Ms. Lea Salonga was back again on The Morning Rush after 3 years, but this time via streaming! And just like each and everyone of us, this period gives us a lot of time for a lot of things. Quarantine has been forcing us to be resourceful and creative so that's what Lea does! She's been doing some crocheting and knitting, also watching a lot of cartoons. Yes, this superstar watches cartoons! She binge watched the entire 5th season of She-Ra And The Princesses of Power and recommends this show, especially to the kids of the 80s and the LGBT allies! Lea is actually a huge supporter of the LGBT community advocating it's "normalcy" and even fangirling over RuPaul's Drag Race! We're definitely here for Lea who's all about inclusivity! 

In terms of television, she was also asked about music, podcasts and films. Lea actually has a wide taste of music genre except for hardcore metal/rock like Rage Against The Machine, Deftones and the likes. She's just not a fan of this type! For podcasts, every morning Lea is listening to NPR! Hazel asked if she's into ASMR, to which she said her daughter is but she is not. ASMR is too whispery for Lea whereareas she falls asleep to Forensic Files! Moving on to a movie/tv genre, Lea is into crime but not horror. She does watch the Korean series Kingdom but is reluctant to continue with it because she hates jumpscares! But she loves suspense like Silence of the Lambs, Gone Girl etc. Lea is more into mindbending psychological films rather than scarefests. 

On another note, Lea recently did a successful fundraising Facebook live performance for COVID-19! She did not expect the actual reception she got! Bayanihan Musikahan has also raised a whopping 17 million pesos all thanks to the artists, corporations and everyone who donated! "There's no such thing as an amount too small" quoted Lea by being so grateful for the event. The artists' welfare also got help all thanks to the donations! Markki mentioned John Legend's virtual online concert wherein Lea passionately (and even Markki) talked about how forms of entertainment might end up being virtual because of this new normal but of course, live performance will and should never die because of it's essence.

Lea has an ever-growing love for Nyoy Volante saying that he's "one of the most talented human beings ever because of his versatility, his sense of humor and timing on stage ... one of the kindest human beings." It would make her very very happy to work with Nyoy all the time! 

Speaking of theater, Rica, because of her love of stage makeup, mentioned Sweeney Todd's stage makeup. Lea mentoned how all of the cast where in such awe of each other's makeup when they all saw each other in full costume for the first time! All because of their very talented hair and makeup artists. It also helped them be much more motivated to play their characters for the show. This is what every theater actor always say that everyone in production has great, important roles that comprise an amazing show! 

Chico brought back the whole "TOTGA" memory of Lea and Aga and proceeded to ask Lea about her TOTGA/s in terms of projects, "What's that totga for you in terms of projects that you wish you were able to do?" Lea is more focused on the "what was" and "what actually happened" rather than dwelling on what could've been! She'd rather enjoy the beautiful things she was a part of rather than the ones she wasn't in.

Lea's future dream Broadway roles? The lead role in Gypsy! It's a role that she'll wait for a few more years before she feels right for it. At least she's got something to look forward to in the times coming by! As for the newer shows, Lea also wants to play Persephone in Hadestown! Markki and Lea were fangirling again about how the show is such a beautiful one! Rica asked if it's the same feeling she gets when she watches and supports her friends on stage, to when she's seeing her family and friends watch her on stage? Most of those people Lea admires are her friends now and it's more heartwarming for her than being starstrucked or petrified. But if it's Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone, then that's a different story! Of course Lea did binge-watch Patti LuPone's Hollywood on Netflix! Definitely a must watch! 

We've been getting musical plays based on songs about a band/artist's discography (ie. Ang Huling El Bimbo from Eraserheads, Mamma Mia! from Abba, Rak of Aegis from Aegis), what does Lea think of a musical based from her own? She's not for it! Lea mentioned that for an artist to have a musical based from his/her catalog, it should include a lot of their original songs and Lea's just not one of those people. She may have some songs but she thinks it requires reinvention of the original music to make it a cohesive play. But which artist/band catalogs she wants a musical play to be made out of? Itchyworms, Rivermaya, Bamboo to name a few! Although Jersey Boys is still Lea's favorite jukebox musical because it's not just a showcase of songs but a real natural musical of already exisiting material! Markki even got praised by Lea for his performance of Jersey Boys here in the Philippines! Way to go Markki! 

Lea also told the story about the "controversy" during one of her musical plays, Fun Home at Resorts World. Fun Home is a play about Alison Bechdel who discovers her own sexuality and deals with her gay father and the mysteries of life. Apparently, some people do not have any idea what this musical play is all about! During one of Lea's shows of Fun Home, she found out afterwards that a family left the play in the middle of Alison and Joan's sexual encounter and complained to the office that there are "lesbians kissing on stage" and that the play is "not a Disney play"! Woops! 

The magic of theater really astounds Lea in all ways. Films and movies give off the same vibe but in a different way since these types of production can be altered to the production's liking, unlike in theater, seeing and hearing the actors just a few feet away from you hits different and that you can feel that you're a part of what's happening. It truly is magical for Lea to watch and much more fun when she's the one on stage! It really is an experience that she wishes everybody could feel.

Watch the full livestream of Lea Salonga on The Morning Rush here: