Do you hear the people sing?

MANILA, Philippines - The creators of award-winning international musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon will stage a special concert titled “Do You Hear the People Sing?” to help raise funds in the relief efforts and rebuilding phase of the communities in the country that were destroyed by typhoon Yolanda.

The two-night concert will be on Jan. 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. at the Resorts World Manila Newport Performing Arts Theater.

The two-night concert, which will raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Philippines, will celebrate the works of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, including musical numbers from Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, La Révolution Française, Martin Guerre and The Pirate Queen. The musical affair will be supported by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and a 100-member choir, conducted by musical director Gerard Salonga.

Tony Award winner and original “Kim” in Miss Saigon Lea Salonga will headline the concert alongside Australian theater star David Harris and French soprano Marie Zamora, who was the original “Cosette” in the Paris production of Les Misérables. Salonga, Harris and Zamora were featured in the recent Asia Pacific premiere of Do You Hear the People Sing? in China.

In celebration of the long association between the Philippine theater community and the work of Boublil and Schönberg, the concert will also feature special guests and a large ensemble made up of performers who have appeared in Miss Saigon throughout the world. The entire members of the company are donating their time and services pro bono. There will also be an online auction of memorabilia and gala night tickets (including hotel accommodation) for the opening nights of Les Misérables (New York and Melbourne) and Miss Saigon (London). 

 Do You Hear the People Sing? is the latest effort of Resorts World Manila along with Bouberg Productions, Enda Markey and the performers who waived their talent fees for those affected by the typhoon. Funds that will be raised from this production and auction will go to the rebuilding programs. The people behind the event hope to raise funds with the goal of building 200 homes.

Schönberg said, “The Philippines gave me the voices of Miss Saigon, my daughter Margot and the joy of seeing Filipino babies adopted all around the world for nearly two decades already from my Manila orphanage, Sun and Moon.” 

Boublil added, “Creating Miss Saigon with those numerous talented Filipino artists was the answer to a prayer. These two concerts bring this extraordinary adventure back to life and a chance for us to modestly contribute to those lives that were shattered. Let’s hear the people sing!”

(Do You Hear the People Sing? tickets are now available at all TicketWorld outlets and at the RWM box office. For those who cannot attend the concert, donations may be made via the production’s website  at www.thepeoplesing.ph.)