Saturday, May 26, 2007

My Pre-show

In case you were wondering, keep reading.  If you don't really care, skip this posting.

So, just how do I get ready for this juggernaut of a musical?  Very simply.  I warm up my voice, then listen to some great music, and finally get started with my wig prep, make-up and costumes.  Here is my routine, broken down, for an 8 PM performance:

7 PM - Arrive at the theatre, and sign in.  I get my key from the stage door keeper, then head to my dressing room and settle in.  I put down my big bag, take out my cellphone and iPod, then start warming up.  My dresser Leslie usually pops in at around this time to check if I need anything.  She'll prepare some hot water for Throat Care tea and fill my water bottle.  Once I've taken enough of a breather, I start warming up.  That takes around 15 minutes.

7:20 PM - MUSIC TIME!!!  I put my iPod into my speakers, and take time to pick something cool for the day (last night it was Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite).  I then take my costumes out and start getting dressed.  Actually, at this early stage it's just my Fantine undergarments, my microphone, tights and boots.  My actual corset and dress are put on downstairs in the wardrobe room.

7:30 PM - I do my own wig prep (as taught to me by our hair and make-up guy).  It takes a few minutes to do, and I make sure that no stray hair escapes and that it doesn't come apart.  My costume quick changes require a solid wig prep, as I'm ripping wigs on and off in seconds during the show.  After my wig prep is done and my microphone is put on my head, I start make-up.

7:45 PM - Make-up is still under way... I'm sipping some tea as I groove to the music on my iPod.  My valuables are collected at right around this time, too, by the stage manager that's going to be on deck.

7:55 PM - My face and body make-up are now done... I put my boots on now and head down to the wardrobe room to get dressed: a ratty skirt, a corset, a nice celadon green cotton dress, a choker with a cameo, and an apron.  With my hat in hand, I head to the wig station to have my long wig put on.  Then the hair dresser helps me with my hat.  After all is done, I return to my room, turn off my music, sip some more tea and run through the lyrics of I Dreamed a Dream once, then test my highest note after that's done.

8:15 PM - I head downstairs and backstage, saying hello to different cast members on my way, and grabbing a cup of water from the cooler to sip while I wait for my cue.  I go all the way upstage to the prop area, where my locket is.  I then put it on, and stand by.

That's about it!!!

Right after Fantine's Death, I head back to my room and get dressed in my bullet boy outfit, and that's what I'm in for the rest of the show until the Finale. 

My routine slightly changes with each show that I do, but the basics remain the same.  I just feel it's important when I feel really prepared and ready to perform, to have a ritual of some sort before getting on stage.  It relaxes and centers me, keeps the nerves at bay in order for me to have a wonderful time.

62 comments:

romel torres said...

wow! i thought you need more than an hour and fifteen minutes to do all of that. so you still go through your lyrics every time, huh? nice to know.

Skip and Loretta :-) said...

Wow! Thank you Lea for sharing this. It seems like so much to do in a relatively short amount of
time~ Very fascinating to hear about the "inner workings" that go on behind the production. Glad to see that you seem to be back to good health.
Best wishes to you and your family! :-)

JANE AREJOLA said...

thanx so much for sharing! glad that you're back to work! while reading your blog, i am listening to your song "If Only"(from one of the member on your fan site here in multiply).. what year did you recorded it? it's nice kasi... ingat lagi.:)

-- - said...

That was an interesting read. Thanks for sharing. I can't help but think, with all the fluid intake, how one handles a very long scene (e.g. Kim in "Miss Saigon"). =)

Next routine I'd be interested in learning is your beauty regimen (diet, exercise, skin care, etc). You look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

Maybe the secret is Nicole and just being happy, huh? ;)

Mich M.D. said...

Coolness! There's nothing like always being prepared. I'm curious, has the wig ever come off or come apart yet during a show? That would suck, but here's hoping it never happens. hehe Stay healthy!!! :)

XXXX YYYY said...

hi,just wondering if you'll be presenting or performing or hosting the TONY this year?i believe they don't have an host yet i wish they'll stop looking ang booked you instead it will be nice to see you hosting the TONY's,i cud just imagine you'll be good at it just like in everything that you do...cant wait 2 c Le Miz again sa june23..ingat GODSPEED.

