Vina Morales on upcoming Broadway debut: It’s really an answered prayer
MANILA, Philippines — After almost 40 years in Philippine showbiz, Vina Morales is about to step into a new world with her Broadway debut. She is taking over Lea Salonga’s role as Aurora Aquino in Fatboy Slim and David Byrne’s disco-musical Here Lies Love.
Lea, who’s also part of the production as a co-producer, earlier made the announcement herself, with the show’s Tony-winning director Alex Timbers describing the inclusion of Vina as a “full-circle moment.” Perhaps with the exception of Lea, Vina is the first actor to be cast from the Philippines to join the musical about Imelda Marcos’ rise and subsequent fall from power during the EDSA revolution.
The show particularly takes pride in featuring an all-Filipino cast led by Filipino-Americans in Broadway, such as Arielle Jacobs as the former first lady, Jose Llana as the late President Ferdinand Marcos and Conrad Ricamora as the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. Vina portrays Aurora, Ninoy’s mother.
“David Byrne and I were first introduced to Vina’s extraordinary talents over 10 years ago in Manila, when we were casting Here Lies Love’s National Theatre production. It’s an exciting, full-circle moment to have her join us now on Broadway; and an honor to introduce her, in this show-stopping role, to our incredible audiences,” Timbers said in a statement.
In a separate interview with The STAR, Vina shared how she nabbed the role. “I auditioned for Here Lies Love more than 10 years ago for the National Theatre. Nakalimutan na and after several years, I had several projects, and then when I was in Australia (recently), I got two calls from my two good friends, direk Bobby Garcia of Atlantis Productions and Lea Salonga, asking me if I was interested to audition again for Here Lies Love for the role of Aurora Aquino.”
The ABS-CBN Star Magic artist continued, “When they told me that, sabi ko, ha? Paano? ‘Well, just shoot a self-video of you singing and send it to us.’ Sabi ko, wow, this is happening, after so many years, another audition.
“I’m pleased and thankful to Coach Lea who’s been guiding me along the way. Siya ang gumawa ni Aurora Aquino so she gave me a few tips and a few adjustments while singing the song (for the video audition) and also direk Bobby.”
Bobby, who is part of the producing team and is a casting consultant, is “very familiar” with how Vina is onstage because it was through his production, Rock of Ages, that Vina made her Philippine theater debut a decade ago.
After submitting a self-video, she was told to prepare for a live online audition. The night before, however, Lea and Bobby were already trying to reach her through calls, group chat and Star Magic.
“They were really excited to give me the good news. I was half-awake… when the first question that Lea asked me, ‘Are you ready for your Broadway debut?’ Sabi ko, oh my gosh, is it happening, am I accepted direk? ‘Yes, you are! Welcome to Broadway!’”
Vina recalled bursting into tears of joy because making it to a Broadway stage has been a dream ever since she experienced theater work. She believes it also helped that show creator David Byrne and Timbers met her several years ago.
“I’m just grateful to be given this chance. And maybe it’s really an answered prayer because napanood naman nila din ako during my audition years back and they’re also familiar that I also do theater, so probably, that’s why I’m one of the choices. But this is a good opportunity for everyone, maraming artista na makaka-perform din abroad,” she said.
Plus, she has always believed in right timing. “My daughter is already 14 years old, so mas magaan sa akin na maiwan siya for a few months habang si Mommy ay nagtatrabaho, alam mo na, as a working single mom.”
Meanwhile, Vina admitted that people have been asking her if she feels pressured to be Lea’s “replacement” in Here Lies Love. The theater icon reportedly left the musical to start working on Stephen Sodheim’s Old Friends in London’s West End.
“I don’t take it in that way, that I’m pressured. I’m more excited. It’s a prestige, it’s an honor. Kung na pe-pressure man ako, it’s because of the rehearsal time. I have a very short rehearsal time when I get there,” she shared.
“I have a rehearsal, I have a shadow rehearsal and it’s my performance right away from Sept. 22 to Oct. 22, eight shows kasi kami in one week. But taking on the role of Lea — the one and only Lea — I’m more excited about it. Right now, I’m in the process of learning and researching for the character of Aurora Aquino.”
One of the things she’s most excited about is to be part of the all-Filipino cast on Broadway. “First time mangyayari yun… and telling Filipino history on Broadway, and then, it’s the first time also in Broadway that they turned the theater into a disco club so the audience will be participating during the entire 90 minutes of the play. So, I’m excited siempre!”
Everything just fell into place for Vina who was scheduled to fly around this time to the US for a series of shows.
“God is really… inaayos Niya lahat. He’s really fixing it for me because I was really leaving for the US as I have my tour. I have my solo shows. On Sept. 1, I will be in Honolulu. And then I will have a back-to-back concert with Mr. David Pomeranz, Two Hearts, on Sept. 9 at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts (California) and Sept. 15 at the Grand Center Los Angeles,” she noted.
“After that, I’ll head straight to New York. So, it’s right timing… Actually, they wanted me to start a little earlier because Lea’s stint is done so she needs a replacement. But there’s another talented actor (Reanne Acasio), an understudy of Lea, it’s her first while waiting for me to finish my engagements with David Pomeranz.”
After Here Lies Love, Vina needs to return to the Philippines to finish filming her comeback movie under Viva. It was the entertainment company that discovered her as a nine-year-old singing champ named Sharon Magdayao in Cebu and gave her the stage name Vina Morales.
But the singer-actress welcomes opportunities to explore Broadway and even acting in an international project.
“I will never stop kung meron mang opportunities like a good role in a play or another item off my bucket list, which I’m manifesting nga eh. Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, who knows mag-audition din ako for acting, you never know!” Vina said.
“It might happen, like (my sister) Shaina also has an international movie, napapanood sa ibang bansa and awarded as well. That’s on my bucket list. Akala ko, parang ang dami ko naman bucket list na nagawa after almost four decades in the business. Gusto ko lang naman maging artista and maging singer sa Manila.
“And it happened. I’ve since done albums, teleseryes, movies, concerts here and abroad. Shows with two international performers, nagawa ko na rin, Jim Brickman and Sir David. Then, yung bucket list ko, (meron yung) Broadway. Pero wala pa. So, ano pa ba? Yun pala, meron pa. Hindi pala nawawalan ano? Hangga’t may buhay, may pag-asa. I always push myself to the limit kung ano pa pwede kong pang gawin,” she said.
- Latest
- Trending
