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Behind The Music Of 'The Journey So Far' With Lea Salonga

October 26, 2011 / 2:15 PM PDT / KCAL News

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Lea Salonga is a Filipina singer and actress who is best known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon (and for which she won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk Outer Critics and Theatre World Awards).

She stopped by KCAL9 Wednesday to talk about her latest CD, "The Journey So Far."

Salonga is having a CD signing at the Barnes and Noble at the Grove on Oct. 27th.

For more information on Lea Salonga, click here .

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Meaning of The Journey by Lea Salonga

"The Journey" by Lea Salonga is a song that reflects on the experiences and challenges faced by the singer throughout their life. It highlights the duality of the world, where some people are awake and engaged in life, while others seem to be asleep or disconnected. The lyrics convey the emotions of heartbreak, perseverance, and hope.

In the verses, the traveler persona is presented, symbolizing the singer herself or anyone on a personal journey. The traveler acknowledges the contrasting aspects of life, such as hearing hearts beat and hearts breaking. This suggests an awareness of both joy and sadness in the world. The traveler sees themselves as someone who has experienced various emotions and situations, representing the diverse range of human experiences.

The chorus expresses the idea that the journey of life is ongoing and uncertain with no visible end in sight. However, the stars in the sky provide guidance in navigating this journey. They represent hope, inspiration, and guidance along the way, symbolizing the belief that there is always light in the darkness. The post-chorus emphasizes the positive effect of the stars shining on the singer's life, allowing them to see a better day and choose not to let darkness and negativity overshadow their journey.

The second verse continues the exploration of the traveler's journey. It mentions experiences of sorrow and bliss and the uncertainty of the future. The traveler has gone through challenging and diverse environments, such as the darkest desert and the deepest snow, yet constantly moves forward, demonstrating resilience and determination.

The bridge serves as a motivational section, expressing the idea of always moving forward and upward, despite challenges faced. The metaphor of catching every drop of hope in an empty cup suggests that even when there might seem to be little hope left, the traveler is determined to find and embrace it.

The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus and ends on a positive note, emphasizing the overall sentiment that, despite the ups and downs, the journey of life has been significant and transformative.

Overall, "The Journey" is a song that invites listeners to reflect on their own personal journeys, reminding them to persevere, keep moving forward, and find hope even in the darkest times. It encapsulates the universal human experience of growth, resilience, and the constant pursuit of a better future.

This meaning interpretation was written by AI. Help improve it with your feedback

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From Broadway star to Disney heroine: How Lea Salonga became both Princess Jasmine and Mulan

The singer and stage actor from manila talks about growing up onstage ahead of her return to dubai this week.

Singer and stage actor Lea Salonga said she initially wanted to be doctor. Getty Images.

W hen Lea Salonga steps on to the Dubai Opera stage tonight , it will be with the grace of a seasoned talent.

The soprano, 49, performs a pair of shows on Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, which will showcase songs from her near-four-decade career.

There will be selections of show tunes, a few arias, Disney classics and, judging by a London show last year, maybe a cover of One Direction's Story of My Life , but it will all be done with the experience of a star who grew up treading the boards.

One aspect Dubai crowds will surely look forward to is Salonga's renditions of songs from Miss Saigon . After all, it was the role of Kim that catapulted her from a little-known singer from the Philippines to a West End and Broadway star.

With the production recently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Salonga recalls the experience as nothing short of life-changing.

Being a full-time performer, she states, was not part of her plan.

She recalled making an agreement with her parents as a teenager: to be allowed to sing and dance as long her school grades didn't slip.

Already recognised as a burgeoning talent in Manil a – Salonga sang in local events and lead roles in locally staged productions of The King and I , Annie and Fiddler on the Roof – she maintained her end of the bargain by being a diligent high-school pupil with aspirations of becoming a doctor.

As it turned out, it was a failed prognosis.

Salonga’s career trajectory went off the charts in 1988, when English stage impresario Cameron Mackintosh rolled into town looking for a starlet.