Noel Li said...

that's so cool!

carmi brown said...

Thanks for sharing. Very quick huh! Stay healthy.

augustine73 . said...

thanks for sharing.. and wow thats a lot of work!

Nightingale Ngo said...

Thank you for sharing. I always wondered what goes on before a big show such as "Les Miserables."

BTW, I was amazed at how quickly you - and several other actors - came out of the theatre after a performance.

Courtney Andros said...

Ehhh Throat Coat. I cringe but I guess its an acquired taste. I used it for a week when I lost my voice before our senior concert and it made me feel loads better but the taste was just awful

Eugene Guardado said...

All in days work!!!

Michelle S said...

very interesting! routine is key to a very successful performance and it showed!

Bobby G said...

See you in a week! Can't wait!

Mano Figueras said...

über interesting!

nova tordecilla said...

thanks for sharing. With such a detailed info , it feels as if we're there with you. don't work too hard.... have fun. looking forward to see more of nick's pix. take care.

J. Gutierrez said...

Is Fantine's highest note the E-flat/D-sharp in Fantine's Arrest?

James Schaefer said...

Hi Lea,

Thank so much for the insight. Of course we "Wonder"...that sense is the attraction to live performance. Your description of backstage is what makes professional theater so amazing! The talent and skill of all those on and off stage is what makes the illusion of the production so remarkable. Its almost dreamlike...transported into a fantastic story. I have been backstage on a few occasions to experience the hectic pace and I am always amazed at how well the parts fall into place (music, lights, stage, and performance)....all at exactly the right time!

I enjoy all the comments you share on your site. I feel that entries such as "My Pre-show" and "Perception" along with your "Backstage Photo Album" give wonderful insight into your world. Its a truly unique perspective and one we would not experience if not for your willingness to take the time to keep us informed.

Take care,

Jim

Eugene Guardado said...

I'm just amazed that even after the show you still find time to come here and share with your fans through a blog. Is it really you writing this?

I would assume that an artist of your magnitude and recognition would be extremely busy with other affairs or public appearances (commercials, personal appearances at a convention for younger artist, etc) and would rather have either an employee, a personal secretary or even a relative doing this in your behalf.

Just curious...So how would we (your fans in Multiply) know is really you (Lea) writing in My Multiply blog?

I know for me...if you send me a ticket of your show or a picture with your own autograph that would definetely put my doubts to rest. (wink)

Good wishes always,
Eugene

Chino Hernandez said...

Thank you Ms. Lea for sharing this with us.

What music do you usually listen to? Pop? Showtunes? or Instrumentals? So far, what have you been listening to the most?

Thanks again Ms. Lea.

Take Care.

Eugene Guardado said...

What kind of question is that?....I'm sure she enjoys an array of different music genres given her profession as a singer and a theatre musical performer. But one thing for sure...I don't think she is into ROCK dude!

jeff aguiman said...

Thanks for sharing, Manang. Will you be able to keep the necklace of Fantine after your stint? I think it would be a good memorabilia from the show.

Lea Salonga said...

You thought wrong.

Hill Top said...

uhm... she's a vocal fan of The Dawn. =)

(( mAra )) romano said...

Thank you for sharing this! I love hearing about the artist's process. Love it!!

Click here and comment... What u like... said...

Just want to express my gratitude to you how you could share us your hectic schedule no other performer would. My admiration to u grows even more that u reach out to your fans against all odds.

I cant find any other musician with your Prestige, Lea Salonga. No one else would ever be like you. I'm your Number One Fan !

Eugene Guardado said...

Hi Lea,

I stand corrected!! You are my kind of girl..you ROCK!!...

But still, you haven't answered my question. How do I know is you the real Lea Salonga writing in this blog for I wouldn't want to think we are writing to an impostor or a copycat wanna be Lea Salonga.

