MANILA, Philippines?Ivy Padilla had quit as lead singer of the local rock band Strawberry Fields and was living in New Zealand when she casually walked into an audition for a Wellington production of ?Miss Saigon.?

She couldn?t believe she bagged the lead role of Kim?the same one that Lea Salonga originally played in 1989 and which won for the latter a slew of international awards.

The Wellington production reportedly had a successful 16-night run which ended Saturday. Padilla is still overwhelmed by the experience, and is now eyeing to audition for the film version.

You used to sing in a rock band. How did that help you when you auditioned, got the role, and started playing Kim?

I had been exposed to different singing styles and techniques. The experience of live performances in Manila built my confidence.

How interested were you in musical theater before ?Miss Saigon??

When I first heard that Lea Salonga was playing Kim in the original Broadway production, I bought a copy of the soundtrack? which I listened to constantly at home. At that point, I realized I wanted to do the same thing.

What have you learned from playing Kim?

I learned to project my voice and manipulate it to suit a particular scene without straining my vocal cords.

What are the highlights of your stint?

When people congratulate me after each show, they are shocked to find out how new I am in theater. I wasn?t even sure I was doing it right until the end, when my heart melted each time I heard the audience?s applause.

Have there been technical glitches or mistakes on your part that the audience did not notice?

There have been instances when I forgot a couple of lines. I had to divert attention to my acting. During opening night, I got leg cramps onstage while singing. In another instance, my foot was run over by the set piece. I also got an upset stomach once, but the show must go on.

Are you playing to full houses?

Yes! We are extremely stoked as the show has been very successful. We?ve also heard of people who have seen it and then came back with their friends to watch it again.

What happens after the New Zealand run?

Since this was specifically for the Wellington region, the show ran only until yesterday. However, we?ve been asked if there are any plans for this production to move around New Zealand. That would be great, although there are a lot of things to be taken into consideration for everyone in the cast.

What are your own plans once it?s really over?

I?ll be auditioning for other productions.

Given the chance, would you like to join the cast of the film version?

Oh, definitely! I first heard about it in Oct. 2009. I?ve been gathering information on plans for the movie and the opportunity to audition. I will keep praying to be given that chance, just like what happened in ?Miss Saigon.?