“Many of us are doing this as a labor of love,” Jaygee says. “We’re so proud to bring a Filipino story to the world stage. The whole company is like a family; we laugh so hard and share so many stories.”

The daughter of an accountant and a cab driver, Jaygee grew up in Chicago, dabbling in a bit of local community theatre, and later studied advertising at The University of Illinois. Still infected by the acting bug, a friend suggested that she attend local auditions for Disney World (“I was not prepared – I showed up in a black sweater and stirrup pants”). Jaygee was immediately brought down to Florida, where, in addition to other roles, the dark-skinned, dark-eyed Filipina beauty occasionally performed as the Native American princess, Pocahontas. Over the last few years, she has also been featured in other “ambiguously ethnic” roles as a Puerto Rica member of the Sharks gang in West Side Story, and as a Vietnamese prostitute in Miss Saigon. And now, for the first time, she portraying a fellow Filipina – the Steel Butterfly herself, Imelda Marcos.

Jaygee’s primary challenge is to humanize the woman she is portraying, to consciously avoid the common portrayal of Marcos as an evil queen. “You have to be truthful; you can’t play for the jokes.” She has also immersed herself in research: watching films and documentary footage, reading everything she can get her hands on, and meeting many people who actually knew the First Lady.

“Everyone has stories about her. Last June I met the Vice President of the Philippines, who said that after they shook hands, he smelled her perfume on his hand for the rest of the day. That perfume, and the bright colors she wore, were all done to ensure that she made an impact on people.”

Jaygee adds that Imelda and her son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., have been invited to performances of East Coast prmiere of the new musical, a co-production between Pan-Asian Repertory Theatre and Los Angeles’s East West Players. There’s no word yet on whether the Marcos clan will be able to attend, but Filipino nationalistic pride will certainly be in evidence.

Imelda: A New Musical., presented by Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. September 22nd – October 18th, 2009 at The Julia Miles Theatre, 424 West 55th Street (between 9th and 10th Aves). Performances are Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. For tickets, call Telecharge.com (212) 239-6200 or visit www.panasianrep.org. Above photo by Carol Rosegg.