Fit for the Spotlight

By Editorial Staff

Can you give us an idea of what a day in your life is like?

I wake up in the morning and work out before breakfast, which can involve running, working on the elliptical or lifting weights. I vary it day to day. When I get home, I eat breakfast/lunch, read or run errands and go to the show. I arrive at the theater at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. I put on my makeup, vocalize, do a light workout to wake up my body, and get ready for the show.

Elizabeth Loyacano, Star of "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular." Photograph by Joan Marcus What do you normally eat?

I'll eat an egg-white omelette with spinach, reduced-fat feta and smoked salmon. Sometimes, I'll have egg whites and turkey sausage, or a small salad as a fiber source. The costumes are so tight, so as a singer, I have dinner after the show ends.

Do you take supplements or herbs to take care of your body?

I take a multivitamin every day. I'm 30, so I also take calcium. Mostly, I try to eat well by watching my carb intake and drinking lots of tea and purified water. I eat a lot of salads and vegetables like bell peppers, which have a lot of vitamin C.

You mentioned earlier that you use chiropractic. What has been your experience with chiropractic care?

Brent Barrett and Elizabeth Loyacano star as The Phantom and Christine, respectively, in the hit show “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular.” Photograph By Joan Marcus My experience with chiropractic care has been unbelievably amazing. I was skeptical until I tried it. I was in "Oklahoma" on Broadway, and had to balance a girl who was built like a horse on my lower back while I danced. I was doing sit-ups to compensate for the weakness in my back. Within 10-15 minutes of standing, I had to sit down or roll over to release my lower back muscles. I had been in physical therapy for a year, but I wanted results and decided to start seeing a chiropractor. My chiropractor did adjustments and after just a few weeks, I felt dramatic relief. I could stand for more than 20 minutes without lower back pain.

When I came to Las Vegas, we had a chiropractor referred to us in the rehearsal process. As Christine in the show, I have three rough falls onto the floor and I want to make it real, so I fall pretty hard. I'm wearing 2-3-inch heels and clothes draped in front of and behind me, and in the final fall, my costume weighs 25 pounds.

Once, I was thrown down when I wasn't ready and I fell with a straight arm, which hurt my shoulder. I was in physical therapy for three to four months, and still hadn't healed. So I went to a chiropractor, who did intense therapy to stretch and mobilize the area. I had dramatic results in a short amount of time.

Chiropractic maintenance is also important to me. In the show, I carry a heavy wig and a microphone pack. If I project my head forward, the neck muscles can be strained. Having my neck adjusted allows me to do a five-show week without any pain or tension.