By Andrew Gans
01 Aug 2008

	Beth Leavel with The Drowsy Chaperone co-star John Glover
	photo by Joan Marcus

Question: What are your thoughts looking back on Drowsy Chaperone? Do you miss playing Drowsy?
Leavel: Yes. I know it was time to move on, but boy does she hold a huge chunk of my heart. People stop me all the time and talk about that show and the role. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments that I hope happens again, but until then I'm so grateful for Drowsy.

Question: I saw it four or five times, and each time I liked it more and more.
Leavel: I think the more time passes, the more people are going to see what a real treasure it was. I just can't wait to see the first high school production of Drowsy Chaperone! Come on! I can't wait. That's going to be fantastic.

Question: Do you have any other projects in the works?
Leavel: I do. I haven't signed a contract, but it looks like I'm going to be going back to Los Angeles, to the Ahmanson, to do The Night They Raided Minsky's — directed by Casey Nicholaw, written by Bob Martin, with music by Charles Strouse and Susan Birkenhead.

Question: What part will you be playing in that?
Leavel: I'm going to be playing Mazzie. She's the jaded dance director at the burlesque house.

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Question: How long will you be in Young Frankenstein?
Leavel: I'm hoping to make it through the beginning of the year. That would be great. I will stay with it until they kick me out or I have another Broadway show.

[Young Frankenstein plays the Hilton Theatre, 42nd Street at Seventh Avenue; call (212) 307-4100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com for more information.]

DIVA TIDBITS
Judy Kuhn, who was most recently on Broadway as Fantine in the revival of Les Misérables, will return to Joe's Pub in October. Kuhn will reprise her Laura Nyro tribute, Serious Playground - The Songs of Laura Nyro, for Joe's Pub audiences Oct. 6 and 7. Show time each night is 7:30 PM. Joe's Pub is located within the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. Tickets, priced at $30, are available by calling (212) 967-7555 or by visiting the Joe's Pub box office. For more information visit www.joespub.com.

Tony Award winner Barbara Cook was in the recording studio July 30 to lay down the vocals for her latest DRG release. Entitled "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder," the DRG recording is scheduled to arrive in stores Nov. 6. Grammy winner Hugh Fordin — president of DRG Records Incorporated — is producing "Rainbow," which features arrangements by Lee Musiker, who also conducts the band. The song list includes "Cookin Breakfast for the One I Love," "For All We Know," "Hallelujah, I Love Him So," "Harbour," "He Loves and She Loves," "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"/"I Wish I Could Forget You," "I'm Through with Love"/"Smile," "If I Ever Say I'm Over You," "Lost in the Stars"/"No More," "Love Is Good for Anything That Ails You," "Old Devil Moon," "Sooner or Later," "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder," "Where or When," and "Lucky to Be Me." For more information visit www.drgrecords.com.

	Ute Lemper
	photo by Aubrey Reuben

Actress-singer Ute Lemper, seen on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago, will release her latest solo recording in the fall. Entitled "Ute Lemper: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow," the new CD features songs penned by the award-winning actress. For her latest recording, Lemper, press notes state, "attempted to translate the complex, troubled and beautiful world that she lives in, into a poetic and musical experience, which combines elements of various genres and cultures of music. . . It is a poetic and philosophical journey through the world and her life. The songs were inspired by events that stayed in Lemper's mind and intrigued, fascinated, shocked or hurt her." In a statement Lemper said, "The songs on the album form an epic journey. 'Ghosts of Berlin' is a song that walks through cinematic and political territories, focuses on my memories of Berlin, contrasted with the Berlin of today. It depicts the city during the cold war as the little scarred island in the middle of the East Block: Berlin with a wall separating East from West." Other song titles include "Nevada," "Nomad," "September Mourn," "The Greatest Ride," "Stranger Friend," "Wings of Desire," "Here Is Love," "Luna" and "Blood and Feathers." Lemper's upcoming New York appearances include Aug. 26 at Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport; Oct. 4 in Seven Deadly Sins with the Toronto Symphony at Carnegie Hall; and Nov. 14, 15, 22, 28 and 29 at Joe's Pub. "Ute Lemper: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow" will be available on iTunes and at amazon.com. For more information visit www.utelemper.com.

Leslie Kritzer, most recently seen on Broadway in the Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical A Catered Affair, will go it solo at Splash Bar Aug. 11. As part of Scott Nevins' Curtain Call series at the popular dance club, Kritzer will perform a full set of theatre tunes following the weekly "Musical Mondays" video presentations of Broadway performances. Kritzer's concert is scheduled for 11:30 PM. Splash Bar is located in Manhattan at 50 W. 17th Street. Admission is free until 10 PM; there is a $5 charge after that time. Attendees must be 21 or older with identification.

Next week: A chat with original Spring Awakening star Lea Michele, who is currently in rehearsals for Les Misérables in Concert, which will be presented at the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 8-10. Michele is scheduled to make her West Coast cabaret debut, also under the direction of Richard Jay-Alexander, Aug. 15 and 16 at the Upright Cabaret in Mark's Restaurant.

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

Lea Michele and Tony winner John Lloyd Young in rehearsals for Les Misérables in Concert.

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