Photo by monica simoes / broadwayworld.com

NEW YORK — WELL, OPENING night of my show at the Carlyle has come and gone (to everyone who sent well-wishes on Facebook and Twitter, thank you!), and now I’m in the familiar business of maintaining a performance for a run. Sure it’s not a long run, but a run, nonetheless.

After many rehearsals at Ripley-Grier, including two before a test audience composed of friends and colleagues, we had a full run at the actual performance space in front of even more friends and colleagues.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (visiting her daughter who’s in college at Bryn Mawr University) came with her friend JM Villa, as well as a few friends from the Asian tour of “Cinderella,” and my wedding matron of honor, Bloomberg’s Yvette Fernandez, plus my US manager David Belenzon and my attorney Bob Perlstein.

Dan Kutner (director) and Diana Basmajian (writer) were also present, in case there were notes or changes from the afternoon. This would also be the first time that I would do the show in context with all the musicians and a great crew behind me.

A lot to remember

It was important to me that there was a small audience at each of these final three runs because of all the comedy written into the script, and how each spiel leads into the songs. There are segues, there is interwoven patter (as in, there’s talking within a song), and there are medleys. There’s quite a bit to remember, all without the aid of a Teleprompter or a sequence guide in front of me. That’s not particularly impressive, but in recent years, I have grown accustomed to the available “cheat sheets.” Hence, my brain was in a bit of a shock.

Poker game

I decided to relax that evening with an in-suite poker game with old friends from the revival of “Les Misérables.” It served as a reunion of sorts (we played quite regularly during the “Les Miz” run in 2007) and as a way to calm me down. We sat on the floor around the coffee table with swing music playing in the background as we played, talked and saw the chips swing from player to player. I didn’t do badly at all: Second place. Given how good these guys play, that’s pretty darn good.

On Tuesday, I decided to be a bit of a hermit and stay in. I ordered a salad from room service and reviewed the show in my head. I straightened my hair extensions with a flat iron to keep me from going stir crazy. My makeup artist (a lovely Japanese lady named Yuko Takahashi) came in with her assistant at around 6:30 p.m., lugging a suitcase full of makeup and hair implements. I jumped in the shower while they set up.

Butterflies

At around 7:15, Larry Yurman (musical director), Dan and Diana came up to my room to give hugs and well-wishes. I was starting to feel the initial butterflies in my tummy. It helped to hear from the three that the room was filled with friends who were enjoying some dinner and wine.

LEA with Fil-Am actors Paolo Montalban and Jose Llana, both former stage costars. Photo by monica simoes / broadwayworld.com

In attendance were Jose Llana (my leading man in “Flower Drum Song”), Paolo Montalban (Prince Charming in ABC’s “Cinderella” opposite Brandy), Andrea McArdle (the original Annie), Sandy Duncan, Leslie Uggams, Rebecca Luker and Lynn Cohen (Magda from “Sex and the City”), plus some of my best friends (including bridesmaid Liz Casasola and “gay of honor” Victor Lirio).

Gripped by fear

My opening number was Gary Granada’s “Salamat Salamat, Musika”—and because nerves got the better of me, I totally forgot the first two lines of the song! I was then gripped by the fear that the rest of the evening would continue in this fashion, but thankfully, the applause from my loved ones filled the room that no one noticed the error. Until now.

Once I regained my bearings, it was on with the show. And oh, how fun it was! The hour went by like a blur. Following the performance, I stayed in the lobby and posed for some opening night pictures with my guests.

I headed to my suite and immediately changed into a comfy pair of flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt, and promptly dunked the front part of my left foot into ice. A few of my friends then came upstairs to hang out and chat for a bit. I was then left alone to enjoy the rest of the evening and get some rest.

It was a great night.

My second week is, by the time you read this, well under way. We’ve settled into a great groove and are having such a fun time of it all. I know that I’ll miss this unique and wonderful art form, but feel comforted that I will be visiting another cabaret room in the future for more stories interwoven with song.