▁The ▁impress ive ▁fe at ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁successful ▁dinner - the ater ▁present ations ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁of ▁Man ila , ▁Man ila ▁which ▁won ▁her ▁an ▁Ali w ▁Award ▁for ▁Best ▁D inner ▁Theater ▁performance ▁for ▁that ▁year . ▁She ▁also ▁star red ▁in ▁Do on ▁Po ▁Sa ▁A min ▁and ▁Jesus ▁Christ ▁Super star ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁each ▁gar ner ing ▁Best ▁D inner ▁Theater ▁awards . ▁ ▁In flu ences ▁Cel este ▁Leg as pi ▁claims ▁she ▁is ▁greatly ▁influenced ▁by ▁Bar bra ▁Stre is and , ▁L iza ▁Minn elli , ▁L ena ▁Hor ne , ▁and ▁El la ▁Fitz ger ald . ▁During ▁one ▁of ▁her ▁inter views ▁she ▁said ▁that ▁her ▁type ▁of ▁music ▁rest s ▁on ▁elements ▁of ▁bl ues ▁and ▁those ▁which ▁intend ▁to ▁break ▁the ▁monot ony ▁of ▁pop ▁music . ▁ ▁Theater ▁arts ▁Her ▁the ater ▁career ▁began ▁when ▁she ▁star red ▁in ▁two ▁college ▁produ ctions . ▁She ▁sang ▁the ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁in ▁the ▁play ▁" T ales ▁of ▁the ▁Man uv u " ▁( 1 9 7 7 ), ▁where ▁she ▁shared ▁the ▁stage ▁with ▁H aj ji ▁Ale j andro . ▁Her ▁other ▁stage ▁works ▁include ▁an ▁appearance ▁in ▁the ▁hit ▁musical ▁K aty ! ▁( 1 9 8 8 ) ▁for ▁the ▁Cultural ▁Center ▁of ▁the ▁Philippines ' ▁Tang hal ang ▁Pil ip ino , ▁and ▁the ▁port ray als ▁of ▁Bab ae ▁in ▁North ▁D ivers ion