When the curtain goes up on The Hot Mikado tomorrow evening, it will be a case of "Play it again, McGann'' for the Jamaican-born professional tenor who sings the role of Pish-Tush.

Although his role in the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society production is new to him, Joseph McGann is no stranger to the original Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta, The Mikado, having sung the role of another character, Nanky-Poo, five times before.

While the plot and lyrics of The Hot Mikado remain unchanged, the original music has been set to a variety of new tempos, including gospel, blues, swing and jazz -- a prospect Mr. McGann initially found unappealing.

"My first impression was, `Oh my God, sacrilege!', but after listening to it and rehearsing it, The Hot Mikado is a fantastic show, for which they have found the right people,'' he explains. "The new version is great because over the years everybody has come to know the original version so well, and also there is not too much interest among the younger people who haven't been exposed to Gilbert & Sullivan.'' As a professional who has travelled the world singing opera, operetta, oratorio, and more with equal facility, Mr. McGann admits that the new score presented him with something of a challenge because the original was so firmly embedded in his mind.

Clearly, however, whatever difficulties he encountered were quickly overcome, since director Derek Corlett -- who "discovered'' this production in Brighton, England -- is quoted as saying, "McGann sings like an angel''.

Born and raised in Jamaica, the tenor is no stranger to show biz, having landed his first professional role at age 14. A graduate of the Jamaica School of Music who also studied with Madame Irene Jessna at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada, Mr. McGann was a member of his country's Operatic Society, Barn Theatre, pantomime association, and more. He also regularly guested a children's radio show, and produced and hosted his own television programme, The Joe McGann show.

Married to the former Ann Tucker of Somerset, Mr. McGann lived in Bermuda in the 1970s, and ironically took part in the first-ever production of the Warwick Academy Players, the forerunners of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

Not long afterwards the couple moved to the United States, where the tenor began his professional career in 1976.

The Hot Mikado Since then, he has performed in all 48 contiguous states of the US, and over 38 countries.

"I have also done three performances for three members of Britain's Royal Family,'' he says proudly.

A loyal supporter at all of his performances, Mrs. Tucker habitually studies the scores, often through tapes in the family car, so that she can derive the maximum benefit from attending.

"In fact, she often knows the scores better than I do!'' Mr. McGann laughs.

Asked what life is like as a professional singer, the tenor -- who also sings in French, German, Italian and Russian -- responds: "It is very taxing because you don't always feel like doing a performance, but you have to anyway. People are there and the tickets are sold. For five years I travelled in a motor home five nights a week.'' Confidence, he says, comes from telling himself, "The reason these people are in the audience is because they can't do it themselves''.

Nonetheless he admits that, knowing some of those present are so well versed in what to expect because "they have heard someone better than you do the same thing'', is "nerve-wracking.'' It is also what makes the adrenalin flow.

"You can't be totally relaxed and do a good performance,'' Mr. McGann says.

"Having a little edge of anxiety is what brings out something special in you.'' Once again resident in Bermuda after 18 years in Florida, Mr. McGann continues to combine his singing career with owning his own business -- in this case, Closet Creations. Already booked for a role in a forthcoming production of the English Pocket Opera Company, he will soon begin rehearsals.

Meanwhile, he is delighted to be a part of The Hot Mikado.

"It uses a lot of local talent, which is good, because there is a lot of it here,'' he says. "The expat talent is a very deep pool from which to draw, so the combination is very good in a small place.'' The Hot Mikado opens at City Hall theatre tomorrow and continues through May 20, with the exception of Sunday, May 14. Available tickets ($30) will be sold at the theatre box office one hour before each performance, which begins at 8 p.m.