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Salonga in talks for role in ‘Allegiance’

MANILA, Philippines

Tony award winner Lea Salonga says talks have not yet been finalized on her joining the cast of George Takei’s musical “Allegiance” on Broadway, but she added it is a show she wants to be part of.

The Broadway veteran played the lead female role, Kei Kimura, when the musical made its sold-out premiere in 2012 at the Old Globe in San Diego, Calif.

“Star Trek” actor Takei’s personal and heartfelt show about Japanese-Americans imprisoned during World War II goes to Broadway this fall with him in a starring role.

“Of course I’d like to be a part of it, if only to be part of something that’s very important in Broadway history,” Salonga told The Associated Press in a telephone interview late Monday.

But she said things were still being discussed by her agent and the show producers, so she could not say if she will be part of the musical.

“Allegiance” is a multigenerational tale with two love stories that’s framed by a Japanese-American war veteran looking back on his family’s time in a Wyoming internment camp. Previews begin Oct. 6.

The story of “Allegiance” covers an important part of American history, when tens of thousands of Asian-Americans were put in camps just because they looked like the enemy, said Salonga.

Associated Press