Lea Salonga Photo courtesy of Lea Salonga / Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

The evening opened with a pairing of "Pure Imagination" and "A Million Dreams," from the films Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Wonka, respectively, that set the tone for a night of bold musical selections that highlighted Salonga's gorgeous voice and impeccable control. The set list touched upon her career as well as songs from shows and movies that have impacted her. From the confessional weight of Sara Bareilles' "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress to a playful, disco-infused take on the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," the song choices and arrangements proved that her vocal range and connection to these songs extends far beyond her Disney and Broadway roots.

The concert featured several medleys, including a gorgeous one of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II songs from their musicals that included "A Cockeyed Optimist," "Impossible! It's Possible," "In My Own Little Corner," and "If I Loved You," as well as the film songs "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," "My Heart Will Go On," and "Don't You (Forget About Me)." While she's known for providing the singing voice of Jasmine in the Disney film Aladdin, as well as portraying Mulan in that Disney film, in the second act she also sang a medley of songs sung by other Disney princesses: "Part of Your World," "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "Home," "Colors of the Wind," and a soaring "Let It Go." All of these medleys featured excellent arrangements and gave Salonga a chance to show off her strong musical theatre and pop vocal abilities.

Salonga first gained attention when, by the time she was 20, she had already won the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for her role of Kim in Miss Saigon. In previous concerts, she would usually perform one of her solos from that show, "I'd Give My Life for You," so it was nice to see her perform two of her duets from Miss Saigon, "The Movie in My Mind," and "The Last Night of the World," with her two backup vocalists, Sarah Galbraith and Andrew Kotzen. Salonga also played Eponine in Les Misérables and her performance of "On My Own" was a standout with the emotion in her voice rich and quietly powerful. Other selections included a lovely delivery of "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music and gorgeous takes on the two big Disney songs she originally sang, "Reflection" from Mulan and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, which she sang with Kotzen.

Salonga's concerts consistently draw enthusiastic audiences who are from the Philippines because she represents a source of immense national pride, both for her groundbreaking international accomplishments and for the way she has championed her Filipino identity throughout her career. Her delivery of the beautiful "Kailangan Kita" was a testament to her connection to the Philippines.

Since Salonga recently appeared on Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim revue, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, and she spoke briefly about that show and her love of singing his songs, and it was fitting that her concert featured several Sondheim songs, including "Being Alive" from Company, a rousing "Something's Coming" from West Side Story that opened the second act, and a funny and bright "By the Sea" from Sweeney Todd. A stirring "Everything's Coming Up Roses," which she sang in the Sondheim revue, ended the concert before two encores. These included the bouncy "Elephant Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge, which she sang with Kotzen, and a heartfelt "Over the Rainbow" that ended the evening on a high.

Between songs, Salonga's storytelling and interaction with the audience added warmth and intimacy, offering glimpses into her past, her artistic journey, and the pride she carries for her Filipino roots. The six-piece band, led by music director Larry Yurman, was superb, and Salonga mentioned several times how much she loves playing at Scottsdale Arts due to the excellent sound in the auditorium. Stage, Screen & Everything in Between was both nostalgic and fresh, with Salonga's vocal artistry, emotional authenticity, and sheer joy breathing new life into these classic songs from stage and screen.

Lea Salonga: Stage, Screen & Everything in Between performed at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on November 10, 2025. Information for upcoming concerts at the SCPA can be found at www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org.