Grammy Award winner H.E.R. will join the Broadway musical, Here Lies Love, as a producer, Billboard reports. The musical is set to premiere this summer.
Here Lies Love is an immersive disco pop musical that follows former First Lady Imelda Marco during her rise to power and ultimate demise under the Philippine civil resistance—People Power Revolution, reports Billboard. Singer-songwriter David Byrne is responsible for the story concept and lyrics. He collaborated with Grammy Award winner Fatboy Slim on the music.
This is the first time H.E.R., also known as Gabriella Sarimento Wilson, has served as a producer on a Broadway musical. The musician expressed her love for the project as it ties to her Filipino-American and African-American roots.
“Filipinos are global people. We come in all colors and build bridges across cultures. I am beyond excited to produce my first Broadway musical and forge a unique and meaningful partnership with Here Lies Love,” she said in a statement posted on the musical’s Twitter account.
Lea Salonga, who is also a producer for the musical, welcomed H.E.R. to the team.
“On behalf of our binational producing team, we welcome Gabi to the Here Lies Love team with open arms,” she said in a statement, according to Billboard. “I am a huge fan of her genre-defying and multifaceted artistry, and it’s empowering to welcome another Filipino artist to our ranks. Together, we are throwing the biggest party Broadway has ever seen – and everyone is invited!”
Salonga, a Manila native, will also join the cast for a five-week guest engagement from July 11 to August 13 alongside known Filipinx entertainers including Arielle Jacobs, Jose Llana, and Conrad Ricamora, Broadway World released.
Talks of H.E.R. winning bigger awards are also circulating amid the exciting buzz. If Here Lies Love winning Best Musical at the 2024 Tony Awards, H.E.R. could become the youngest EGOT winner overall and the fourth Black woman to win one behind Viola Davis (2023), Jennifer Hudson (2022), and Whoopi Goldberg (2002), Vibe noted.
Previews will begin June 17 with an opening night following after on June 20. To secure tickets, visit the Here Lies Love website.
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