Unable to find a talented South-E ast Asian singer in Europe for the role of the hostess Kim in his upcoming West End production of Miss Saigon , Mackintosh and his team travelled to the Philippines for auditions.

A university student at the time and still plugged in to Manila's stage scene, Salonga recalls attending the audition as a way to satisfy her curiosity. "I mean, here was this personality coming to Manila for these auditions and I just wanted to try and see what that experience was like. I had no expectations at the time," Salonga tells The National .

“But my parents always gave me this hard work ethic. So I gave it my best shot and they kept calling me back for more auditions.”

While confident of her ability, Salonga recalls being totally surprised when she landed the role. This meant an abrupt end to her studies and her first trip to London for intensive rehearsals and back-to-back performances.

A new deal with her parents was immediately forged: her mother went along with her. Looking back at those months, based in a small apartment in London, Salonga says family support was paramount.

“I was young and everything was moving fast,” she says. “There were a lot of rehearsals and basically a lot of stress. So having her there with me and providing me with support and guidance was so important.”

It also resulted in some uncomfortable discussions . With her character Kim falling in love – and eventually despair – with American soldier Chris (played by British stage actor Simon Bowman), Salonga needed to muster up emotions that were foreign to her then.

“I was only 18 at the time, so I never experienced anything like the love that Kim had or that kind of affection,” she says, followed by a quiet chuckle.

“So I had to speak to my mum about that and ask her some questions about it. It was also tough for her talk about it with me. All I can say she tried her best.”

Fortunately, director Nicholas Hytner filled in any gaps with clear and precise instructions.

"We didn't even need to talk about it," Salonga says. "He would say 'stand here and do this' and then 'go here and do that '. It was great, so it all worked out in the end." Salonga went on to win Olivier and Tony awards for the role in both the West End and Broadway productions .

It also introduced her to the Disney team, who went on to cast her as the singing voices for two landmark animated productions, 1992's Aladdin , as Princess Jasmine, and the title singing role for the 1996 film Mulan .

While Salonga has been rightfully hailed for her breath taking performance of Aladdin 's signature song A Whole New World . It remains the first and only Disney song to win a Grammy Award – for Song of the Year in 1994 – and she gives all the credit to the Disney crew.

"The reason they are so amazing is that they have, in a way, created their own world," she says. "It's a world that has its own language and songs. So when you are singing a Disney song, you are just following a long and proud tradition."

With Salonga's two dates at Dubai Opera coming on the back of a sold-out show at the venue in 2017, she hopes this weekend's shows will strengthen her enduring relationship with UAE audiences.

“It is a warm and lovely crowd,” she says. “It is always a place that I look forward to coming back to because I enjoy the experience so much.”

Lea Salonga performs tonight and tomorrow at Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai. Concerts start at 8pm. Tickets begin at Dh250 and are available at www.dubaiopera.com

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Upcoming Concerts for Lea Salonga

• Jun 21 Jun 21, 2024 Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Wolverhampton View Concert
• Jun 24 Jun 24, 2024 Theatre Royal Drury Lane London View Concert
• Jun 25 Jun 25, 2024 Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff View Concert
• Jun 26 Jun 26, 2024 Bristol Beacon Bristol View Concert

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Snehal Desai: At Last, a Roadmap for CTG

With a 7-show season at 2 of Center Theatre Group’s venues, the new artistic director is putting special focus on reviving the beloved, beleaguered Mark Taper Forum.

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L.A.’s biggest theatre is back in the ring after nearly a year on the ropes. Announcing a new subscription season under the banner “One CTG,” Center Theatre Group is banking on its unified and revivified brand to raise interest in all of its programming, including three shows at the 739-seat Mark Taper Forum and four shows at its 2,000-seat Ahmanson Theatre. A separate “add-on” program called CTG:FWD will also offer three shows, two at the Taper and one at CTG’s smaller Westside venue, the Kirk Douglas Theatre. That’s a lot less programming than CTG did in past seasons, but it’s a start.

