MANILA, Philippines - Tony award-winning performer Lea Salonga is purring her way back to the Philippine stage via the local staging of "Cats," one of the most well-loved and longest running musicals on Broadway.

"Cats" is scheduled to run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater from July 24 to August 15, 2010. Proceeds of the premiere performance on July 23 will go to Lea's chosen charity, the Asian Hospital, where she gave birth to her daughter.

Salonga stars in the production as Grizabella.

Demands of performing in 'Cats'

Calling rehearsals a test of stamina, Lea admits, "Cats" is one of the trickiest performances in her career.

"We rehearsed two weeks in Sydney and I don't think I've ever experienced physical pain of that kind," Lea says in an interview on Mornings@ANC on Monday.

"Everybody in the show has to dance in the opening number, no exceptions. Seven minutes of non-stop dancing and singing and jumping around, pretending to be a cat and wearing a unitard! It's one of the most miraculous pieces of costuming I have ever seen in my entire life. It sucks you in where you need to be sucked in. I don't know how they do it but it does what it's supposed to do. They're like spanks you wear on the outside!"

Lea notes a physiotherapist travels with the company when they go on tour.

"She'll be back-stage to deal with injury," Lea says. "I saw her twice during the rehearsal and I haven't even done the show. Some people see her every single day for the show."

Lea says she's glad she was doing Pilates exercises before "Cats" came along, for added flexibility.

But the challenges of a strenuous and physically-demanding production aside, Lea, who's been known to have a perfect pitch, admits there's also the added demand of belting out strange and unfamiliar tunes.

"I'm assigned to sing alto in a chorus. With alto, sometimes, the note just comes straight out of left field. It's not pretty and it's not meant to sound pretty. The notes are just clashing and every time I opened my mouth to sing that weird note..." Lea says, making a face.

"Finally, I got used to singing it. But now that it's in there. I'm not sure I'll get it out," she adds with a laugh.

On family and work

At 39, Lea proudly shares she's a happy wife to Chinese-Japanese husband Robert Chien, to whom she's been married for 6 years, and a proud mom to her 4-year-old daughter Nicole.

With the demands of family life, plus her share of heartbreaks in the past, Lea adds she's ready to take on her "Cats" role.

"This is probably the earliest I'd like to play Grizabella," Lea says. "It seems to suit anyone who's gone through a lot in life. I'm happy that it's come at this time."

Today, Lea says, when it comes to performing on stage, or any given career, patience is a virtue.

"Don't rush things. You may not be at your absolute best until you're in your middle 30s or until you're in your 40s. I find myself constantly still growing with my work and skills and building on them," Lea says, adding she's not about to slow down.

"I don't want to see any point in my life that's a stopping point. Is this it?" Lea says, noting she also gets an added push from her husband, Robert.

"He says, your voice is still getting better, you're still improving, and the command you have of your voice is incredible, which encourages my confidence," the multi-awarded performer admits.

After her stellar rise to Broadway and London's West End, today, Lea believes she's at the best she's ever been.

"With regards to what I do, I know that I'm skilled and good, I could put some modesty out there and say that 'Yeah, I'm ok, but no, I'm pretty damned good!"

On-screen reunion with Aga

Stage performances aside, Lea is also looking forward to a possible on-screen reunion with her original leading man Aga Muhlach late this year. (Click here for story.)

"I'm gearing myself up mentally for that, and he tells me and reassures me the story line is something special and worth doing," Lea says. She recalls telling Aga, "All right, you're the movie star, you take care of it!"

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"CATS"

July 24 to August 15, 2010, at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo

Tickets are available at:
- TicketWorld outlets
- Selected National Bookstore branches
- Robinsons Department Store (Galleria, Malate, Metro East, Festival Mall, Starmills Pampanga)
- Ayala Center (Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4, and Trinoma Mall Cinema Booths)