LesMis Manila run concluded last March 1, 2026 and the production has now moved on to the next stop of the tour, which is Singapore. The Singapore cast had already been announced for quite some time, except for the role of Madame Thénardier, the same role Lea portrayed during the Manila engagement. Because of this, many fans began speculating that she might reprise the role. Several clues seemed to point in that direction, and now it has finally been confirmed — LesMis Singapore Lea Salonga As Madame Thénardier
Siguro naman by this time, alam nyo na, I’m a LesMiz superfan. I first heard about this musical late 90s and was hooked since then.. so to say watching Les Misérables World Tour Spectascular Manila Run was a very very special experience, is an understatement. The experience was magical! And even more because Lea Salongaaaa. Les Miz Legend, Miss Lea Salonga as one of the main characters (Madame Thénardier), may mas sasaya pa ba dyan? And we got to watch the show two times! And being a fan, I am now excited for Singapore fans!
Lea Salonga As Madame Thénardier and History with Les Misérables
Lea Salonga is widely celebrated as a Les Misérables (“Les Miz”) legend, recognized for her historic performances in the musical across multiple productions. She first made history as Éponine on Broadway in the early 1990s, becoming the first Asian actress to play the role in the production. She was also handpicked for the legendary “Dream Cast” as Éponine for the 10th Anniversary Concert in 1995. I remember that particular production well because it was actually my first-ever cassette tape purchase, and it became one of the reasons I fell in love with the musical.
She later returned to the show as Fantine in 2007, becoming the first actress of Asian descent to play Fantine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables. She reprised the role again for the 25th Anniversary Concert in 2010, which I still have on DVD.
Now she takes on a completely different character: Madame Thénardier, the sharp-tongued and scheming half of the infamous innkeeper duo. The role allows Lea to showcase a different side of her stage presence, leaning into comedy, attitude, and theatrical flair.
Because of these iconic roles, Lea Salonga has achieved what many theatre fans consider a rare “Triple Crown” of Les Misérables—having portrayed three major female roles across different productions: Éponine, Fantine, and now Madame Thénardier.
The Les Mis Manila Run
Earlier this year, Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular had a successful engagement in Manila at the Theatre at Solaire. Sold out talaga!
The cast featured a strong mix of international performers and Filipino theatre stars including Gerónimo Rauch as Jean Valjean, Jeremy Secomb as Javert, Lea Salonga as Madame Thénardier, Red Concepción as Thénardier, Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, and Emily Bautista as Éponine.
Even though the production is tagged as a concert version, the experience still felt very much like watching a full theatrical show. At first you might think that since it’s a concert staging, it would feel limited—but it really didn’t. The performers still had movements and blocking on stage, and the storytelling remained very engaging. What impressed me the most was how they used lighting, sound, and stage effects, creating different moods and settings throughout the performance. Because of that, the show still felt immersive and dynamic. And of course, seeing Filipino performers take on major roles in such a beloved musical made the Manila run even more special for many of us in the audience.
Lea Salonga As Madame Thénardier For LesMis Singapore
It has now been confirmed that Lea Salonga will reprise her role as Madame Thénardier for the Les Misérables World Tour Spectacular in Singapore.
The production will run at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands from March 24 to May 10, 2026. This announcement has generated excitement among theatre fans across the region who may have missed the Manila run.
Interestingly, Lea will already be in Singapore just days before the musical opens for her concert series “Stage, Screen & Everything In Between,” scheduled from March 20 to 22. With the musical opening shortly after, fans in Singapore will have the rare opportunity to see her both in concert and on stage in one of the most iconic musicals in theatre history within the same week.
Lea Salonga As Madame Thénardier For LesMis London?
With Lea Salonga now confirmed as the LesMis Singapore Madame Thénardier, some theatre fans are already wondering if this could extend to other stops of the world tour. Could her version of Madame Thénardier eventually appear in future engagements such as London?
For now, there has been no official announcement. But considering Lea Salonga’s decades-long history with Les Misérables, from Éponine to Fantine and now Madame Thénardier, many theatre fans would certainly love to see her continue this journey on even more stages around the world.
