In the sleepy Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos where municipal government monitors the acceptable shades of green on lawns and suitable brightness of peach paint for houses, an entirely different scenario was ongoing at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts back in October.

Lea Salonga, the Tony award-winning Broadway star best known for her role as “Kim” in Miss Saigon and breaking ground as the first Asian actor to play “Eponine” in Les Miserables, not to mention the singing voices in Disney`s Aladdin and Mulan--sat at a table in jeans and a black hoodie autographing posters amidst a human security wall guarding her from a line of patient fans and flashing lights from cameras and camera-phones alike. Salonga had just finished performing at a charity concert for Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M), a nonprofit organization committed to recruiting possible bone marrow donors for patients who suffer from blood-related diseases and are in search of a “miracle match”--a bone marrow transplant.

"I can`t believe it was Lea Salonga!” concertgoers exclaimed in that questioning-disbelief way as they walked out of the theatre`s lobby. Salonga has a cult-like following among Filipinos especially--the Philippines is her native home after all. Salonga was only 17 years old and living in the Philippines when she auditioned and landed the role that supposedly launched her into stardom.

And since then, Salonga`s collected a few noteworthy notches on her belt. In her career she`s garnered the highest honors theater offers, receiving the coveted and well-known Tony Award for her role in Miss Saigon, the Laurence Olivier Award, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Theatre World Awards. It`s not all just musical theater--she`s performed for world leaders and dignitaries including American presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and Queen Elizabeth II. Salonga performs in concert--just recently at world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Salonga took the time out of her busy, morning-sickness-esque (that`s right!) lifestyle to answer a few of ChopBlock.com`s questions...

You mentioned earlier you auditioned for the soap opera "The Young and the Restless." Is the plan on focusing more on acting rather than singing?
Quite honestly, there is no plan. I try to hit as many venues as possible, although I must admit I`m most comfortable when I have to sing. Musical theater will always be my first love. But if there are opportunities for me to try for different things--television and film included--I shall give them all a game try.

Are you actively working on music as well?
Always. I`m always working on my music in concert and in the studio.

In another interview, you had described the audition for Miss Saigon. When asked what the largest audience you had previously performed for, you replied that you opened for Stevie Wonder in an audience of 10,000 people. What was your singing career like before Miss Saigon?
I was singing since I was very young, performing in my first musical when I was 7 years old. I kept on going into my teens, and then my big break came when [producer] Cameron [Mackintosh] came to the Philippines to audition performers for Miss Saigon. I was one of the first ones cast.

You became well-known at an early age. How do you feel those experiences shaped your life as an adult?
I think it prepared me well for the future, in getting me ready to have a public face. It`s something I had to get used to early on, so I became relatively comfortable with my name being known.

You have won several awards for your work. Were there any other defining moments when you realized the extent your success and status where you were auditioning for Miss Saigon?
Not really, no...performing was always the greater reward, and it was the be-all for me especially at a young age. I did win awards for my work as a child performer, but as far as my family was concerned, it was the "for fun" activity.

Did you take any special knowledge from working on Broadway?
Not so much special knowledge per se. As much of what I learned, I learned in Manila, but it just amazed me at how high the level of professional commitment there was from the actors and the crew--how everyone just worked so hard as a team to get a show up and running everyday. It was really great to witness that. It isn`t always like that, unfortunately.

How did you make the transition from Broadway to singing for Disney?
I didn`t really make a transition, because I kept working in shows even while doing the voiceovers--I was doing Miss Saigon when I auditioned for Aladdin, and Grease in Manila when I auditioned for Mulan. Singing is singing; there are subtle adjustments to be made when going from one medium to another, but there isn`t much of a difference.

As an Asian in a field that hasn`t been described as minority-friendly, what kind of obstacles have you had? How have you dealt with any obstacles?
I`ve been refused auditions because I was Asian. That`s about as bad as it`s ever gotten. I`m glad to be around now though, because the climate is more conducive to non-traditional casting in shows.

You have a very strong and loyal Filipino fan base. Living in Los Angeles, do you run into fans? Any funny or interesting stories?
No funny stories really, but I do get recognized in the mall. If there`s a Filipino walking around where I happen to be, I`ll be spotted. It`s always fun.

You were the headliner for the nonprofit organization, Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M), which recruits bone marrow donors for patients searching for bone marrow transplants. You said, "Hopefully, this concert will help A3M in its efforts to engage the Filipino community in its fight to find marrow donors for people". How important do you feel it is for people be aware and help out a cause that may not directly affect them?
It`s important because cancer can hit any family anywhere. It doesn`t discriminate, which means that anyone is vulnerable. It`s important to get involved... the person that may benefit from your generosity might be a loved one.

Lastly, any advice for aspiring singers?
Just work hard, practice and train. Once you`ve determined that you have a special gift for music, keep honing it, developing it. It`s such a joy to be able to sing well.