Lea Salonga, 1991 Tony Award-winner for creating the role of Kim in Broadway's Miss Saigon, returns to the production at the Broadway Theatre Jan. 18.

As she did before, Salonga will play a Vietnam teen who falls for an American GI in 1975. The Alain Boublil-Claude Michel Schonberg mega musical was inspired by Madame Butterfly.

Manila native Salonga will sing the Monday through Friday evening performances and, because of the role's huge vocal demands, only play one of two performances on two-show days. She will do no Wednesday matinees and alternate evening and matinee shows on Saturdays.

Joining Salonga on stage will be Luoyong Wang as the Engineer, Will Chase as Chris, Leonard Joseph as John, Margaret Ann Gates as Ellen and Yancey Arias as Thuy.

The Oct. 15 announcement did not indicate how long she would remain with the show, but Salonga told Playbill On-Line her run lasts until May 15, 1999. After leaving Miss Saigon in 1992, Salonga sang the role of Jasmine in Disney's animated Aladdin (singing "A Whole New World"). She also played Eponine on Les Miserables on Broadway in 1993. For tickets and information, call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.