The Taper roster kicks off in the fall with a new Deaf West take on Green Day’s American Idiot , to be directed by Desai himself; continues in January with Larissa FastHorse ’s identity-shifting farce Fake It Till You Make It , initially scheduled for summer 2023 but a casualty of last season’s shuttering; and concludes with a new take on Hamlet from boundary-breaking director Robert O’Hara . The Ahmanson, meanwhile, starts early next year with the U.S. premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends , another anthology of the late songwriter’s work, this time starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga; then continues with two acclaimed shows from last season on Broadway, Lola Chakrabarti’s Life of Pi and Michael Arden’s staging of Jason Robert Brown’s harrowing musical Parade . A fourth musical is yet to be announced for the Ahmanson.

Getting the Taper back on track after a dark year was the hot potato handed to Snehal Desai, the theatre’s new artistic director, even before he took the job. Last June, just two months after his historic appointment was announced, CTG dropped the bombshell that it would cease production on its then-current season and would not program a 2023-24 at all, while it shored up resources after a reopening season that had performed well below expectations at both of its major downtown L.A. venues. Widely seen as among the most dramatic signs of post-Covid-lockdown contraction , the Taper cuts sent shock waves through the nonprofit theatre industry and gave notice that reopening did not equal recovery at even the nation’s most well-heeled theatres.

The Ahmanson never ceased programming, and the theatre’s smaller Westside stage, the Kirk Douglas, is currently mostly closed due to nearby construction but is not out of the picture. Still, bringing back the Taper in tandem with the Ahmanson—two longtime pillars of L.A. culture which share the L.A. Music Center Plaza with the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion—has clearly been the main lift of Desai’s tenure so far, alongside managing director Meghan Pressman .

I spoke to Desai, who previously served as artistic director of East West Players , yesterday about audiences, artists, and the state of the institution he’s inherited.

ROB WEINERT-KENDT: Congratulations. I’m so glad that the Taper is back, first off. I’m also encouraged by the programming you’ve announced so far. I just want to start with how this last year has been for you.

SNEHAL DESAI: We had our gala last night, and I said, “The first year has been nothing short of adrenaline-filled, let’s put it that way.” In these times that are so challenging, there is also a lot of opportunity to question how we did things before and where we want to go. Are we matching what folks’ needs are these days? Are we doing separate seasons at all of our venues during this time of transition, or should there be one central unifying season for CTG going forward under one artistic vision? It’s not that CTG doesn’t have folks coming; we have tens of thousands of folks, it’s just that we’re not necessarily getting folks to move within our venues, from the Ahmanson to the Taper to the Kirk Douglas. If we allow that, it really changes the equation—particularly at the Taper, which has obviously been the most focused area and the place that has been the most challenging to find a model that works and is sustainable.

How is this different from the way the seasons used to be sold?

We used to have independent seasons for the Taper and Ahmanson. The Taper would have five or six shows, and the Ahmanson would have up to nine shows. So signing up for one of the venues each year was plenty for many folks. But there were challenges to that, and some of our thinking was, are we just programming to fill out seasons, or are we really doing what we need to do? What is the model that can help all three venues, in terms of introducing new audiences to them? We want to build and welcome new audiences, but also one of the first things we have to do, for me as a new artistic director, is establish a relationship with our existing audience and community. So now there is one subscription for both Ahmanson and Taper subscribers, and we’re asking them to go on a journey between the two spaces. That really is helpful, because there are certain shows that want a more intimate experience—everything isn’t right at the Ahmanson—and vice versa.

Also on the back end, we used to have organizational structures for each venue, a production team for each. Now we can have one production team that can move between the Taper and the Ahmanson. Along those lines, another thing we’ve looked at is how much simultaneous programming we’re doing, as well as the balance of how much we’re producing versus presenting. The Taper is still a pretty sizable venue, and producing at that scale is pretty significant. So that’s where I wanted to focus, particularly for this next season in terms of our producing.

We actually have a piece in our current print issue about the subscription model, which argues essentially that while it may not be what it used to be, it is far from dead—many theatres still rely on it. I’m intrigued that you’ve basically doubled down on that model.

