You know her as the voice of Disney princesses. Now, you can see why Broadway loves her

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Even if you’re not familiar with this Broadway star’s name, you’ve definitely heard her voice.

Lea Salonga has filled the rooms of countless American homes as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan in “Mulan” and “Mulan II,” but Broadway fans know her best for her work as Kim in “Miss Saigon” and as both Éponine and Fantine in “Les Misérables.”

The Tony and Oliver Award-winning performer is currently celebrating her career with the “Stage, Screen, and Everything in Between Tour.” She will perform a two-hour concert on Nov. 14 at the McCallum Theatre, and the program will feature songs from musicals and iconic films — along with a few surprises.

During a recent interview, Salonga reflected on her early career in the Philippines, recalling how she was cast in lead roles at the age of 9, and demonstrated her ability to remain calm and authoritative under pressure, which she believed was a path to success later in her career.

Lea Salonga will perform at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, Calif., on November 14, 2025.

“Even with a canine co-star that was taller than me when he reared on his hind legs, that might have given the adults a clue that I could handle certain situations without fear and losing my mind,” Salonga said.

Lea Salonga Les Miserables experience even more meaningful second time around

In 2007, Salonga was cast as a replacement to play Fantine in “Les Misérables” on Broadway. Although she was familiar with the story and had previously played Éponine in the 1993 production, she felt confident in her ability to sing the role. However, the associate director, Shaun Kerrison, offered her a valuable piece of advice: “Don’t ever be afraid to get ugly with this character.”

“(Kerrison) unlocked something in me where it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not Éponine, I’m not the young pretty girl. I’m playing someone who … even though she starts off as someone beautiful, she goes into this thing in her life that she takes advantage of, and she dies.’”

“Les Misérables” is considered one of the most demanding productions in musical theater for any performer, both vocally and emotionally. Its themes of social critique and calls for compassion toward the marginalized often go underappreciated.

“There’s going to be a character that you see yourself in, you will recognize who the villains are, who the heroes are, and it’s not always black and white because the main hero of the show is a thief. The people that we consider the heroes and heroines of this are people who we probably would not even pay much attention to if we walk past them in the street in real life. I think at whatever point in history, the show finds itself relevant,” Salonga said.

What it was like voicing two iconic Disney princesses

In “Aladdin,” Jasmine soared through the clouds while singing “A Whole New World,” and Mulan searched her soul with the song “Reflection.” It was Salonga who delivered the vocal performances that connected to the emotional moments of these Disney classics, and she still feels the weight of that legacy and the magic of creating them behind the scenes.

“I think my favorite memory will always be the first time I got to be in the room singing the song (‘A Whole New World’) with a full 75 or 80-piece orchestra. That is always a thrill. It’s a trip to feel the breeze that comes from this collective of incredibly talented musicians. You feel it, this energy coming at you. It’s special and it’s an energy I’m never going to forget,” Salonga said.

But there were also challenges of matching the emotions of the scene in the song and getting it right.

“They explain that you need to channel all of your emotional energy, as well as your vocal energy into the performance because that’s the only thing the animators will have. They also have a reference video of us in the studio to use as well, but the actual performance has to be channeled to the voice. I’m like, ‘OK, these two minutes are probably the hardest I’ve worked in my life.’”

Lea Salonga

Salonga among the first Asian women to receive a Tony Award

When Salonga won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1991 for her performance as Kim in “Miss Saigon,” it marked a pivotal moment in her career. Many recognize her as the first Asian woman to win a Tony Award, but she disputes this claim. Salonga said that the honor actually belongs to the late costume designer Willa Kim, who won in that category a decade earlier, and again about 45 minutes before Salonga received hers at the same 1991 ceremony.

But Salonga does indeed hold the title of first Asian American woman to earn a Tony for performance and she described the feeling of both her and Kim winning that night as “wonderful.”

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh my god, this is historical, pivotal, and if anything, shows what is possible for someone else from my country, or at least from my region of the world.’ There have been quite a few other Filipinos who have won since in various categories,” Salonga said.

During the 2025 Tony Awards, Filipino-American actors Darren Criss, Nicole Scherzinger and musical director Marco Paguia all took home awards. Salonga was in the audience and described screaming and cheering for all three at Radio City Music Hall.

“It was mind-blowing for me because so many years prior, I was holding my own. I said on that night, ‘I got one, and this dream can come true for somebody else,’” Salonga recalled. “It happened for three incredibly talented people. There have been others that have won previous to that as well, and it makes me feel incredibly happy, and there are other Asian actors who have come up to me and said, ‘Because of that, it showed me what was possible for myself.’”

Salonga keeps her career in her family’s hands

When Salonga takes the stage, it’s not just a solo act, it’s a family affair with her brother Gerard at the helm. When discussing their working relationship, Salonga said it’s “incredibly easy” because they grew up together, skip all the pleasantries and “get right to the meat of the matter.”

Lea Salonga performs during the closing ceremony at the 15th Asian Games in Doha on Dec. 15, 2006.

“It’s a lot of fun, (Gerald) is a wonderful conductor and a great musical director. I love his sensibilities and he pushes me pretty hard. When I ask, ‘Can we bring this down in a lower key?’ He’ll be like, ‘No, because it’ll lose the excitement. Keep it there and figure out how to sing it.’ I’m not going to argue because I get where he’s coming from,” Salonga said.

The Nov. 14 show is Salonga’s first performance at the McCallum Theatre, and she’s looking forward to returning to the area after quite some time.

“I’ve heard that theater is gorgeous. I’m hoping for a wonderful experience,” Salonga said.