Lea Salonga turns 55: Nic Chien shares sweet birthday message to his ‘Momma’

Filipino singer and Broadway star Lea Salonga received a heartfelt birthday message from her son, Nic Chien, as she celebrated her 55th birthday on February 22.

On Instagram, Nic shared a series of photos, including throwback and recent photos of the two, along with a touching message, “Happy Birthday @msleasalonga !!! I love you so much Momma. I honestly don’t think I could’ve asked for a better momma in the world; and I thank my lucky stars that you ended up being my mom whenever I can. Happy happy birthday momma, I love you :)”

Other celebrities, including Filipino actress Eugene Domingo, 54, also sent warm birthday greetings to the theater icon. 

Domingo previously worked with Lea and Nic, playing Jack’s mother, Nick Chien’s character, in the previous theater show of Into the Woods.

Meanwhile, Nic,19, is carving his own path in the performing arts. 

He is currently starring as Moritz Stiefel in the Philippine production of Spring Awakening, presented by The Sandbox Collective at the Black Box in The Proscenium Theater, Makati. The show opened on February 13 and is scheduled to run until March 22, 2026.

Nic’s growing presence onstage highlights his rising reputation in Philippine theater. 

As a talented young actor and singer, he made his professional debut in 2017 with Alice in Atlantis Productions’ Matilda the Musical at the Meralco Theater in Pasig.

Since then, he has taken on several notable roles, including ‘Jack’ in Theatre Group Asia’s Philippine production of Into the Woods, where he shared the stage with his mother, Lea Salonga, marking their first musical together.

In the production, Nic portrayed Jack, the titular character from the classic fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk while Lea played as The Witch. Into the Woods represented a significant milestone in Nic’s career. It was his first major male role on stage, further establishing him as a promising talent in Philippine theater.

Currently, The Tony Award and Laurence Olivier winner is in the midst of a demanding theater run, starring in the Les Misérables: World Tour Spectacular in Manila, which continues through March 1, 2026.

Known for her celebrated roles in Miss Saigon (1989) and Les Misérables, Lea continues to impress audiences with her powerful performances.

-Paraluman News