I wouldn’t use the term “doubled down.” I think we’re actually trying to find flexibility within that model—a lot more porousness and openness that allows more gateways of entry and access, and also to explore models where we aren’t solely reliant on that. We’re trying to break it apart in a new way. But yes, we still are very much reliant on subscribers as kind of a baseline of support as we go into the season. We still have tens of thousands of subscribers.

I think the season you’ve announced looks exciting. But no matter what I think of it, it’s got to make a huge difference in terms of raising interest. As opposed to just saying in the abstract, “Please save our theatre because it’s the right thing to do,” you can now say, “Wouldn’t you like to see these shows?”

We also did a lot of interim programming that reminded people of what we do. You know, I led a transition moment like this before. When I started at East West, I came in after a longtime leader and we were in a really hard financial place. What I realized was, when the chips are down, you can’t cut your way out of these situations. You have to remind folks of what they’re missing out on. So this past year we still programmed a lot at the Taper; we committed to doing something every month, in different formats and in partnerships, welcoming local organizations, doing more music. I’m an old-school artistic director in that—I don’t talk about it in terms of subscriptions so much as I look to a season as a way to engage in a sustained dialogue with our community and our audience, and to create a journey you can go on over the course of a year.

I’d love to talk about the shows themselves, starting with American Idiot . I love that show and I love Deaf West, but I did not see this one coming.

I spent a lot of time thinking about how we’re starting next fall, right before the election—where we’re going to be as a country is really hard to tell, but I want to create art that is in dialogue with the moment we’re in. That’s how we landed on American Idiot . We were thinking about all these political musicals, and that one came back, and I thought about what it says about the youth of the time, who they were and what they were wanting. And then I thought, what happens if we take this metaphor of feeling like we’re screaming in a world that is deaf to what we’re saying, and inverted that? That’s where the concept to go to Deaf West and talk to DJ Kurs about a new version came about.

It’s also good to see Larissa FastHorse’s farce back on the schedule after last year’s cancellation.

It was nothing about the play; we just had to pause. The finances were really bad. But we were committed to it, and we did a workshop last fall, and we’re partnering with Arena Stage, so it will also be a part of Hana Sharif ’s first season. A lot of folks are like, how do you decide where something goes? Again, after the fall we’re about to have, I think we’re going to need some laughs. It is a very, very funny play. The other thing is, now that I’ve been there for a year, we’ve been able to build more support around the production and the play. We’re going to make sure that Larissa is not the only Native voice during this period; we have this artist residency program, and Native Voices is one of the companies now in residence at CTG. We have folks like Madeline Sayet developing work. That is how I create, and it’s a model that comes from what I learned at East West and from other theatres of color and culturally specific institutions.

Robert O’Hara doing Hamlet sounds juicy. How did that come about?

The Taper is well known as a playwrights’ theatre. I want it also to be a place for visionary directors. When I was putting together my first season, I knew I wanted to do a classic—I want to bring back a classic every year at the Taper—and I was like, who do I want to see do a classic? Robert is at the top of the list. He and I have known each other for many years, so we started pitching projects back and forth, and he said: I have this idea for Hamlet that feels right to do in L.A. He wants it to be noir, very Hitchcockian and Lynchian—this forensic investigation of passion. As soon as he started describing it, I started to see it, and I was like: done.

In his description of the show Robert says, “There will be blood.” That made me think, while there might not have been any actual blood shed in the past year at CTG, there were probably some painful choices about what you could and couldn’t program.

Yes, this season is just the start. We have so much in the pipeline. Artistic leaders are struggling: There are so many new artists and new work we want to do, and there are only so many slots in the season. So it’s figuring that out and also building an audience that is game for that, that wants to go and experience a new voice for the first time and be a part of that discovery and support. I don’t know that we have that in all of our institutions at the moment. Because we’re still dealing with some construction stuff at the Kirk Douglas, I wasn’t able to fully program the season there that I want. But we have no shortage of works; one of the hardest things has been with works we had to just give a longer timeline. Also, being at a big institution like CTG, the question around performance rights is a very different conversation; they can actually be really hard to get. So I’m very happy with the season we landed with at the Taper, but it’s not where we started.

