Seven stars of Filipino descent are simultaneously lighting up the stage of Broadway. While Filipino performers have long been a vital force in global theater, their presence in today’s major productions has reached new heights. From classic revivals to contemporary premieres, their performances highlight the depth, versatility, and lasting influence of Filipino talent in the world of musical theater.
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Lea Salonga in Old Friends
Theater royalty doesn’t get more official than Lea Salonga, and in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, she wears her crown with unmistakable grace. Now playing on Broadway alongside Bernadette Peters, Salonga brings her signature poise and powerhouse vocals to this star-studded tribute to Sondheim’s legacy. The Tony and Olivier Award winner delivers each number with emotional precision, honoring the music while making it unmistakably her own. Her presence reminds us that legends don’t need to shout to command a stage—they just need to sing, and the audience leans in.
Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard
As Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, Nicole Scherzinger trades pop anthems for haunting ballads, slipping into the role with a brooding, magnetic intensity. Critics have called her performance electrifying, and rightfully so. It’s a bold, genre-defying turn that solidifies the former Pussycat Doll’s place as a formidable force in the world of musical theater.
Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Maybe Happy Ending may be set in a retro-futuristic Seoul, but Darren Criss grounds the show with his signature blend of warmth and emotional nuance. As Oliver, a helper-bot yearning for connection, Criss navigates the show’s tender themes of love and loneliness with charm and vulnerability. It’s a quietly moving role—and a far cry from his Glee days—that lets his Filipino-American roots shine through subtle, heartfelt storytelling.
Eva Noblezada in Cabaret
In Cabaret, Eva Noblezada steps into the chaotic, glittering world of Sally Bowles and owns it. Noblezada’s husky vocals and emotional precision bring new dimension to a character often portrayed as all sparkle and self-delusion. She peels back the layers to reveal someone defiant, fractured, and painfully self-aware. While Noblezada is no stranger to leading roles, this may be her boldest yet—balancing glamour and grit with unshakable command.
Tatianna Córdoba in Real Women Have Curves
Theater newcomer Tatianna Córdoba makes a striking debut in Real Women Have Curves, portraying Ana with wit, heart, and a fierce sense of self. The musical, based on Josefina López’s beloved play, centers on body positivity and Latinx identity, but Córdoba’s performance gives the story an added layer of intersectionality. As a Latina-Filipina performer, she brings authenticity and relatability to the role, making Ana’s journey of self-acceptance all the more resonant.
Kay Sibal in Six the Musical
As Katherine Howard in Six the Musical, Kay Sibal holds her own among the bejeweled, mic-wielding queens with a powerhouse voice and undeniable stage presence. Initially auditioning for Anne Boleyn—drawn to the role by original Broadway Boleyn and fellow Filipina Andrea Macasaet—Sibal was ultimately cast as Howard, a fit that now feels serendipitous. She brings both fire and vulnerability to the fifth and famously ill-fated wife, delivering a performance that’s equal parts pop concert and history lesson. And with every note, she’s clearly doing her ancestors proud.
Claire-Marie Hall in Operation Mincemeat
Claire-Marie Hall, a Fil-British actress and Mountview Academy graduate, currently stars as Jean Leslie in the Olivier Award–winning Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre. Hall originated the role in the West End, bringing both comedic flair and vocal precision to this witty, wildly inventive musical. Hall navigates rapid character switches and razor-sharp dialogue with ease; her presence adds a layer of theatrical sparkle to a show that’s already brimming with charm, and her versatility makes her one to watch.
This is a developing article and will be updated as more Filipino castings are announced.
Photos and Featured Image: NEW YORK THEATRE GUIDE, NICOLE SCHERZINGER, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, EVA NOBLEZADA, TATIANNA CÓRDOBA, KAY SIBAL, CLAIRE-MARIE HALL (via Instagram)
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