Last year Polly Bergen was praised for providing one of the most thrilling moments in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies when she belted out a passionate version of the survival anthem "I'm Still Here."
Although her stage time was brief, Bergen garnered a Tony nomination for her performance as the aging star Carlotta Campion in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production. Now, Bergen will join the company of another Roundabout production on March 28 when she becomes Fraulein Schneider in the Tony Award winning production of Cabaret at Studio 54.
The role of Fraulein Schneider was originated in the current revival of the Kander and Ebb classic by Mary Louise Wilson, who was nominated for a Tony for her work. Carole (The Elephant Man, The Odd Couple) Shelley, who has been playing the part for the past few years, will leave the role this month, and Bergen is scheduled to begin playing the world weary Schneider March 25 for a limited engagement through June 23. The role of the older apartment owner who finds unexpected love with a Jewish shop owner just as the Nazi party begins to consume Germany will give Bergen a chance to wrap her powerful contralto around one of the musical's memorable songs, "So What." She will also solo on "What Would You Do?" and duet with Larry Keith's Herr Schultz on "Married" and the comedically sweet love song, "The Pineapple Song."
Discovered as a teenager by film producer Hal Wallis, Polly Bergen has accumulated over 300 film and TV credits. She won an Emmy Award for her acclaimed portrayal of Helen Morgan in TV's "The Helen Morgan Story" and received Emmy nominations for her work in two miniseries, "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance." Bergen hosted her own variety show, "The Polly Bergen Show," and her signature sign-off tune, "The Party's Over" made the Jule Styne song a classic. Some of the actress' many film credits include Cape Fear, Move Over Darling, Kisses for My President, Making Mr. Right, Cry Baby and A Guide for the Married Man. Bergen, who is also a political activist and a humanitarian, is the author of three-best selling books.
The Roundabout Theatre Company's Cabaret opened on Broadway on March 19, 1998, in a production directed by Sam Mendes with co-direction and choreography by Rob Marshall. The current cast includes Molly Ringwald as Sally Bowles and Raul Esparza as the Emcee. Jane Leeves joins the company as Sally Bowles April 29. Tickets may be purchased at the Studio 54 box office, 254 West 54th Street, or through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200.