Nowadays people steal identies for the sake of robbing what others have built on their own. In this case it would be using Lea's name to deceive others just for the sake of attention.

As concerned true Lea fan, HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE BLOGGING TO THE REAL DEAL?

Jason . said...

Thanks for sharing! Still trying to make my way to NYC this summer!

Urane laderas-cabantog said...

im not Lea Salonga but i'll answer thia one... Just believe that SHE is the one writting on this site and besides, on her homepage ita says tha "YOU MADE IT" meaning, of all the impostors, you made it to her official site,,,

Urane laderas-cabantog said...

oh miss Lea, I even admire you more after reading this one,,, being so professional on your work.. imagine 1hour prep... hmmmm... while me, I need to be in our theater 3 hours before the show, for just a smaller crowd that what you have,,, (^-^)

sees pop said...

This site is for REAL! I have seen Lea while in Manila writing her blog. She devotes a lot of time to maintaining this site by herself....and I think she is doing a wonderful job in-spite of her busy schedule.

sees pop said...

This site is for REAL! I have seen Lea while in Manila writing her blog. She devotes a lot of time to maintaining this site by herself....and I think she is doing a wonderful job in-spite of her busy schedule.

sees pop said...

This site is for REAL! I have seen Lea while in Manila writing her blog. She devotes a lot of time to maintaining this site by herself....and I think she is doing a wonderful job despite her busy schedule.

Kenji Karl said...

Guapon is just inciting a conflict here. He just wants Lea to notice him. Your skepticism is undoubtedly a cheap shot tactic to obtain a comment from Lea. You were even so happy that she replied to your comment. Dude, no offense but your insinuation that this is a Lea Salonga impostor here is a no-brainer. Where would all the pictures here be coming from? Is there a look-alike Nic? shots inside the theater? within the confines of their home? vacations? mother and daughter sacred moments? a copycat rob? a copycat mommy ligaya? baby videos?her friends? aw, cmon, what evidence do you want more? And, Lea has brains and her blogs are authentic.


If you don't believe the Lea Salonga here then you don't need to be here. Please don't desecrate her website. We don't need Doubting Thomases here. And Lea doesn't owe you a comment at all. A comment for you means you've accomplished your goal.

Kenji Karl said...

Guapon BUY YOUR OWN TICKET! See, the cheap shot tactics that you employ just to get Lea's attention??

augustine73 . said...

lea, is www.leasalonga.com gonna be up soon? if yes, are you planning to blog there too?

jeff aguiman said...

Being a fan of Manang for so many years now, I can attest this is for REAL! And for sure the rest of the AFLSers would support me on this.

Manette Bermudo said...

i totally agree......

jeff aguiman said...

To the other fans who doubt that Lea is not personally doing her blogs, I wish you'll be able to experience how great it is to have Multiply as a medium of contact to Manang since we(AFLS) experienced just exchanging messages ONLY when we only had the google group and hope you'll experience how great a person Lea is and how she treasures her fans. I am very fortunate to have experienced this for a couple of times now.

Traffic Like Me said...

Interesting read about your rituals before a show...

I've been lurking in your Multiply site for 2 months now and all I can say is, "Saludo ako sa' yo!"

You make me proud as a Filipino. ^_^

Do you have a Wii or a DS? (You have a 360 kasi you're playing Viva Pinata) Hope you write a post on your gaming habits... Hehe. Balita ko kasi aside from being a techie, you're also a gamer.

Thanks again, and keep on writing! One last thing! Hope you do Wicked here in Manila... (Amazing music!)

sam lucas said...

thanks for sharing, miss lea! i am a classical voice student, and this is valuable. thanks and Godspeed!

Lesley Anne said...

you are such a professional :)

Eugene Guardado said...

Takati,
Thanks for your comment as you are entitled to your own opinion and perception of things as erroneous they may be.

And just like everyone else here they are free to submit their comments, compliments including questions to our dearest Lea. I'm just excercising the right of questioning and I'm sorry if I'm the only one who dares to ask questions which pertain to credibility.

