April 28 ------ Theater actress-singer Lea Salonga has participated in the birthday celebration of American composer Stephen Sondheim. The 49-year-old singer-actress performed his song “Loving You” from the play “Passion” on the “Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration,” which streamed on the YouTube account of Broadway. com. Lea joined the likes of Meryl Streep, Neil Patrick Harris, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The online concert also served as advocacy campaign, where artists encouraged viewers to donate to Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP). After her performance, Lea sent a short birthday message to Stephen. “Stephen this is Lea and I just want to wish you a very happy 90th birthday and I think its absolutely fantastic that you have allowed for ASTEP to raise funds as part of this celebration,” she started. “In this crisis, all of us are turning into the arts for comfort, and solace, and sanity so I feel it’s important to expose children to the arts and whether or not they end up as artists, as adults, it’s something that will only serve to enrich, enhance, and filled their lives. So to all of you who’re watching please donate to ASTEP and you will make a world of difference in artistic life. Thank you for the invitation to come and be able to sing.” Note that ASTEP “connects artists with underserved youth in the U.S. and around the world to awaken their imaginations, foster critical thinking, and help them break the cycle of poverty.” Source: entertainment.mb.com.ph
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