She also appeared in the productions of The Sound of Music, Fiddler On The Roof, etc. After her breakthrough as Annie, she recorded her first album, Small Voice, which was certified gold in the Philippines. She also did a number of TV shows and commercials and films. As a young star, she had received a nomination for Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (highest award an actor could have in the film industry) and 3 Aliw Awards (highest award a performer could have in the performing arts). Despite of her stardom, she managed to graduate elementary as salutatorian and high school as valedictorian. She was taking BS Biology as her pre-med course when she had her audition in Miss Saigon. Salonga was the first Asian descent to win a Tony Award for her performance as Kim in Miss Saigon. She also won Laurence Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theater World Awards. She got the Presidential Award of Merit. In 1991, she was named as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. Lea was alao nominated for a Grammy Award for Once On This Island music album. She has also sung for Princess Diana, Prince Philip, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She has performed for six Philippine president and three American president (Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush).

The legend the iconic my queen thank u guys

The guy in the piano is clade Michel s honberg, the songwriter of the musical

Waahhhh Lea!💜 Didn't expect this reaction video gosh, I'm thankful you guys!💜 I wish this will be notice, ANOTHER REACTION VIDEO OF MOIRA'S SONG PLSSS

Lea started her musical career as a child prodigy in Repertory Philippines (Broadway's Philippine counterpart). She first acted and sang as one of the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music and was followed up with her starring role as ANNIE at age 9. After that Lea started her recording career as a child singer and entered television via her self-titled LOVE, LEA. Lea Salonga was signed up by VIVA PRODUCTIONS as a teenage star and paired off with some leading men who became her loveteam/s. Simultaneously, she was part of a daily TV variety show called THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT. Although somewhat famous, it didn't seem that her fullest potentials were being recognized then. The break of a lifetime came when the producers of MISS SAIGON went to Manila to audition for the key players of the musical. Lea and her family at first were hesitant because they doubted that the audition was legit. But when she finally tried out, the producers knew that they had found their KIM. Along with 20 or so filipinos who passed the initial stages of audition, Lea and the rest were flown to London, the West End where they were finally assigned their roles and started rehearsing for the World Premiere of MISS SAIGON. FYI. LEA won the Lawrence Olivier award in LONDON and the TONY Award as BEST ACTRESS in BROADWAY for originating the lead role of KIM in the musical. While doing MISS SAIGON in BROADWAY, LEA was invited by DISNEY to audition for JASMINE in ALADDIN. Lea got the singing part of JASMINE and years later, was tapped to do another DISNEY PRINCESS, MULAN. AND THE REST IS HISTORY.....

She has a lot of movies here in the Philippines. Try searching “Sana ma ulit muli”

yeessssssss my iconic queen love u both guys

As soon as Lea sings the low note and what follows after transforms me. Makes me cry every time.

Omg thank you for this my favorite reactors 😍😍😍

LEA SALONGA’S VOICE IS SO BEAUTIFULLLLL❤️❤️❤️

Ladies.... A DEFINITE “must see” is the new Katrina Velarde’ upload.... “Joy to the World”, done in a way that you CAN’T prepare for.... Trust me, you WON’T be sorry ✌️🤪. I’d also like to wish the both of you, your families & ALL of your subscribers around the world all the best for a very Merry Christmas & a safe, prosperous & Happy New Year 🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄. Much love always from 🇦🇺Australia🇦🇺💖💖💖

lea salonga is one the best singer in the philippines. hi bubs and doe i love you both all the way from the province of sorsogon, region v, philippines.

She's that confident and doesn't look like she's nervous because she grew up working with Filipino veterans on stage play who were her mentors

I think this will be the start of Doe's curiosity 'bout lea

Letsss goooo another video wohoooo. Its funny that i stop what i watch after your video popped up! That how i love you guysss!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Hey, Bubs & Doe thank you for reacting to Lea Salonga and for loving her.❤ I also want you to react to Kz Tandingan In singers 2018 singing "Anak" (Children) and her own version of "See you again" because you already reacted to all performances of Kz except that.🤗 Take care.❤

Lea Salonga released her first album at 8 years old. She was Annie at 6. She was 17 when she did Miss Saigon where she won Best Actress Olivier -West End, Drama Desk Award and Tonys in New York. She did Jasmine at 19 while in NY doing Miss Saigon

My reaction was like that the first time Lea sang in this video, there's nothing melodic going on before they sang, but when Lea started to sing, it's like your attention was not on the video already and just starting to pay attention to it when in fact I'm watching it attentively, and yet I'm still not ready to hear her voice.