I have to admit, I'm glad to receive a reply from someone as important as Lea Salonga. Who wouldn't feel flattered to just be acknowledge or simply be recognized from someone of her magnitude. Wouldn't you be?

On the same token, we all here would like to have our comments or questions be replied at some point by Lea. But going further, we all expect them to really be read by the creator or the intended person who is Lea. Right? Again, I'm sorry if I'm the only one questioning this.

Lea Salonga as many of us know, is an artist that is really devoted to her work and her fans. We all lover her for that. She would not have a hard time spending just a few minutes to sign an autograph or even take a picture. And that, for many of the fans is a sublime moment in time of having being acknowledged by someone they admire. As an extension of keeping in touch with her fans through this blog, we would expect that same closeness that she gives when seeing in person.

I know that if the real Salonga is indeed blogging here, she would treat her fans just the same. She would acknowledge their questions and perhaps provide just the same treatment. What is a signed photograph from her and even a ticket to her performance.? That would even make your day (Mr Takati).

And if its wrong to ask for some credibility from the blog creator, at least I have the courage to ask and have the face to come up to it up front. At least I'm not hiding behind the picture of a child to impress anyone. I'm as genuine as I could be.

If this blog is really being read by our beloved Lea Salonga, than by all means, my biggest respect and admiration to her always. Still I would love a signed picture and/or even a ticket of her performance. That would make my day!!

XXXX YYYY said...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with all of your fans!

XXXX YYYY said...

it's pathetic, i find it pathetic. please don't rob us fans off the joy we feel whenever we get the chance to read her entries and get a glimpse of her thoughts, her life. your scepticism is not welcome here, well for me at least. if you're just gonna be a doubtful about this site's authenticity, then you have no business being here.

plus, it's annoying me that you keep asking her for a signed picture and a ticket to her performance to dare her to prove her credibility to you.

-- - said...

Lea,

Thank you so much for sharing your time, thoughts & family pictures with us. Your generosity is remarkable. ~ Truly one-of-a-kind.~
:)

advent philomels said...

asking for a signed picture and a ticket? hmm... then, what's next? her email and phone number? you must be a die hard Lea fan.. just like the rest of us ..:) Asking Lea pertaining to the authenticity of this website/blogs is something you can ask her in person.(just a thought) . So, Get yourself a Les Misérables ticket and make sure you will catch her after the show for an autograph, take a picture with her then ask about this website if is she really did write all these blogs... I met Lea in LA years ago when she was doing the FLower Drum Song ..she was still single back then,, i mean, engaged...:) damn, she was soo nice and pretty.. (and still is) she looked at me and smiled and said "SURE" when i asked if its OK to take another picture with her.. I tell you, i really had a hard time sleeping that night just thinking how lucky i am to have two pictures taken with the world famous Tony award winner Lea Salonga. Anyways, I sound like i am seeking attention now..(which I really am) LOL... a signed picture and a ticket will not prove anything concerning about the authenticity of this site. Videos of baby Nic and Lea's Hubby are enough to prove us all that Lea herself takes her time blogging on here, posting/sharing pictures and videos for Fans, Friends and to just anybody. Guapon, wish i can write like you.. you must be an english major.. :)

To Lea, Thanks a lot for spending your time reading this and for sharing your time with us..It would also be nice to have a little page for your fans where we can submit photos taken with you. :) (now i am asking too much, shame on me )

-Roy-

XXXX YYYY said...

hei.
i invite you to join the Lea Salonga Fan Site Group here at Multiply. I'm not the moderator or anything but i've always enjoyed seeing so many fans take the time to upload articles, pictures of or with Lea Salonga, and videos. it would be really nice if we could see your picture with our idol.

advent philomels said...

hello kitty! (meow) I made it to the Lea Salonga Fan Site Group.. Thanks... :)

Ju Ly said...

GUAPON must be a BUDDING STALKER

Eugene Guardado said...

Ok..my apologies for being a doubting Thomas in your blog.

