Lea Salonga (Photo by ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ)

A cat has nine lives, but this musical has been staged in Broadway for 18 years. A cat may just live anywhere but may never actually cross borders, but this Broadway musical has been around the globe—to over 26 countries to be exact. A cat can only meow, hiss, or squeak to communicate, but this Broadway musical has been performed in 10 languages.

And now, Manila will be graced with one of theatre’s most beloved plays, Andrew Lloyd Webber' “Cats: Now and Forever,” with the original production and of course, our very own international pride, Lea Salonga.

Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online recently caught up with this Tony Award-winning actress and here are nine things we’ve learned about her and the production.

1. She likes cats.

Lea shared that back in 2000, she had a couple of cats while living in New York City. However, she had to give them away because she moved back to the Philippines with her family. “I do like them [cats],” she said. “I know enough about cats that you really have to let them pick you. If you’re really thinking about getting a cat as a pet, they have to choose you. You don’t choose the cat. It’s not like picking out a dog, because the dog is eager to please, regardless.”

2. Lea’s favorite ‘Memory’ with favorite cat

A decade has now passed, but the actress doesn’t seem to have forgotten her favorite cat. And, apparently, she’s also the feline’s favorite master. “The second cat that I got, she was in a cage. I was looking at her, and she was like… she reached out of the cage to touch me! So I’m like, ‘I’m taking you home tomorrow.’ No question. You’re definitely coming with me.” And that is where their pet-owner relationship began.

She continued: “She was the most affectionate cat. Whenever she goes up the back of a sofa or a chair, ‘cause I happen to be sitting on it, and it has a very wide back, she would massage my shoulders… she would sit on your lap so she can touch you. She never bitched, she never scratched. She’ll take your hand and lick it. She was the best cat! But she had a few biological problems, so ‘Sorry, we’ll have to take you somewhere else’.”

3. “Cats are like people.”

Lea believes that these furry, wide-eyed creatures are not that far from human beings. “They’re very much like people. And I think far more honest because they can’t lie whether or not they like you.” What you see is what you get with these pet-tables, indeed.

4. Her first encounter with “Cats”

According to an article Lea wrote recently, her first encounter with “Cats” the musical, which was based from T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” was when she heard Elaine Paige’s version of “Memory,” the most popular song out of Webber’s compositions for the play. She did not know the origin of the song but she said she was immediately drawn to it. Lucky for her, she got to watch the London production in 1988 while she was in the city for “Miss Saigon.” It was the first and last time she saw it but left an indelible mark on her.

5. “Grizabella” is her shortest role to date.

Lea has starred in numerous plays here and abroad, and most of them required her presence on the stage for most of the scenes. But for this one, the Filipina singer-actress is challenged to create a memorable performance out of the 12 ½ minutes she will appear. It’s her shortest one to date, beating her 25-minute stage exposure for her role in “Les Misérables,” Eponine.

6. Lea is into playing “outcast” roles.

In another interview, the singing voice of Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan in “Mulan” revealed that she’s more interested in playing “outcast, reject, marginalized characters.” She deems that they have a more interesting personality and perspective.

7. …which is why she is fascinated with her “Cats” character, Grizabella.

She describes Grizabella, the old cat who defied the laws of the Jellicle tribe and left them to explore the outside world, as a “tough cookie.” “She used to be the Glamour Cat. She used to be the beautiful one who had the make-up, the high heels, the fur coat and everything. And so now we see her, and we can kind of see what she must’ve been like at her most beautiful.

“And it’s painfully obvious now that she no longer is. It’s terrible, and now she’s facing all these rejections from the tribe. There’s a lot of animosity. And if you see cats in real life fight with each other, it’s just not pretty when the claws come out! You feel that and take it personally! But I like it that she gets redemption in the end, and she’s able to get forgiveness… it’s beautiful to watch,” she added.

8. She’s the first Asian Grizabella.

Elaine Paige, Betty Buckley, Laurie Beechman, Dee Roscioli, Dianne Pilkington, and Chrissie Hammond. These are the names that have been imprinted in the history of “Cats” who have played the “Disheveled Beauty.” Now Lea will be part of that golden list, and not only that: she also has the bragging rights for being the first Asian to snag the role. Doesn’t she make us so proud?

9. Lea’s difference with Grizabella.

While Grizzy aged not-so-gracefully in the story, Lea is keen on doing otherwise in real life as she is nearing 40. “The thing is, I see a lot of my friends who are in their 40s, and they’re beautiful and they’re incredible… incredibly fit, busy, like nothing actually gets to stop them from enjoying their life. So having those as role models, why should I have a hard time with life when I turn 40?

“And all of the ‘40 is the new 30,’ all of that aside, every year that you get to spend on the Earth is another year of gained wisdom and gained experience and life. So, I do plan to celebrate it pretty big. I don’t want to be shirking or hiding in the shadow when I turn 40. I definitely will be celebrating it with my friends in style. That would be nice.” And why not, she has all her reasons to celebrate!

“Cats: Now and Forever” will be staged at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines beginning July 24. This Manila season is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Concertus, and All Youth Channels, Inc. in association with The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific. For tickets, call TicketWorld at 891-99-99 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.