MANILA, Philippines - Lea Salonga rose to fame when she played Kim in the musical Miss Saigon.
But on April 5, Lea took on a different Miss Saigon character at the Miscast Gala 2016, singing "Why God Why" by the character Chris, Kim's lover in the musical.
In the video above, Lea explains that while it's only the third time she has sang the song herself, she has heard it countless times before.
"In Miss Saigon, I would lay in a bed, and a very handsome American GI would sing the song about this girl," said Lea.
"This is also to usher in the fact that Miss Saigon is coming back next year," added Lea before launching into a powerful performance of the song.
Miss Saigon is set to return to Broadway in spring of 2017.
After performing as Kim on West End and winning an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Lea went on to play the role on Broadway. She also won the Tony.
The Miscast Gala is an annual event where Broadway stars perform songs by roles they would never have been cast in. The proceeds of the gala will be given in support of the MCC Theater and their projects.
What did you think of Lea's performance? Let us know in the comments!– Rappler.com