It’s nice to think of art as not being zero sum, but obviously a season only has so many slots. I think you’ve made the most of the ones you’ve got.

I always say, an artistic director’s first season, even if they can’t do everything, symbolically shows where they are. I hope folks see it as a roadmap of where we’re going. It’s not going to do everything out of the gate, but we’re on this path and we will continue and expand from here.

Rob Weinert-Kendt (he/him) is editor-in-chief of American Theatre .

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Lea Salonga returns to Mark Taper Forum for CTG Gala 2024

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Tony Award-winning Filipino Broadway icon Lea Salonga is returning to the Mark Taper Forum for the first time since her performance in “Flower Drum Song” in 2001 as Center Theatre Group (CTG) announced the lineup for its Gala 2024

The upcoming performance on April 28 celebrates the contributions of British director and choreographer Matthew Bourne to the dance musical theater.

“Lea is one of the greatest musical theater stars of all time, and it will be a very special night to welcome her back to CTG and the Taper. We are thrilled that both Matthew and Lea have agreed to join us for what will be an unforgettable evening,” Snehal Desai, Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group said, as reported by Broadway World .

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CTG: The Gala 2024 will not only see the performance of Salonga but also mark CTG’s longstanding 27-year partnership with the visionary artist, Bourne.

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“We are overjoyed to honor the Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne, who has been sharing his memorable dance theater productions with the CTG community and L.A. audiences for over twenty-five years,” Desai said.

Emmy Winner and Academy Award Nominee Melissa McCarthy will also attend the gala as a presenter.

The gala will commence with cocktails and dinner at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The evening will then feature an intimate production at the Mark Taper Forum where Salonga is set to perform. The festivities will culminate with dancing under the stars at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza.

As CTG’s largest annual fundraiser, proceeds from the gala will advance the theater company’s mission to serve the diverse audiences of Los Angeles.

According to the details posted, the funds raised will support the production of high-caliber theater, nurture emerging artists, attract new audiences and develop youth outreach and arts education programs.

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All the massive concerts, shows and performances coming to Dubai

From mega music festivals to comedy gigs and more….

A number of great shows are taking place in Dubai over the next few months and if you can’t keep track, don’t worry as we have rounded up all the must-see performances.

Gipsy Kings

When : May 2, 2024

Where: Dubai Opera

The Gipsy Kings are back, this time performing at the stunning Dubai Opera on May 2. The icons were last in town when they performed on New Year’s Eve at Burj Al Arab. You will know the Gipsy Kings for their hits including Volare, Bamboleo,  and  Baila Me. If you love their tunes just as much as we do, go get your tickets now. Tickets to see the show start from Dhs195 and can be booked here .

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, May 2 at 8pm, from Dhs195. Tel: (0)4 440 8888, dubaiopera.com

Jason Derulo

When : May 4, 2024

Where: Coca-Cola Arena

Savage Love singer Jason Derulo is set to perform in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday, May 4. Derulo is no stranger to Dubai and has performed here a number of times. This time, he’s here as part of the EarthSoul Festival. The RnB singer-songwriter has been blowing up the charts since 2009, with the release of his single  Whatcha Say , which became the most widely played radio single of all time and earned triple-platinum status after its release that year. He’s continued his success with songs such as  IT Girl ,  Riding Solo, In My Head Wiggle  and  Want to Want Me.  He’s also the man behind Savage Love , which went straight to number one around the world, followed up with smash hits  Take You Dancing  and  Jalebi Baby.  When he lights up the Coca-Cola Arena stage, you can expect to hear all these and more. Tickets start from Dhs199 for the Bronze and the Regular Standing category. Silver is at Dhs245, the Golden Circle at Dhs299, Diamond at Dhs399, and Diamond with meet and greet at Dhs999.

