“ARMY represent,” declared Lea Salonga, commenting on her costume as Madame Thérnardier in the Manila staging of Les Miserables World Tour Spectacular.
READ: LOOK: Lea Salonga fangirls over her BTS 2021 Winter Package photo cards
Lea shared that part of what she had to work on for the role was figuring out how to sit and maneuver her way around the stage with her purple dress. One reason she doesn’t mind it so much is because her dress bears the signature color of her favorite K-pop group.
“I take up so much real estate with this dress. I feel like a grape,” she said. “But as a fan of BTS, it’s absolutely appropriate that I’m in purple.”
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As a self-confessed BTS fan, Lea was also happy to note that another person in the group is ARMY too, so she has someone to fangirl with. BTS recently announced major projects — their ARIRANG album and their concert world tour — and updates for both have had their fans excited for more.
“Our tour manager also is ARMY, so I have someone to talk to in this production,” Lea added.
READ: BTS shares more facts about comeback album ARIRANG, answering fan theories and questions
Lea has been part of Les Miserables for years, although she is mostly cast as Fantine or Eponine. This time around, she plays the role of the quirky Madame Thérnardier, sharing the stage with Red Concepcion as Monsieur Thérnardier.
“I did the other two dead girls previously,” said Lea. “Now, to be cast in this role, it’s so nice! I don’t die and I get to be kind of not the one na maawa kayo sa kanya. It’s nice! It’s so nice! I like living, thank you.”
Catch Lea and Red portraying the lively yet dark couple, Madame and Monsieur Thérnardier, in GMG Production’s Les Miserables World Tour Spectacular. Joining them on stage is an international cast including Gerónimo Rauch as Jean Valjean, Jeremy Secomb as Javert, and fellow Filipino talents Emily Bautista as Eponine and Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine.
Les Miserables World Tour Spectacular runs from January 20 to March 1, 2026 at The Theatre at Solaire.