Bradshaw has previously appeared in the Manila productions of The Sound of Music, Rock of Ages, Nine and Aladdin. She will next appear in Atlantis Productions' Philippines premiere of The Addams Family.

Full given name:
Michaela Cristina Rivera Bradshaw

Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born in Manila but raised in Butuan City in Mindanao.

Zodiac Sign:
Libra

What your parents did/do for a living:
My parents were missionaries in Mindanao until recently.

Siblings:
I am the eldest of five (three girls, two boys)

Current audition song/monologue:
"Meadowlark" from The Baker's Wife

Special skills:
I'm actually really good at makeup, and I also host and perform as different characters for kids' parties.

Something you're REALLY bad at:
MATH. And navigation.

First musical you ever saw:
I want to say Phantom of the Opera, but I'm really not sure anymore. I can't remember which shows I saw on VHS and which were live.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be?
Honestly, now I can say that I would have loved to be there during the legendary 1988 run of Carrie the Musical.

When did you first fall in love with theatre? Did you have any particular inspirations or mentors?:
Some of my first memories are of my mom sitting with me around the stereo listening to old scratched up records of Guys and Dolls or Phantom of the Opera or Sweeney Todd. I think theatre was in me from the start. No one in my family had done theatre, but we are incredibly theatrical people, so venturing down that path was a no-brainer for me.

Favorite showtune(s) of all time:
I will never grow tired of singing "Popular" in the shower. Never ever.

Some favorite modern musicals:
The Last Five Years, Next to Normal, Spring Awakening

Some favorite classic musicals:
Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret and Carousel… to name a few

Broadway or screen stars of the past you would most have loved to perform with:
Julie Harris

Your personal vocal idols, living or dead:
Kristin Chenoweth, Lea Salonga, Julie Andrews

The one performance – attended - that you will never forget:
I will never EVER forget Nyoy Volante as Usnavi in the Manila production of In the Heights.

Music that makes you cry, any genre:
Anything by Mumford and Sons overwhelms me.

MAC or PC?
I am way too techie-handicapped to answer this question...

Most played song on your iPod:
"Sigh No More" by Mumford and Sons

Most-visited websites:
Pinterest. I waste my life on Pinterest.

Last book you read:
"A Dance of Dragons"

Must-see TV show(s):
"That 70s Show" is my favorite show of all time. But I'm also really liking "Game of Thrones," and my guilty pleasure is (shhhhh!) "America's Next Top Model."

Last good movie you saw:
I'm a huge horror buff, and "The Conjuring" really satisfied every horror bone in my body.

Some films you consider classics:
"The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy, "Fight Club," "Singin' in the Rain" and every Disney princess movie ever created.

Performer you would drop everything to go see:
Kristin Chenoweth

Pop culture guilty pleasure:
Instagram

Three favorite cities:
Let me get back to you once I've traveled enough to provide an informed answer.

Favorite sport/team/player:
I am allergic to anything athletic.

What are some of your favorite activities when not onstage?
I love hanging out with my daughter and dog. I love playing around with makeup. I also enjoy sketching, reading and, when I have the time, cooking.

First CD/Tape/LP you owned:
S-Club 7 on cassette

What are some of your most memorable roles so far?
The one I'm working on now: Carrie

First stage kiss:
None so far

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:
I don't even know how to answer that. I don't think I was ever made for anything else. I always knew this is what I wanted to do. Even when I did start to think I wanted to be a doctor or something like that I'd very quickly shrug the thought off because I always knew exactly what I was meant to do.

Favorite liquid refreshment:
I am a sucker for a good chai tea latte

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups:
I like to listen to music that gets me pumped up. Usually it's "Kings and Queens" by 30 Seconds to Mars or the "Part of Your World" reprise from The Little Mermaid.

Most challenging role you have ever played:
Though I haven't taken her for a spin onstage yet, Carrie is definitely proving to be an exciting challenge.

What has been the biggest challenge about this project?
My personality is so far from Carrie's personality, so I'm really trying to build her from the ground up.

What has been the most fun or fulfilling aspect?
It's an honor to be telling this story. This story addresses a serious issue and I think, through staging it, we are speaking for those who have been victims.

Were you familiar with the novel or movie prior to taking on this project?
My dad has always loved Stephen King novels and he exposed me to them when I was a kid, so I've always been familiar with it.

Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap:
I played Liesl in The Sound of Music a year ago. There was a scene where I was standing at the top of the stairs and the Captain (played by Ariel Rivera) was supposed to storm up the stairs and exit... instead he tripped. Badly. And the entire audience erupted in laughter. When he finally got up to the top of the stairs he squeezed my arm and cursed under his breath. At this point I still have my poker face on. But when I got to the bottom of the stairs Joanna Ampil, who was playing Maria, was in tears with a hand over her mouth. For the remainder of the scene she just could not stop laughing.

Worst costume ever:
I had a love-hate relationship with my Rock of Ages costumes. One particular costume left very little to the imagination. It was a tiny leather monokini that I wore as a stripper. To make matters worse it seemed to squeeze every ounce of fat I had into my belly. It was not flattering.

Worst job you ever had:
I did try a desk job for a while. After exactly 4 days, I quit.

If you could trade roles with anyone in the cast for a week, who would it be?
Jill Peña, who plays Chris. It looks like so much fun playing the antagonist.

Any upcoming or side projects you can talk about?
After Carrie I'll be playing an Ancestor in the Manila production of The Addams Family.

Leading lady role you've been dying to play:
Sally Bowles in Cabaret

Leading man role you'd like a shot at:
Guido in Nine

Something about you that surprises people:
Most people are shocked to learn that I was a missionary kid and that I was homeschooled in a small town.

Something you are incredibly proud of:
My daughter

Something you're embarrassed to admit:
I'm an ugly sleeper.

Career you would want if not a performer:
Either a teacher or a veterinarian.

Three things you can't live without:
My eyebrow pencil, sushi and my little girl's impromptu performances in the living room.

"I'll never understand why…"
… some people buy dogs if they can';t care for them properly.

Words of advice for aspiring performers:
Never give up. And once it's there, protect the work.