By Andrew Gans
21 Nov 2008

Question: You've performed all around the world, on the silver screen and on TV. Do you have a preference for being in front of a live audience?
Minnelli: Are you kidding me? New York! Broadway! It's what I always wanted, it's what I always will want, and it thrills me to pieces to be there again.

Question: Looking back on your Broadway experiences, do you have a favorite production? A favorite memory? What stands out in your mind about your Broadway career?
Minnelli: Well, I won three Tonys, but it's always been so different. It's been so interesting. The projects have been so completely different. I think that's what keeps me curious. How do you do it differently? What can you do this time? What interests you as your interests change, as you grow?

Question: How do you prepare for a show? What are some of your pre-show rituals before you go on stage?
Minnelli: Put on my own makeup, do my own hair, put my clothes on, and go out there! [Laughs.]

	Promotional art for Liza's at the Palace...

Question: This is just a limited engagement, right?
Minnelli: Well, it was two weeks. They've extended it to four. I don't know what they're gonna extend it to.

Question: Will you take it to other cities after this?
Minnelli: We're in Italy right now. I'm calling you from Milan. Talk about out of town. . .

Question: Are you performing there now?
Minnelli: Yes, I am.

Question: Is it the Broadway show that you're doing?
Minnelli: Not exactly. It's not exactly the show. Parts of the show won't be ready until the night I open on Broadway. . . . Listen, I gotta get back to rehearsal or they're gonna kill me!

Question: Okay, one last question. When people hear the name "Liza Minnelli," what would you like them to think?
Minnelli: Oh, I don't know, that's not my answer! That's gotta be yours! [Laughs.]

Question: Thanks for taking the time to talk.
Minnelli: Thank you, honey.

[The Palace Theatre is located at Broadway and 47th Street. Tickets, priced $25-$125, are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or (800) 755-4000. For more information visit www.lizasatthepalace.com.]

DIVA TIDBITS
Casting has been announced for the Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre's upcoming production of Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, which will kick off the Mark Taper Forum's 2009 season. Directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, the production will play the CTG/Mark Taper Forum Jan. 15-March 15, 2009. The production will boast both deaf and hearing actors, who will sign and sing. Michael Arden (Big River, The Times They Are A-Changin'), a hearing actor, and Tyrone Giordano (Big River), a deaf actor, will both play the title role at each performance. They will be joined onstage by Ty Taylor as The Leading Player, Troy Kotsur as Charles, Sara Gettelfinger as Fastrada, Tony winner Harriet Harris as Berthe, Melissa van der Schyff as Catherine, James Royce Edwards as Lewis and Dan Callaway as the Voice of Charles. Nicolas Conway and José F. Lopez Jr. will rotate in the role of Theo. The ensemble will comprise Jonah Blechman, Rodrick Covington, TL Forsberg, Rebecca Ann Johnson, John McGinty, Anthony Natale, Aleks Pevec, Victoria Platt, Nikki Tomlinson and Alexandria Wailes. Tickets, which begin at $20, are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or by visiting www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. For the deaf community, call TDD (213) 680-4017 for tickets and information.

To help celebrate Scott Alan's new recording, "Keys: The Music of Scott Alan," which is now available on iTunes and CDBaby.com, a host of theatre favorites will join the composer-lyricist for a performance and CD signing Dec. 1 at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble (1972 Broadway at 66th Street). Currently scheduled for the 7:30 PM event are Shoshana Bean, Lisa Brescia, Tituss Burgess, Danny Calvert, Jackie Hoffman, Marcus Paul James, Carly Jibson, Julia Murney, Katie Thompson and Natalie Weiss. On Jan. 12, 2009, Alan will perform songs from his latest CD at the famed jazz club Birdland. Guest artists for the 7 PM concert will be announced at a later date. For reservations call (212) 581-3080.

The list of stars who will be part of Rosie O'Donnell's upcoming television variety show, "Rosie Live," continues to grow. Currently announced for the NBC variety special, which will air Nov. 26 at 8 PM ET live from New York's Little Shubert Theatre, are Alec Baldwin, Liza Minnelli, Ne-Yo, Alanis Morissette, Kathy Griffin and Jane Krakowski.

	Shoshana Bean
	photo by Tye Jakobs

Shoshana Bean, one of Broadway's acclaimed Elphabas in the hit musical Wicked, will go it solo at the Stonewall Inn Nov. 26. The free 10 PM concert will celebrate the release of Bean's new solo recording, "Superhero." Scott Nevins will host the evening, which will also feature contestants from "Stonewall Sensation," the Wednesday-night talent competition at Stonewall. Stonewall Inn is located in Manhattan at 53 Christopher Street. There is no cover charge or minimum for the concert.

Three-time Laurence Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman will sing the work of British composers and lyricists at London's Shaw Theatre in February 2009. Maria Friedman Celebrates the Great British Songbook is the title of the Feb. 5-7 evenings; show time each night is 8 PM. Concertgoers can expect to enjoy the work of songwriters Noel Coward, Lionel Bart, Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse, John Barry, Don Black, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Kate Bush. Neil Marcus devised the show, which features direction by Bill Deamer and musical direction by Jason Carr. The Shaw Theatre is located at 100-110 Euston Road in London. For tickets call 0871 594 3123 or visit www.theshawtheatre.com.

Tony-nominated singer-actress Ann Hampton Callaway will release her latest solo recording, "At Last," Feb. 3, 2009, on the Telarc Jazz label. The new recording, according to press notes, "is a mix of jazz standards, versatile pop songs and a couple original tunes, each woven together to create a narrative that is perhaps as cinematic as it is musical." In a statement Callaway said, "I always think of CDs like movies. You wouldn't download one scene from a movie. You want the whole thing, the whole story. An album shouldn't be just a bunch of songs in a sequence that's front-loaded with hits. It's really about creating an emotional journey that starts in one place and ends in a place that's very different." The complete track listing for "At Last" follows: "What Is This Thing Called Love?" - Cole Porter; "Comes Love" - Lew Brown, Sammy Sept, Charles Tobias; "Carey" - Joni Mitchell; "At Last" - Mack Gordon, Harry Warren; "Spain" - Arte Maren, Al Jarreau, Joaquin Rodrigo, Chick Corea; "Lazy Afternoon" - Jerome Moross, John Latouche; "Landslide" - Stevie Nicks; "Save a Place for Me" - Ann Hampton Callaway; "Over the Rainbow - Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen; "Finding Beauty" - Ann Hampton Callaway; and "On My Way to You" - Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand.

Two two-time Tony Award winners, Christine Ebersole and Donna Murphy, will join forces to host the Drama League's annual all-star gala, A Musical Celebration of Broadway. The Feb. 2, 2009, benefit will be held at New York's famed Rainbow Room and will honor producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley as well as the 25th anniversary of The Drama League Directors Project. The evening will feature performances that highlight the careers of Lane and Comley, as well as past Broadway productions helmed by alumni of The Drama League Directors Project. Johanna McKeon and Roger Danforth will direct A Musical Celebration of Broadway, which will feature choreography by Tony winner Cady Huffman and musical direction by David Krane. Stephen Cole will pen the salute. Tickets, priced $900-$2,500, are available by calling Roger Calderon at (212) 244-9494, ext. 5. For more information visit www.dramaleague.org.

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

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