Jason Derulo at Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk Dubai, Sat May 4, tickets start at Dhs199.  @cocacacolaarena

When : May 4 and 5, 2024

Where:  Alserkal Avenue

On May 4 and 5, Alserkal Avenue will transform into a hub for digital art, culture, music and technology. Expect to see mesmerising debut performances, special installations and cutting-edge electronic music with daring audiovisual experimentation. There’s a whole list of exciting, alternative acts, including 9T Antiope, Burnt Friedman & João Pais Filipe, Bint Mbareh, Mathew Jonson and Salar Ansari Trio, Line Katcho, Stefana Fratila x Diana Lynn VanderMeulen and Idlefon and more. Read all about it  here and purchase your tickets here .

MICRO MUTEK.AE Edition 3, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, May 4 and 5,  dubai.mutek.org   @mutekae

Imperial Orchestra – Cinema Medley

When: May 10, 2024

The love of great movies and bone-chilling music collide at Coca-Cola Arena in May where all the iconic film composers are celebrated. Cinema Medley, delivered by Imperial Orchestra, fuses the magic of music and film to create a unique and unforgettable musical experience. Some of the iconic films that will be featured include Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Interstellar, Batman, Gladiator, The Phantom of the Opera, Jurassic Park, Inception, Schindler’s List and many more. Purchase your tickets here .

Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai, May 10, from Dhs249, Tel: (0)4 440 8888, dubaiopera.com

Martin Garrix

When : Saturday, May 11

Where: Atlantis, The Palm

One of the biggest DJs in the industry, Martin Garrix will be making his way to Atlantis, The Palm for an epic open-air gig as we mark the return of Atlantis Live – a series of live music concerts that take place at the resort. Tickets start from Dhs399. Read more here .

Atlantis Live presents Martin Garrix, Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, 8pm, Saturday May 11, from Dhs300.  platinumlist.net/ .  @atlantisthepalm

Film with live orchestra at Dubai Opera

When:  May 11 to 13, 2024

Sometimes, long after a movie is over, it’s the film’s score which sticks in your head. And we all have our favourites. These iconic tracks are created by some of the world’s well-known composers and no matter how great your sound system is, hearing it live takes your experience to a whole different level. Enter Dubai Opera, bringing you three days with three iconic films backed by the Armenian State Symphony and the Dubai Festival Chorus who will play for you live as you watch the film. The three films showcased are Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Wars: A New Hope  and Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid . Tickets can be purchased here . Prices per film start from Dhs275. Book your tickets here .

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, May 11 to 13, from Dhs275. Tel: (0)4 440 8888, dubaiopera.com

Shaggy and Blackstreet

When: May 11, 2024

Shaggy and Blackstreet will be performing at the Coca-Cola Arena this May. You will know Shaggy for iconic hits including  Angel, It Wasn’t Me,  and  Boombastic.  The iconic Reggae legend has been in the game since the 90s when he won his first  Grammy for Best Reggae Album,  on the album  Boombastic.  He will be joined by the iconic R&B group Blackstreet known for hits including No Diggity, Don’t Leave Me,  and,  (Money Can’t) Buy Me Love.  Read more here .

Shaggy and Blackstreet at The Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai, May 11, tickets start fom Dhs199.  coca-cola-arena.com

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

When: May 11 and 12, 2024

Where:   Zabeel Theatre, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

This is a heartwarming tale about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar. Fed up of being forgotten about by other animals, the mouse wishes to roar like a lion. But he soon discovers, that even the biggest and bossiest of people are scared sometimes, and… the smallest of creatures can have the heart of a lion. This is just perfect for the little ones.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Zabeel Theatre – Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai, May 11 – 11am, 3pm and 5.30pm and May 12 – 11am and 3pm. Tel: (0)056 611 2719. artforall.ae

Aurie Styla: The Aurator Tour

Where: Theatre by QE2

Award-winning comedian Aurie Styla is back on tour and he is making a pit stop to Dubai hopping on board The QE2 in May. Join him as he hits the stage to speak about this wild world and his journey to make sense of it all. Prices start from Dhs125.