Hi, please react to Lea Salonga, "Still Hurting" in rehearsal. Thank you so much. God bless you both.

she was actually 17, but when they started actually performing the play. she's literally such an insane singer, i love herrrrrr. my filipino pride is so high because of her.

FINALLY!!!! More Lea Salonga reactions pleaseeee.

That guy is Schönberg the composer of Les’ Miserables and Miss Saigon.

Hello Ladies😀Please react to "THE REASON BEHIND FILIPINO SMILE" Thanks and STAY SAFE🤗

Lea Salonga is an epitome of confidence she doesn't get nervous nor intimidated not because she's bragging that's the way she is, some people misinterpret her as being over confident, but you can't please everyone ,she came from a well to do family and a valedictorian of one of the exclusive school in the philippines( Montessori school of Philippines) she's the so called the complete package , speak fluent English ( not Pilipino accent ,sorry😪) she has an impeccable singing voice,, she's beautiful, she's smart , her undeniable over confidence makes her 10x ahead of her years she knows she's gifted❤️

Thank you both(doe and bub)for your generous reaction...i love you both very much...specially to you DOE....

Watch the sound of Music : The repertory Philippines 1989 on YT she was around 9-12 yrold then where every has started.

It's LEYA (Like Leia). She hates it when people pronounce her name as LEE-YA. 😁😁😁

Lea has been acting on stage since she was only 7 yrs old as Annie. She was also a part of the Philippine adaptation of Sound of Music as one of the children. Then she also became a part of the show called "That's Entertainment" which was a youth variety show in the 80s that made big stars in the Philippine Show Business. The names that came from that show are mostly iconic and legendary actors here in our country. While on that show, Lea also recorded pop albums in the 80s and a film with Regine Velasquez and some That's Entertainment stars called "Pik Pak Boom" before she finally did that Miss Saigon auditions. 😊

She was 17 here. Her audition happened in Manila; this was already a call back in London. You can watch the documentary of the making of Miss Saigon on KZfaq. Check out her interview at BBC's Pebble Mill TV Show in the UK in 1996 where she performed two songs -- "I'd Give My Life For You" (Miss Saigon) and "On My Own" (Les Miserables).

I've memorized "The Ms Saigon" with these: Cassette tape (Ms Saigon) Cassette player Pen & paper When: TWO DECADES AGO!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 P.s all lines, not just Kim's

Please react to Calum Scott's audition in Britain's Got Talent

Behind that... The director said that Philippines was their last destination. They weren't expecting to find anyone. They've come back to cast every international production since. Until LEA came. Lea Salonga really has an angelic voice, that's why of all auditionees, she has been chosen to play the lead role. PASSION. HEART. LEGEND. = LEA SALONGA 👑💛😘

Omg omg, I was waiting for this dkdndkdnsks I really love Lea and you guys. Please reac for more Lea contents

If I'm not mistaken the guy on the piano was Claude-Michel Schonberg.

PLS REACT TO REGINE & LEA MUSICAL MEDLEY 2020....A MUST WATCH!!!

She has been in Repertory Philippines (theater group) at such a young age that is why she is fully trained but she is a natural talent as well .she has done the King and I before.

Lea Salonga also did two iconic roles in Les Misrables - Sang On My Own as Eponine and then years later did the role of Fantine and sang I Dream A Dream. She was part of Les Miserables 10th Anniversary as Eponine and then 25th Anniversary as Fantine.

Lea Salonga's career started when she landed the lead role in the Broadway Musicale 'Annie'. Here is the link - m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hKmVaLh_m6mbf3U.html

"I wanna know everything about her career" yes please

She wound up winning the 1991 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Kim in "Miss Saigon". (This was very memorable because that's when I came to America and I remember watching her on TV). Super smart young lady and oozing with confidence unfazed by the presence of legends around her.