How about something completely different. Something that most of your fans would enjoy especially those with computers. I am sure this could be coordinated by your marketing director or your publicist.

Who would benefit? Those who are either too far to come into a theater and see you in person, or those who are confined to a bed due to an illness, or those that are financially burden and can not afford a ticket of your performance whose only means to be close to their idol is by means of a personal computer and the world wide web.

I'm talking about scheduling a "virtual-press conference" with your fans! If you think about it, it would be something kind of cool. Fans from around the world can log in and ask you questions, share their stories and you get a chance to respond live. Now that would be an awesome interaction!

Like I said, you will be reaching out to those individual fans who are unable to see you in person but will have the opportunity to chat with their idol online.

Of course, you control the logistics of how you would want it to run what questions you can answer, time, etc.

Again is only a suggestion which would allow you to interact virtually live with your virtual audience apart from getting an opportunity to answer most of the questions you get from your blog.

May you always take care of yourself, your family and then your fans. My respects and love to you always,
Ingat ka!
-Eugene

joy weimer said...

I literally could read your threads for hours. When I saw you at Les Miz, I was surprised that there was added scenes with you towards the end. I was ecstatic because having read your parts from the musical album, I thought that gosh, Fantine dies and we will only see her for the first few scenes. My friends said, and you are flying all the way to NY? Of course they have to be front row seats or the best ones anyway.

I think you define the role of Fantine and she had more roles and solo parts! Of course no one can replace you as Eponine(I only saw it through YouTube). Having appreciated theater since college and having combined theater and Lea Salonga together is the best value of art anyone can get. At the end of Les Miz, after all the cast was introduced and they leave the stage, Lea, still on her white gown costume gets back on the stage and talks about the personalized posters-(signed by the cast) and she waved goodbye to the audience and says '..have a good dinner" ..My husband says..wow that must have been a great bonus for you! (he meant bonus for me!)

I wish I could have brought my three year old -she'd be thrilled.

jeff aguiman said...

Manang, do you have a personalized poster being sold for LesMis?

Ju Ly said...

They have already done that before.

Ju Ly said...

Is the Les Miz run still on Oct 21 or have been extended. Broadway.com has tickets sold for performance until Nov. 18, if I recall it correctly. Your confirmation will be greatly appreciated Lea. Thanks in advance

Alexander Cohen said...

Interesting fact about the wigs. How do you manage to change wigs so quickly with that much real hair underneath, if you don't mind my asking? Doesn't it come loose when you change wigs?

By the way, can you confirm or deny that you will be in a different show before the end of the year, as Tempo reports?

joy weimer said...

After Les Miz - what/where might we expect as far as future performances?

Alva McKee said...

Oh, Miss Lea... you truly are the epitome of class and professionalism. Not that we all didn't already know that, but reading about this little ritual of yours totally made my night.

joy weimer said...

I never doubted the site..after reading a few blogs here, I thought Oh no! But I do believe she is the kind of filipina who is true to her fans. If this site is not hers, how does one get her videos and photos huh? Some of the personal photos are soo intimate that it is an honor for us to be able to view our idol's life outside her professional life. So if we weren't so devoted to the site, why keep coming back? Addicted? yes we are...Some cares and some don't. Her blogs about Les Miz - her ritual before the show - etc. She know what's up. NO matter what we get the coolest blogs, pix and it's just like watching tv. We get to go in a different world by watching somene else's story. An opinion is an opinion, whether it is true or false. It is up to you to decide. 'Seize the day'

arkitekfhc . said...

The only thing that's official is her "Cinderella" tour.
Here's the article: http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=15361

carlos rull said...

as a professional musician who's been out there performing, yet not at your level and fame, i am very impressed by your pre-show routine. it's quite inspiring, and definitely educational. best to you on your run on broadway with les miz. <3 randomguru

Li'l Dove Feather said...

It is easy. Have a look around this blog. There are things that PR people or whoever cannot write about but the real person can....When we visit sites "supposedly" ran by the artists themselves, yes, it is important to make sure it's really them. But I'm telling you now this is her.