Following her unexpected Broadway debut in September — taking on the role of Aurora Aquino from Lea Salonga in the groundbreaking all-Filipino production of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s “Here Lies Love” for an entire month — Vina Morales has found inspiration anew in her successful and long-established acting and singing career.
Vina Morales, fresh from her Broadway debut as Aurora Aquino in ‘Here Lies Love.’
It can be recalled back in August — when the announcement came that Vina would be joining the disco-infused musical on the rise and fall of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos for a limited engagement — how grateful the 48-year-old celebrity was for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, more so that she had the guidance and support of the role’s frontrunner herself to go for it. Lea, the Broadway and West End star, is of course, Vina’s fellow artist at ABS-CBN, and the Philippines’ original pride on the global theater stage.
Finally getting to share her New York experience at a mini-gathering in Quezon City on Wednesday, the beautiful balikbayan effused, “All these years, I’ve always been driven. I mean, I don’t think that I would’ve lasted this long in showbiz if I wasn’t.
“But in receiving an opportunity like this at this point in my career — when you don’t think anything totally brand new would come along — I can’t help but become so inspired to do more for my craft and keep improving my acting and singing skills.”
Broadway is indeed another level after all and even if Vina — a true triple threat from the very start — has been in the spotlight since age nine, performing on the world’s foremost theater capital proved extremely nerve-wracking.
Apparently, she only had one run through with the show’s cast before making her theater debut the following day.
“For the first time, I was completely on my own in New York during my month-long run and just before my first performance, it dawned on me, ‘Kaya ko ba ito?’ [Can I do this]? I had to take a long walk around Manhattan to shake off the nerves but I still ended up crying when I got back to my apartment.
Even if Morales has been in the spotlight for decades, performing on the world’s foremost theater capital proved extremely nerve-wracking.
“I think I just needed a little reassurance,” Vina chuckled, “so I called my manager who did that and thankfully, the reviews came out really well.”
Much as the Philippines’ newest Broadway actor would have wanted to continue portraying the role of freedom fighter Ninoy Aquino until the production concluded on November 26, all her schedule could accommodate was a month away from Manila.
“I needed to come home to finish projects I left off, like a movie that I’m doing with Viva Films. I’m grateful they were so understanding the shoot had to be put on hold so I could live out this dream I’ve long had.”
Vina shared she first fell in love with theater in 2018 when she decided to give it a try and was in a local production of “Rock of Ages.”
“I really enjoyed doing that — performing the same role, the same show night after night — so you can imagine how I felt doing eight shows a week in Broadway.”
Vina definitely thrived in the discipline the production called for — from doing her own makeup and costume changes night after night, expecting just notes from the directors pre-show if she made a mistake she needed to amend from the previous performance, and of course, making sure she was at her utmost best every curtain call.
“As you know, Here Lies love is historic in Broadway for being the very first production to feature an all-Filipino cast. Nakatatak ang Pinoy sa Broadway ngayon, and I’m so proud to be part of the Here Lies Love family so everyone really gave their best.”
Vina added that being disciplined went beyond her performances since she likewise experienced for the first time having to do everything for herself in New York.
“Until this [project], I’d always have my manager or someone from the production or my family accompany me on shows abroad. That whole month in Broadway, we did eight shows over six days every week and with Monday being our only free day, that was when we had to do our chores — cleaning the apartment, laundry and everything. It was very humbling and a really good experience for me.”
Moving forward, Vina can’t be happier to have such a renewed passion for her craft as she returns to the movie set, her ABS-CBN programs and an upcoming series of shows this December as American singer David Pomeranz’s special guest for his anniversary concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
What if Broadway calls again though? Would she take it again?
“Yes, definitely. It’s like going through a refresher’s course and keeps someone like me who’s been in showbiz for decades from being complacent. I’d love another opportunity to be in Broadway.”