Scary Moment Backstage at 'Here Lies Love'
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Horrifying video has surfaced of fans infiltrating Lea Salonga’s dressing room at Here Lies Love, refusing to leave, and having to be escorted out by Ms. Salonga herself.
The video of the situation, which appears to have occurred over the weekend, starts with a fan coming into Ms. Salonga’s dressing room as she is saying goodbye to her guests. The person recording asks if they can have some photos with her.
Ms. Salonga appears shocked and shaken as she asks “Who are you? I’m so sorry, I don’t know who you are.”
They tell her they’re just fans. She then exasperatedly instructs them they can’t be back there and have to go to the stage door. They don’t leave. In fact, they try to name-drop a producer “friend”, Giselle Töngi, but Ms. Salonga confirmed that Ms. Töngi has no idea who these people were.
Ms. Salonga then has to be the one to escort these folks out of the building.
The complete video is shown below. I have reached out to Here Lies Love officials to find out how this happened. I will update this story with any information I get in response.,
Here Lies Love is a musical with music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and lyrics by Byrne. The biographical musical is based on Byrne's and Slim's concept music album based, in turn, on Byrne's research on the life of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos.
The show is currently in previews and its opening night is scheduled for July 20.
Ms. Salonga appears to have alluded to the situation on Twitter this morning.
While there hasn’t been an official explanation from production officials of how this happened, it has been reported that due to the unique staging of the show, audience members are able to walk in certain areas of the theatre that normally would be closed off to the public. However, one would think there would at least be security guarding the dressing room area to prohibit something like this from happening.
This situation is scary, to say the least. The fact that fans were able to gain access backstage, unchecked by any security, to get within feet of a performer is preposterous to write. It should never have happened. Shame on these audience members and I hope Ms. Salonga is doing alright.
Broadway performers already give more access and interaction than many others in the entertainment industry. That people would think this is somehow acceptable behavior is appalling to me.
UPDATE: The person who recorded the video, Cristopher Retokelly Carpila, has posted about the situation on Facebook and seemingly throws shade at Ms. Salonga over the incident. The post states, “If ever we are wrong and we are not in the guest list , the Fact that we are already there just to take pictures .. lined up and paid dearly for the Show, maybe as a fellow FILIPINO and FANS to be given at least a little RESPECT AND EVEN IF NO LONGER HUGS OR KISSES you can be allowed to take a PICTURE for a moment.”
Yeah…I kid you not…