Im a legit fan of urs since 2018! Lablots guys!

Pls React To New MV of Ben&Ben x Kathniel. "Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay" . Thank You.

Its pronounced Lay a (like princess leia from star wars) not Leigh a!!!

I heard her sings when she was 9 yrs. Old singing Tomorrow for the diplomats in the Philippines .Shes a smart girl.

Hello to you both. Filipino fan here. You two are lovely to watch. Thank You for reacting on Filipino Singers err.. everything about the Philippines, I mean haha.

Ladies, the whole documentary of looking for the Miss Saigon cast can be viewed here....kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gpx2ia-g19vWXXU.html

Lea has been singing for teathre since childhood around about 7 years old. She did Annie teathre in our country. And she was a child actress in movies. She has her own tv show as a child. She came from a rich family here. I think she is more fluent in english than our tagalog.

She has been acting since she was 7 and she was trained by Repertory Philippines for theatre. At 9 she did Annie. Plus she has had records released and has had a show on TV. She was already famous in the Philippines. Then Miss Saigon top people came searching for Miss Saigon. During this time though she was already set to become a doctor.

Ms.Lea Salonga can read notes perfectly, that's why it was easy for her to memorize the runs quickly. And, also she practiced that "british accent." And, she's also very very smart, if you only knew how many times she tops their class, and lots of awards she got way back. That's why we FILIPINOS considered her as the only precious gem of the Philippines who proved the Americans that Asian people can definitely sing! Yes we have lots of prides, but she's the only precious among them. Ask the Filipinos. 😉✊

She played when she was 6 or 7 in the stage play The King and I, and she is a popular since she was a child....she has her own show here in the Philippines since then...

Yey. She's my fav Filipino singer. Please also react to her 'A Whole New World' when she was young and then the recent one.

Ohhh wow nice video nice reaction😘😌

She started her theater career as early as 7yro. Then she hosted her own TV show. I think w her brother. I think also had an album before this audition. She was about to take a pre-med course in college but didn't continue because she got the role of Kim wc won her all the major theater awards both in US & UK. Tony, Drama Desk, Olivier and others... Then came her Disney stints - Jasmine & Mulan. Then became the first Asian Eponine and later Fantine wc she made her part of the 2 biggest concert of Les Miz. 10th anniv and 25th anniv concerts. The On My Own song that you reacted previously was part of the 10th anniversary. In between those, she made albums and movies here in the Philippines. Then she reprised the lead role of the musical The Flower Drum Song in Broadway. After that, she did original musical, Allegiance. Then became part of the revival of Once on this Island, as Erzulie, The Goddess of Love. You might want to react to that video as well. Lol! She did local versions of some musicals staged both here in the Philippines and Singapore such Into The Woods, Grease, Next to Normal, Sweeney Todd & others. Then several international concert tours in Australia, Dubai, UK mostly. There you go, Lea's career in a nutshell. 😊

Ms Saigon heightened Filipinos' awareness of the theater and musicals bec at that time the producers already went to diff countries to. hold auditions.. they didnt find their kim until they came to manila.. they not onky found kim but other cast as well.. ms saigon opened around 1989..

I am waiting for this😍

Hi Bubs & Doe. If you were going to deep-dive into the lives of iconic Filipino artists, I suggest you start with Lea Salonga. Lea's life is like a great diamond mine, where you can find diamonds at almost every turn.

Miss Lea Salonga before this audition she was already mold in the show THATS ENTERTAINMENT thats she started to be confident and more talented

you two were so obsessed with these talented filipinoes, I will not be shocked if your number of followers will reach 1M hahaha...

HI MGA ATE!😍 The both of you looks so beautiful

She has a genuine voice😍 My number 1 favorite singer😍😍👏👏👏😘😘😘

"Lay - ah, not Lee - ah!" Those present at that audition were "THE" people to make a final decision. Obviously, you saw they were very excited about what they just listened to and like you pointed out, her demeanor did not go unnoticed. I've already listened to your reaction of Lea singing 'On My Own' at the Les Miz 10th year Anniversary celebration when she was 24 years old. My goodness, it doesn't get any better than that!