Theatre by QE2, Queen Elizabeth 2,  Port Rashid, Dubai, May 11 at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm), ticket prices from Dhs125, Tel: (0) 58 838 3107,  theatrebyqe2.com

Nicole Scherzinger and rapper T.I

When: May 12, 2024

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and rapper T.I. are set to perform at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena next month. Taking place on Sunday, May 12, this will be the first time that pop icon Nicole Scherzinger and Grammy Award-winning rapper T.I. have headlined together. Nicole Scherzinger rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop supergroup Pussycat Dolls, who put out some of the noughties best-loved pop girl band anthems, like Don’t Cha, Stickwitu  and  Buttons. After the group disbanded, Scherzinger continued to put her incredible vocals into a successful solo career. Hip-hop artist T.I, who performed alongside Sean Paul in December 2023 at the Coca-Cola Arena, makes his Dubai return on May 12. He is known for hits including  Live Your Life, Bring em Out,  and  All That She Wrote.  Throughout his multi-decade music career, he has worked alongside the likes of Justin Timberlake, Eminem and T-Pain.

Nicole Scherzinger and T.I., Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, May 12 from 8pm, from Dhs295. coca-cola-arena.com

The Gruffalo’s Child

When: May 18 and 19, 2024

This one is perfect for the whole family, including the little one. Go on an adventure into the deep dark woods with this enchanting adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s picture book, The Gruffalo’s Child . Expect songs, laughs and spooky fun when this performance from London’s West End hits the Theatre by QE2 in May. Purchase tickets here .

Theatre by QE2, Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai, May 18 and 19 at 8pm, prices from Dhs135, Tel: (0) 58 838 3107,  theatrebyqe2.com

Chris Botti

When: May 19, 2024

Grammy-award-winning Chris Botti is heading to the Dubai Opera. Over the past three decades, the jazz master has performed with the likes of Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and even Frank Sinatra. The trumpeter has performed with many of the finest symphonies and at some of the world’s most prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House and the Real Teatro di San Carlo in Italy.

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, May 19, from Dhs300. Tel: (0)4 440 8888, dubaiopera.com

James Blunt

When: May 24, 2024

Ready to sing “You’re Beautiful…” at the top of your lungs with the legend himself? British singer-songwriter James Blunt is performing at the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday, May 24. The acoustic-tinged pop singer, who is best known for hits like  Goodbye My Lover, Bonfire Heart,  and  1973,  will land in Dubai as part of his new album tour Who We Used To Be. Tickets are priced from Dhs150 and can be purchased here .

James Blunt, Who We Used To Be Tour, Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai. Friday, May 24, 9pm, from Dhs150, coca-cola-arena.com

Hans Zimmer Live

When: May 31 and April 1, 2024

When it comes to scoring blockbusters, few Hollywood composers come close to the likes of Hans Zimmer. He is the man behind the stirring music of Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Top Gun: Maverick, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean ,  Interstellar, Dune and more. He will be joined on stage by his 45-piece world-class band including Tina Guao on the cello, Pedro Eustache on the winds, and many of the vocal artists from the original soundtracks. The last time Zimmer was in Dubai was in January 2023, and his concert was so popular that a last-minute extra date was added to the schedule. And he did it again this time because Coca-Cola Arena announced the second date (April 1) to keep up with the ticket demands. Purchase it on coca-cola-arena.com  and  hanszimmerlive.com . Prices start from Dhs299.

Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai, May 31 and April 1, 9pm, Tel: ( 800) 223388,   coca-cola-arena.com  

When: Until May 26 (TBC)

Where: Outside Dubai Festival City Mall (at The Big Top)

Back in 2022, the spectacular show aquatic show Fontana left us on the edge of our seats with its jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts. And this year, Cirque Du Liban is enthralling us yet again with a new circus show in Dubai – a new show concept titled Pluma. It follows  a little girl called Pluma with big dreams of flying. Tickets are priced at Dhs95 and can be purchased here . You can read more here .

