By Andrew Gans
23 Nov 2007

Question: It's probably hard to pick, but do you have a favorite track or one that means the most to you?
Burns: I think they all represent such different parts of me. It's really hard for me to pick to be honest. They're all sort of tributes to different parts of my life. One thing that I am proud of and that I love is that there are three songs by three New York composers. John Bucchino's "Love Quiz" is on here, Steve Marzullo's gorgeous song "Some Days," and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote In the Heights, has a song on there called "BTW, Write Back," which is terrific and hilarious. That was really important to me, too. I wanted to make sure that all of these new writers that are here that don't often get a forum [were represented]… Luckily, these three guys are doing pretty well, but it's so hard to get a show produced these days, to get people to hear your music, that I was really happy to have some original stuff on there, too.

	Andréa Burns in the Off-Broadway production of In the Heights
	photo by Joan Marcus

Question: You mentioned In the Heights before. Will you be part of the Broadway company?
Burns: Yes, I will.

Question: What was the experience like Off-Broadway?
Burns: Fantastic. I've been lucky enough to have a career where I have pretty much a fantastic experience with every show, but every once in awhile there's the one that you can never forget. I had that experience with Songs for a New World. I'm still extremely close with everybody who was part of that process. They are like a family to me, and this is the way I feel about In the Heights. We all became incredibly close, some of us from previous workshops right through the Off-Broadway run. I think we're all extremely proud, not only to be a part of theatre that we all just think is excellent and powerful, but we're all Latins in the cast. It's the first time I've ever been part of anything that is a show about Latins written by Latins. It's a very authentic telling of the experience, and when we get together we really celebrate our heritage. It's so fun to be in a rehearsal room and be working on stuff, and someone will say, "I can't believe you did that — you reminded me of my aunt when you did that!" or, "Oh, that's just like my grandmother," when the grandmother [character] is doing her stuff. It's a very deeply connected group, and it's just been a joy.

Question: Do you know when you start rehearsals for [the Broadway production]?
Burns: Yes, Jan. 14.

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	Andréa Burns

Question: When did you start performing?
Burns: I was in fourth grade and did a production of Really Rosie, [laughs] which begins the whole seventies connection because Carole King [wrote the score]. So right there is where the two things sort of got tied together.

Question: Who were the singers or performers growing up that you particularly admired?
Burns: In both realms, I loved Carole King [and] Joni Mitchell, but also I was a huge Broadway fan from a very young age. Liz Callaway was a huge influence. Of course, I always loved Bernadette Peters. Who doesn't? And, later, when I came to New York, I was really taken by Nancy LaMott. I just thought she had an incredible way with a lyric and finding her own truth in a song. I just always was a huge admirer of hers as well.

Question: When did you know that [performing] would be your career?
Burns: I knew at a very young age. I was one of those kids. It's like the cool thing now to say, "I wasn't even doing theatre, and then suddenly I found myself on Broadway!" [Laughs.] I am so not that kid! My dad always loved movie musicals and was showing them to me at a very young age. As soon as I found out I could sing, which was early, I said, "I really just want to do this." I wasn't professional or anything like that until I went away to college at the Boston Conservatory and then promptly left. I had transferred to go to NYU, really just because I wanted to be in New York. I couldn't get here fast enough. And while I was at NYU, on a lark I went to an audition for the European company of West Side Story, really just thinking to be a Shark dancer and understudy the role of Maria. I thought, "This would just be a fun audition to go to." I did West Side Story in high school, and I just wanted to be in on a real New York audition. And before I knew it, the phone rang and I had gotten that job. It was just an amazing thing. I remember thinking, "I don't know if I should leave school," and I remember turning on the television and the balcony scene from West Side Story was on because Leonard Bernstein had died that weekend. I said, "Oh my God, I don't know. It's a sign. I'm going!" So I went, and I have not looked back.

Question: What year was that?
Burns: That was 1990.

Question: How has it been combining being a mom with working in this business?
Burns: It's hard, I won't lie to you. [Laughs.] It's not easy, but it's the same kind of thing as being in the theatre. You do it because you love it. You're a parent because you love it, and you do the theatre because you love it, and you take all the hard things that come along with it as part of the whole package. There's definitely been times when I've shown up to rehearsals on no sleep or no voice or with pureed vegetable in my hair! The tradeoff is my son Hudson, who is going to be four in December, has this incredible life. He's surrounded by all these adults who sing and tell stories. He's met so many wonderful people. It's just an amazing thing. I think it is hard, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I wouldn't trade one for the other, ever.

