Lea Salonga in Toronto

A Magical Evening: Lea Salonga In Toronto

Filipino powerhouse Lea Salonga in Toronto. A renowned singer, actress, and producer, brought her Stage, Screen & Everything in Between tour to Toronto’s Great Canadian Casino on October 18, 2025. The concert took the audience on a magical journey through her illustrious career, featuring songs from her Broadway days to her iconic Disney roles and taking pride in her overall achievements and accolades, which inspired and influenced many and exemplified the ultimate dream of an international performer.

Lea Salonga

With no scheduled opener, the night began, accompanied by two keys, a drummer, two strings, two backup vocals, and her musical director, Larry Yurman, on the piano, as they got in position, Larry signalled the upbeat to cue in the band. The curtains then unveiled the board, welcoming the audience with a huge text visual: “Lea Salonga Stage, Screen & Everything in Between.” Lea graced the stage shortly after, waving and smiling as everyone excitedly screamed. From the moment she began her performance, it was clear that she could command and captivate the crowd. Building up the crowd’s energy, she also performed lively renditions of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, “(Everything I do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams, and “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, as she yelled out “I love you, Celine” to the Canadian crowd.

Transitioning to the next part of her set, Lea reflected on her gratitude for the initial opportunities she had earlier in her career. Earlier than that, she was in the midst of her bachelor’s degree to become a doctor when, suddenly, a 20-minute audition changed her life. A pivotal moment for her. It allowed her to shine in some of Broadway’s biggest productions. To recreate and relive those experiences, her backup singers, Sarah Galbraith and Andrew Kotzen, joined her in the middle of the stage and performed numerous duets, showcasing her vocal prowess.

Lea then humorously shamelessly plugged her merchandise and shared its initiatives for the limited edition buttons that sold for an excellent cause for charity for the entirety of her tour. Returning to the theme of “Stage,” she selected songs from Stephen Sondheim’s catalog, including a performance of “Being Alive” from the musical Company, manifesting and expressing her desire to be cast in a future production.

Next, she teased the Disney segment of her show, mentioning her roles as the singing voice of various Disney princesses, which excited the crowd, who erupted. She responded playfully, “Good things come to those who wait,” and sang some of her favorite Disney songs, like Part of Your World, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, Colors of the Wind, and Let It Go. Too captivated, the audience forgot their anticipation for her actual Disney songs.

Lea proudly acknowledged her heritage by asking how many in the audience were Filipino and jokingly wondered if she should be concerned about the overwhelming number of nurses in Ontario present that night. She then performed “Kailangan Kita,” which translates to “I Need You,” a song written by fellow Filipino singer-actor Ogie Alcasid. Though sung in a different language, her emotional delivery resonated deeply with everyone in attendance.

As the concert neared its conclusion, Lea addressed her preference between the two princesses she voiced. Choosing Mulan over Jasmine, she delighted the audience with “Reflection,” followed by a duet of “A Whole New World” with Andrew Kotzen. Hearing those songs live felt surreal, transporting attendees to the memories of watching “Mulan” and “Aladdin.”

In Closing

No Lea Salonga concert would be complete without “On My Own,” one of her most recognized and beloved songs that catapulted her international career. As the night drew to a close, she exited the stage while the band played “Golden” from the Netflix movie “KPop Demon Hunters. “She returned for an encore featuring a love-themed medley and capped off the night with “Over the Rainbow. “She took her final bow and left everyone with a memorable musical experience of a lifetime.

Von Valdez

Toronto-based photographer whose eclectic taste and love of music translates into immersive and insightful concert coverage, bringing Toronto’s live music scene to life. Whether chronicling hometown heroes or global stars, Von can highlight performances ranging from electrifying punk-rock shows and soulful R&B sets to energetic hip-hop showcases.

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