The spotlight was firmly fixed on Here Lies Love when it premiered at the prestigious Broadway Theater in New York City on July 20. The musical gained additional attention after Lea Salonga, one of the stars of the production, went viral for a video showing her gracefully declining to take a selfie with fans inside her dressing room.
However, beyond the buzz surrounding the video and the importance of proper etiquette around artists, people’s focus shifted to the remarkable musical itself, which proudly showcased Filipino talents and contributions.
The groundbreaking musical is based on First Lady Imelda Marcos and the People Power Revolution. It marks the first time a Broadway production has both an all-Filipino cast and a majority of Filipino producers.
It’s certainly a defining moment, said Salonga who is playing the character of Ninoy Aquino’s Mother Aurora Aquino—her first Filipino role on Broadway—in a limited engagement. Salonga is also serving as producer.
The Tony and Olivier Award winner proudly declared, “There has never been a Broadway show produced by and starring Filipinos.”
Here Lies Love features music by Grammy, Tony, and Oscar winner David Byrne and Grammy winner Fatboy Slim, and concept and lyrics by Byrne. Originally staged in 2013 off-Broadway at The Public, the musical also had a run at London’s National Theater in 2014 and at the Seattle Rep in 2017.
Apart from Salonga, there are 21 other Filipinos in Here Lies Love.
Arielle Jacobs, who starred as Princess Jasmine in Broadway’s Aladdin, is portraying Imelda. Jose Llana, whose numerous Broadway credits include The King and I, Flower Drum Song, and Rent, returns to play Ferdinand Marcos after creating the role in the Public Theater run.
Music lovers in the Philippines know Llana as a recording artist whose debut solo album was released by Viva.
Conrad Ricamora, who was in the main cast of the US drama series How to Get Away with Murder, also reprises his role of Ninoy Aquino.
The rest of the Filipino cast is composed of Melanie Butiu, Moses Villarama, Jasmine Forsberg, Reanne Acasion, Jaygee Macapugay, Julia Abueva, Renée Albulario, Aaron Alcaraz, Carol Angeli, Nathan Angelo, Kristina Doucette, Roy Flores, Timothy Matthew Flores, Sarah Kay, Jeigh Madjus, AJ Mercado, Geena Quintos, Shea Renne, and Angelo Soriano.
“Here Lies Love is a pro-Filipino show being told in a quintessential American form: the Broadway musical. Two cultures, two histories, continuing a centuries-old complicated dance,” the team behind the production shared in a statement.
Veteran talent manager Girlie Rodis, also a HLL co-producer, remarked that the musical fulfills an important need. “It provides Pinoys in the US—both the Fil-Ams and the overseas Filipinos—with a show that will make them feel closer to the homeland.”
Case in point is Las Vegas court recorder Aimee Curameng, a Filipino born in the Philippines and raised in the US and a follower of HLL since its days at The Public. Aimee feels grateful that the musical exists to give a voice to Filipinos. She said, “Having a show where people look like me and it’s about the history of my home country feels so… good.”
For co-producer Bobby Garcia, HLL creates a path for Filipinos in the world’s most famous theater circuit.
“I hope this show continues to show how colorful the tapestry is of stories from the Philippines and the rest of Asia. And that these have a place on the Broadway stage,” said the founder of Atlantis Productions.
For updates about Here Lies Love, visit herelieslovebroadway.com and follow herelieslovebway on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.