Pluma, Dubai Festival City Mall – The Big Top, Dubai Festival City, Dubai, until May 26 (TBC) from Dhs95. @pluma.show

Russell Kane

When: June 2, 2024

British comedian, Russell Kane was in Dubai last year in January 2023, and he is set to return on June 2, once again performing at the Theatre by QE2. He will be hitting the stage and tickling your funny bone with his sharp wit and storming physical comedy. Tickets for the show are priced from Dhs175 and can be purchased  here . Do note, that audience members ages 16 to 20 need to be accompanied by an individual aged 21 years or older.

Russell Kane, Theatre by QE2, Queen Elizabeth 2,  Port Rashid, Dubai, June 2 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm), ticket prices from Dhs175, Tel: (0) 58 838 3107,  theatrebyqe2.com

WATERBOMB Festival

When: June 7 and 8, 2024

Where: Dubai Festival City

The WATERBOMB Festival is one of Korea’s biggest coming together of the two genres and it will be landing in Dubai to serve us some of that K-Town magic on June 7 and 8. Think all things K-Pop, EDM and for the real fun part – one big water fight. The first wave of artists has been announced for the festival and includes K-Rap superstars  CL ,  Big Naughty  and  PH-1 . Read more here .

WATERBOMB Festival, Dubai Festival City, Dubai, Jun 7 and 8, tickets out soon,  @waterbomb_dubai_official  

When: October 4, 2024

Originally slated to perform in Dubai in October 2023, iconic American rapper Macklemore will now be performing in Dubai on Friday, October 4 at the Coca-Cola Arena. Macklemore (pronounced Mack-LE-more) first rose to fame with his track  Thrift Shop  back in 2012 which has since amassed over one billion streams on Spotify alone.  Tickets are on sale now via the here website, priced from Dhs199.

Macklemore, Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Oct 4, from Dhs199. Tel: (800) 223 388, coca-cola-arena.com

Romesh Ranganathan

When: October 25, 2024

Looking for some laughs? Then you’ll want to snap up tickets to British comedian Romesh Ranganathan who is coming to Dubai for the very first time this October. The master of major lols will perform at City Walk’s Coca-Cola Arena in October. Tickets for the gig are on sale and priced from Dhs195 for lower-tier silver, ranging up to Dhs350 for gold floor tickets. Do note, that the show is for adults aged 16 and over, with those under 21 required to be accompanied by an adult aged over 21.

Romesh Ranganathan, Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Oct 4, from Dhs199. Tel: (800) 223 388, coca-cola-arena.com

When : October 27, 2024

Where : Etihad Arena

Matt Rife is known for his lighting-quick wit and unpredictable humour on stage, and will entertain fans through hilarious interactions that are often described by comedy lovers as being refreshing, yet relatable. Expect roasts, clever wordplay, observational humour and more starring in his shows. His current tour has sold over 600,000 tickets in less than 48 hours, so don’t forget to grab your tickets as soon as possible.

Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, October 27, ticket pre-sales March 7 12pm, general sales March 8 at 12pm.  livenation.me

Jake Lambert

When: November 9, 2024

Jake Lambert is making a stop in Dubai as he goes on his first national tour. The comedian hits the stage telling stories about navigating through everyday life, why he has a fear of being normal, and questioning our need to ask strangers what breed their dogs are. Name sound familiar? He’s been supporting Michael McIntyre on his worldwide tour. Under-16s will not be allowed entry, and 16 to 20-year-olds need to be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21.

Theatre by QE2, Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai, Nov 9 at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm), Tel: (0) 58 838 3107,  theatrebyqe2.com

Lea Salonga

When: November 10, 2024

Where:  Coca-Cola Arena

Broadway & West-End lovers get excited! Award-winning superstar Lea Salonga is returning to Dubai. Lea Salonga is making a pitstop in Dubai as part of her  Stage, Screen & Everything In Between tour where she will be performing all of her classic hits. She sold out seats at the Dubai Opera when she debuted in 2017. When she returned in 2020, she came prepared with two show dates. We are not graced with two show dates this time, so get those tickets sorted. Read more here .

Images: Getty Images and supplied