An intimate evening with Leo

Who doesn’t know The Engineer?

As the vicious and cunning character from the world-class musical Miss Saigon, he has become a perennial scene-stealer, eclip-sing the lead star’s poignant portrayal with his scheming yet comic ways. And since its premiere at the Theater Royale Drury Lane in London’s West End in 1989, no other actor has done justice to the role than the enduring and unrivalled theater luminary, Leo Valdez.

After more than a decade of reprising the villainous part, Leo has shown no signs of slack. Not surprisingly, his unflagging commitment to the Cameron Mackintosh musicale earned him more raves among local audiences since the start of its much-awaited Manila run last October.

As if that weren’t enough, Leo can still summon enough pep to see him through a series of equally-gruelling performances in the Asian theater circuit. Come March, he hies off to Hong Kong to begin rehearsals for the May 16 premiere. With the Hong Kong stint over by mid-July, he will then be shuttling off to Singapore, and soon after to Manchester for a year-long stint.

With a hectic schedule such as his, one wonders if he has ample time to rest.

"With the little time that I have, I try to take it easy. The schedule isn’t as punishing as most people think. After all, we only work for three hours each night and I have to be there an hour before the show. Other than that, I’m basically free the whole day. I can’t complain," he stresses.

This coming season of love, Leo will be taking a respite from his backbreaking schedule as he mounts a special performance at the Century Park Hotel Grand Ballroom tonight with special guest Jinky Llamanzares. It’s one of the few times when he gets to don his balladeer’s hat.

"Although I’m basically known as a balladeer here, I feel like I’ve evolved because I’ve moved on to another milieu – musical theater. I’d like to capitalize on that ‘coz people would look forward to me singing musical theater songs. Besides, I feel that when I’m doing such songs, I give it the best treatment that I can possibly do, and it comes out well," he avers.

"I’ll also be doing Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, The American Dream, from Miss Saigon, of course – but minus the Cadillac!"

"I’ll also be doing a medley of local compositions, such as Kahit Na, Sana’y Maulit Muli, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Mahawi Man Ang Ulap and Ikaw.

"From the local musicals, I’ll be doing a song from Katy – Nang Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako, a heart-tugging composition from Ryan Cayabyab, and of course, Magsimula Ka, from the musical Magsimula, which is an offshoot of a song I sang a long time ago."

"And of course, under the able stewardship of my musical director Toti Fuentes, I believe I’ll pull it off well. Toti is the type who gets very involved with every performance. He perks you up," Leo beams proudly.

The busy Leo has also appointed ALV Productions as his exclusive booking agency.

Presented by Century Park Hotel and Hope Luxury Cigarettes, Love Leo: An Intimate Evening, is directed by Dingdong Cabazor and line-produced by DDCAB Productions, for the benefit of the Kaibigan ng Bayan Foundation. Musical director is Toti Fuentes.