Allow me to give you a glimpse of what goes on for me backstage

(First of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines?I was once told that the role of Grizabella was a ?pretty easy gig.? On the surface, it would seem so: Around 12 minutes onstage, only one big aria to sing at the end, and that?s it. Uhhh, no.

Preparing for that big song takes as much preparation (in this case, even more so) as a larger singing role. I arrive at the same time as everyone else, and leave at show?s end.

Normally, I arrive at a theater around 90 minutes before a performance to vocally warm up and get ready. For ?Cats,? I am a bit more ? involved. Allow me to give you a glimpse of what goes on for me backstage. Let?s say today is a normal show day?no rehearsals, spacing calls or note sessions. I?m not needed till around 6 p.m.

I leave home at about 4:30 p.m. (traffic from the south can be quite unpredictable, no matter what time of day). On a good day, it takes me around 40 minutes to get to the theater ? on an awful day, as long as two hours. Lateness to the theater really bugs me, especially when it?s me that?s late.

Prep time

At 6 p.m., optional ballet barre begins with Sharyn Winney, resident director and choreographer. I opt not to join ? this is when I start putting my makeup on. I start with a base of light grey all over my face, then a strip of white on my nose, muzzle and middle of my neck. Next, shadings of darker grey and brown on my forehead, cheeks and the sides of my neck, effectively contouring my features. Then, defining lines in black, highlighted by white or grey, whisker dots, deeper eye sockets and more markings. I?m usually done with at least half of it by 6:15, when the cast is called for another optional warm-up. Markham Gannon, associate resident choreographer, or Adrian Ricks, dance captain and Mr. Mistofolees, leads this session. The music is usually pretty funky. Cast members who come down are in various stages of getting ready ? some have full makeup on, others have only the shading, while a few haven?t even begun.

At 6:30, either Paul White, musical director, or Sean Tait, associate musical director, leads the full- company vocal warm-up. A few are still doing stretches or jogging around backstage while singing. After this, everyone heads back to the dressing room.

At 7 p.m., Zoe Allardice, another stage manager, announces the one-hour call?one hour left until the top of the show. By this time, my makeup is done. Sheilla Habab, my dresser, has everything laid out: My awesome unitard, flat dance shoes, leg warmers, arm warmers, underwear and my tail. I get my wig prep done: Five pin curls in strategic spots on my forehead, temples and back of the neck, plus a stocking cap and even more pins to secure everything, making sure that, when my wig and microphone are pinned to me, nothing slips off.

Half-hour call

I head up to the second-floor dressing area, where Alison and Joy from the sound department are starting to hand out radio mics. I sit in a chair as one of them pins the mic on my stocking cap. Then I go to Sharon Case (hair and makeup) to get my first wig put on. I return to the sound people for a final mic placement check.

I run down to my room to take that very important bathroom break before putting on my unitard. One thing I?ve learned: Going to the bathroom after sweating in that thing is close to impossible. If anyone remembers that ?Friends? episode where Ross is in leather pants, the situation is somewhat similar. Without the baby powder.

Five minutes

Once completely dressed, I get a few stretches in to make sure I?m limber and warm. I grab a few seconds on the wobble cushion to strengthen my right ankle (I sprained it a week ago on some covered cables). Afterward, I go for my radio mic check. The sound guys give us a theme for this sound check, thus we have to sing something that fits it. Quite fun listening to what everyone comes up with.

Green eyes

At this point, the cast each grabs a pair of ?green eyes? and heads to their starting positions all over the theater. We enter from the back of the house (including the balconies) and flash our ?eyes? at certain members of the audience during the overture. We?ve freaked out a few people by doing this, which has made it fun. I won?t tell you where I?m coming from or where I?ll be. Let the show begin!

By the way?

Thank you to poet Pete Lacaba for your wonderful contribution to the Manila production of ?Cats.? Maraming, maraming salamat sa natagpuang ligaya, dahil sa iyong liwanag.

Shameless plug

On our day off, a few of us from ?Cats? went to watch a rehearsal of ?Master Class,? starring one of our best actresses, Cherie Gil. It may as well have been a performance. She was absolutely incandescent as Maria Callas. Brava, La Divina and have a fabulous opening night tonight!

?Master Class? is presented by the Philippine Opera Company, and will play on July 29, 30, 31, August 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows at 3:30 p.m. Call 8928796 or 8919999.