West End Star Joins Lea Salonga in ‘Baby’ at Meralco Theater – The Philippine Star

By Boy Abunda

Laurence Olivier Award nominee David Shannon will join Lea Salonga in the Broadway musical Baby, which runs in Manila from Aug. 18 to Sept. 5 at the Meralco Theater.

A certified West End star who has played roles in Miss Saigon (he was the last to portray the role of Chris before the show closed in London), Les Miserables, Martin Guerre, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game (for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award), Tommy, Cats, Notre Dame de Paris and Whistle Down the Wind, among others, David moved to the Philippines last January after marrying pop singer and Miss Saigon alumna Ima Castro. Baby will be his first major theatrical production in the Philippines, where he plans to build an equally flourishing career. Performing in Baby with Lea Salonga will certainly bring him a well-deserved break in the local theater scene. He reprises the role of Danny, a college student and an aspiring musician.

Garnering seven Tony Award nominations (including Best Musical, Book and Score) as well as a Grammy nomination, this heartwarming tale of three couples in their early 20s to mid 40s reveals the agonizingly funny and ultimately life-changing consequences of the universal experience of parenthood.

The New York Times called it “Exuberant, smart and funny” and Time Magazine raved “Alive and Kicking – Baby succeeds in making you feel good!”

Baby the musical is directed by Bobby Garcia. Musical direction by Gerard Salonga, choreography by Andy Alviz, production design by Mio Infante, lighting design by Gerry Fernandez and sound design by Bobbit Jacinto.