Bermudian Rebecca Faulkenberry will "belt out" a Journey tune on Jay Leno Monday night.

Miss Faulkenberry, 24, secured the lead role in "Rock of Ages" earlier this year, starring opposite American Idol winner Constantine Maroulis. The musical, which won five Tony Awards while on Broadway, launched its 24-city US Tour last week in Chicago.

And so far the reviews are great; the Chicago Daily Herald called her "vivacious" while Chicago Pride called her "winning". Her co star in the 1980s hair metal band inspired musical, Mr. Maroulis, was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Drew, whose love interest Miss Faulkenberry plays.

On Monday the two will sing "Don't Stop Believing" on the US late night Jay Leno Show, which currently has 3.8 million viewers.

She has been practising non-stop with the cast since early August and the duo were offered a spot on Jay Leno two weeks ago, but kept it quiet until Wednesday.

"We finish a show on Sunday in Chicago and go straight to the airport," she said. "We are flying to Los Angeles and have to be at the studio for 10 a.m. for sound checks and rehearsals.

"As soon as we are done with Leno we have to get on a flight to Boston, where shows start October 6.

"The past few weeks have been very fast paced, very demanding but it has opened so many doors and I have met so many people.

"It's nerve-wracking to do the Leno show, but it's also great" she said. "When I did a show at the Royal Court Theatre in the UK, people in the theatre business knew that was a big deal but most people had not heard of it.

"When someone goes on TV, people immediately recognise what they are doing." Miss Faulkenberry said one of the best parts about "Rock of Ages" is that she can really belt out the tunes.

She described her voice as "rumbly". In other shows she has been asked to tone it down and make it sweeter, but not this show.

"It's rock, so we can really go for it," she said. "It has been great working with Constantine because he just has this amazing voice where he can sing like that forever. I have had to be more careful, I can belt it for one night but I also need to make sure I can perform that way throughout the year."

Miss Faulkenberry has regular vocal therapy sessions and last week, after a slight case of laryngitis, she did not speak unless she was on the stage.

"There definitely have been sacrifices and hard work to get where I am, but then I just think about the fact that I am getting paid to do what I love — sing and act everyday," she said.

And Miss Faulkenberry proudly flies Bermuda's flag wherever she goes.

Her biography in the "Rock of Ages" playbill starts off "this Bermuda native".

In addition to her family and friends Miss Faulkenberry misses going for runs on Harbour Road and boating in Bermuda.

"I miss Dark-n-Stormies too," she said. "I can't drink caffeine or alcohol during a show as it could hurt my voice, I will definitely be having a Dark-n-Stormy when I come home for Christmas."

Christmas will be the only two-week break she will receive in the next several months. The last show is scheduled for June 26, 2011 in Denver.

It is not the first time Miss Faulkenberry has graced the international stage.

In 2008 she took part in Atlanta's Theatre of the Stars smash hit, 'Disney's High School Musical II', as antagonist Sharpay Evans.

She also performed in the earlier 'Disney's High School Musical' at London's Hammersmith Apollo Theatre and has been on a TV show on the BBC in the UK.

Her mother, Mary Faulkenberry, who is the Round Square Coordinator at the Bermuda High School where Rebecca was a student, said the whole family is proud of her.

Mrs. Faulkenberry said Rebecca showed her determination to succeed early on when she auditioned for the local Gilbert & Sullivan production of Annie, despite being two years younger than her competitors.

The seven-year-old won the role of Molly, the youngest orphan and her first theatrical review mention.

The Royal Gazette reviewer wrote in 1992: "she looked as though she was born singing and dancing."

A structured home environment also helped her learn discipline she would later need, Mrs. Faulkenberry said.

"She had very strict rules to adhere to. She was allowed one big show a year outside of school plus school shows and activities; she fit in ballet, jazz, tap and voice lessons, a few vocal and dance competitions and the St. John's Choir," she said.

"She was not allowed TV during the week; she had to keep her grades up and find time to do her homework.

"She learnt very early how to organise her life so that she could do everything she wanted to do. I guess my point is that not only is she passionate about the theatre but she has worked very, very hard to realise her dream."

The Jay Leno Show airs at 11 p.m. local time on NBC.