Lea Salonga will headline the Manila run of “Fun Home”—the Tony-winning musical that the New York Times has hailed as “the best new musical to open on Broadway”—in November 2016. PHOTO FROM ATLANTIS THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) announces that Tony Award-winning Broadway star Lea Salonga will play Helen Bechdel in the first international production of “Fun Home,” which opens in Manila in November 2016.

“Fun Home” is the most awarded and acclaimed musical of the year, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, “Fun Home” features music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. The New York Times has called it “The best new musical to open on Broadway.”

When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires.

“Fun Home” will mark Lea’s first musical in Manila since she played Grizabella in “Cats” in 2010. Her last stage appearance in Manila was in Atlantis Productions’ critically acclaimed play “God of Carnage” in 2012. She is currently appearing as Kei in the Broadway musical “Allegiance,” for which she has garnered rave reviews.

Both Tesori and Kron are scheduled to grace the opening night of “Fun Home” in Manila next year.

“Fun Home” director Bobby Garcia (“Saturday Night Fever,” “The Bridges of Madison County”) says, “It is an honor to be able to stage ‘Fun Home’ in Manila with Lea Salonga as Helen. It is a groundbreaking musical that needs to be seen by audiences all over the world. I am thrilled that it will premiere internationally in Manila and that we will be welcoming Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron to our opening night.”

Meanwhile, the New York producers of “Fun Home” are “thrilled to have the first international production of ‘Fun Home’ confirmed for the Philippines. How exciting to have Lea Salonga, one of Broadway’s most beloved stars, leading the company.”

ATEG recently presented the first leg of the new international production of “Saturday Night Fever” which played in Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Its current production, “The Bridges of Madison County,” runs in Manila until Dec. 6, while the upcoming “Jersey Boys” opens in 2016.

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