Question: And what does he think of his mom's singing and performing?
Burns: I don't think he thinks there's anyone who doesn't sing and perform. [Laughs.] Everybody in his life has an amazing voice. Julia Murney was over here for dinner the other day. Sometimes when I want to introduce him to someone who's coming over who he hasn't met before — because he loves music and appreciates singing so much — I'll say, "Wait, I'm gonna play you a recording of them singing." And then he gets really excited when they walk in the room. So by the time Julia was sitting at our dinner table, he was literally singing "Raise the Roof." [Laughs.]

(The Ritz plays Studio 54, 254 West 54th Streets; for tickets, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org or call (212) 719-1300. To purchase "A Deeper Shade of Red," visit www.psclassics.com.)

DIVA TIDBITS
Liz Callaway will host Bound for Broadway VIII, part of the Kaufman Center's Broadway Close Up series. The concert, which offers a sneak peek at five Broadway-bound musicals, will be held at The TimesCenter Dec. 3 at 8 PM; Sean Hartley directs. Those scheduled to lend their voices to the evening include Mary Testa, Chip Zien, Kelli O'Hara, Jan Maxwell, Lisa Howard, Erin Dilly, Colin Hanlon, Sarah Stiles, Tracey Gilbert, Laura Daniel and Carmel Dean. The featured shows will include Ever After (music by Zina Goldrich, lyrics by Marcy Heisler); Vanities (book by Jack Heifner, music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum); The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun (music and lyrics by Andy Monroe; book and additional lyrics by Blair Fell); The Road to Qatar! (music by David Krane, book and lyrics by Stephen Cole); and Next Thing You Know (music by Joshua Salzman, lyrics by Ryan Cunningham). The TimesCenter is located within the New York Times building at 242 West 41st Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. For tickets call (212) 501-3330 or visit www.merkinconcerthall.org.

When Gay Marshall, who was recently seen in the York Theatre Company's production of The Baker's Wife, returns to the Zipper Factory, she will do so with an all-new concert. Marshall, the acclaimed singing actress who starred at the Zipper in the revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, has titled her new show Are You Havin' Any Fun? Marshall told me earlier this week that she will be singing that tune as well as "Calling You" (from the film "Bagdad Café"), "Sons Of" and "The Dove" (from Jacques Brel), "La Foule" and "Milord" (Piaf) plus Tom Lehrer's "A Christmas Carol," David Friedman's "My Simple Christmas Wish," "Nobody Knows You," "There But for Fortune" and A Chorus Line's "What I Did for Love." "Plus, I'm doing a new monologue of the queen of the Jet Set and my French and New York sales ladies," Marshall said. Marshall will play the Zipper Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Show time each night is 7:30 PM. She will be backed by Mark Hartman on piano, Steve Gilewski on bass and Michael Croiter on drums. The Zipper Factory is located in Manhattan at 336 West 37th Street. For tickets, priced $25 (in advance) and $30 (at the door), call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.thezipperfactory.com.

Twenty-one Rodgers and Hart songs are featured on "Andrea Marcovicci Sings Rodgers & Hart," the latest solo recording from the acclaimed cabaret singer. The single CD, which features the rarely heard "What's the Use," is currently available for sale by visiting cdbaby.com and is also for sale nightly at the Algonquin's Oak Room, where Marcovicci is performing the songs of Rodgers and Hart through Jan. 12, 2008. "Andrea Marcovicci Sings Rodgers & Hart" (Andreasong label) features arrangements by musical director/pianist Shelly Markham. Marcovicci is also backed by Kevin Axt on bass. Song titles include such R&H standards as "My Funny Valentine," "Thou Swell" and "My Heart Stood Still" as well as rarities like "Jupiter Forbid," "If I Were You" and "Can't You Do a Friend a Favor?" The recording was produced by Markham and Lesley Alexander.

Additional casting has been announced for the City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, which will be presented at the famed Manhattan venue May 8-12, 2008. Directed by former Encores! artistic director Walter Bobbie, Nanette will feature the previously announced Rosie O'Donnell as Pauline and Tony winner Beth Leavel as Lucille Early. Joining the duo onstage will be Sandy Duncan as Sue Smith, Fred Willard as Jimmy Smith, Shonn Wiley as Tom and Mara Davi as Nanette. Randy Skinner will choreograph the production with musical direction by Rob Fisher. This mounting of Nanette will utilize the 1971 version of the musical. That production featured a book adapted by Burt Shevelove with the original Vincent Youmans (music) and Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach (lyrics) score. The show features such tunes as "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy." Show times are May 8 at 8 PM, May 9 at 8 PM, May 10 at 2 and 8 PM, May 11 at 6:30 PM and a gala performance May 12 at 7 PM. City Center is located in Manhattan at West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Tickets are available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org.

Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.

Andréa Burns, Robin de Jesús Christopher Jackson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Karen Olivo and Janet Dacal in In the Heights.

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