By Andrew Gans
24 Jun 2005
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| Lisa Howard stars as Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee |
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| photo by Joan Marcus |
News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.
LISA HOWARD
As I wrote a few weeks ago, if a theatre award for Vocal Discovery of the Season existed, I'd give my vote to Lisa Howard, who plays host Rona Lisa Peretti in the comical, charming and ultimately touching new William Finn musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Circle in the Square Theatre. Howard's voice can be big and belty, though never forced, and her sound is equally lovely in quieter moments. The singing actress has also been handed some of the musical's most melodic offerings, including "My Favorite Moment of the Bee," which repeats throughout the show, as well as "The I Love You Song," a trio for Howard, Celia Keenan-Bolger (as Olive) and Derrick Baskin (as Olive's Dad). Spelling Bee, which recently won two Tony Awards, including one for Best Book of a Musical (Rachel Sheinkin), marks Howard's Broadway debut, although the actress was seen in the national tour of Les Misérables — where she often performed the role of Madame Thenardier — and has also appeared in productions of Crazy for You, Cinderella, Das Barbecü, And the World Goes 'Round and Falsettos. I recently had the chance to chat with Howard, who spoke about her Main Stem bow as well as her modeling career and her upcoming introduction into the world of cabaret. That brief interview follows:
Question: When did you become involved with Spelling Bee?
Lisa Howard: I did the very first workshop at [the] Barrington [Stage Company] two Februarys ago.
Howard: From then to Broadway [Rona] went through a couple different changes. When we were up at Barrington, all of the characters were more caricatures. She was more of a "grande dame" — a little bit more bizarre and out there. Now she's more of a real person. She's just been fleshed out — she has some of the old stuff, but she's definitely somebody people can relate to.
Q: Did your music change much?
Howard: I had a big solo mid-show that was cut, but then "My Favorite Moment" — those three separate small songs that I have — those were added.
Q: What was the song that was cut?
Howard: It was called "I Don't Remember Anything at All." Principal Panch had just blown up, which is now in a different spot in the show. And I [say], "It wasn't like this when I was there." And the kids [ask], "Well, what was it like, Miss Janet, when you won?" My name was Rona Janet then and not Rona Lisa Peretti. "Oh, I don't really remember it" — and then eventually in the song she [says], "You know what, that's a lie. I remember everything, every detail, what dress I wore." Basically, [she says] that that was the best moment of [her] life . . . It was this big moment about her performer glory, which didn't really facilitate the show any further. [Laughs.] Which is why it was cut!
Q: This is your Broadway debut. Is it living up to what your dreams of that would be?
Howard: I think it's even surpassing it. You always think maybe the first show or two that you'll be in on Broadway you'll be in the chorus, probably a show that's [been] long-running. You never really imagine that the first thing you do, you're going to have a starring role in and that [the show] is going to be nominated for Tonys. It far exceeds any expectations I had. I'm like, "Things are going to be a letdown after this!" [Laughs.]
Q: What was it like performing on the Tony Awards telecast?
Howard: Incredible. [Radio City Music Hall] is immense, and I [thought], "Somebody pinch me. Am I really here? Is this really happening?" It was very exciting. We were all like a bunch of kids back there, screaming. Not loud screaming, but that "Aaahhhh!" — so excited before the curtain went up.
Q: Were you ever involved in spelling bees as a child?
Howard: No, actually, none at all. [Laughs.]
Q: You have guest spellers onstage every night at Circle in the Square. Has anything ever gone wrong with one of them?
Howard: Only one time was there a guy who we think had been drinking a little bit too much that night. He got up [onstage], and he started to dance. Then he took the mic out of the [stand], and he kept talking to people in the bleachers. He was the only troublesome one that we've really had. Some people get up there and try to act a little bit, which is a little cheesy, but they're not troublemakers.
Q: How did you handle the guy . . .
Howard: We basically just made sure we gave him a really hard word and got him out as soon as we could! Just tried to get him off the stage — that's all we can do.
Q: You have such a beautiful voice. When did you start singing?
Howard: Thank you. I started taking voice lessons in sixth grade and then half-heartedly did it through junior high, but I performed in all kinds of choirs. And, then finally in 11th grade decided this is really what I wanted to do. Then I went to school for musical theatre, but I started taking voice lessons and singing a lot in fifth, sixth grade.
Q: Were there any singers you particularly admired?
Howard: No, but growing up my mom always listened to Barbra Streisand and The Carpenters, so I was always listening to female singers. I find that some of my stylizations come from them, and I'm not even aware that they do, but I think it's because that's what she listened to when I was growing up.
Q: You also model as well. Tell me about that part of your career.
Howard: It was just something that I thought, "You know, I might as well try it" for some extra money. I do plus-size modeling. Today I'm working at Levi's doing their show room, meaning I wear the jeans and go in front of the clients who are going to be purchasing next fall's look for Levi's. It's great extra money, and I just happen to be the right height and right size. It just kind of works out, [and] it's been a lifesaver.
Q: How long are you contracted with Spelling Bee?
Howard: For a year.
Q: Are you involved in any other projects at the moment?
Howard: Tentatively, I might be doing something called Silence — The Musical in the Fringe Festival this summer, but they're checking on scheduling. I know they've offered it to me, [but] they have to find out if we [can fit the show in] around the Broadway schedule. If it goes well, that's my next little project. And I'm also working on a cabaret show of my own that I'm putting together — [I'm] hopefully either going to do it at Ars Nova or some other venue, like the Duplex, in August.
Q: What type of music will you perform?
Howard: There have been so many people, young composers, people who have kept me working and studying and getting my voice out there over the years. [What I want to do] is pay tribute to them and say these are the people who kept me going — these are the new talents, they're going to be writing the shows. I'm going to do a bunch of new composers [like] Rob Hartmann — he is one of the teachers down at NYU, [and] I've done a lot of his stuff. Of course, I'm going to do some of Bill Finn's songs . . . also, Scott Murphy, who's amazing, [and] Mark Small. A lot of these people have graduated from the graduate musical theatre writing program and some people have gone through [the] BMI [workshop]. A bunch of different people who I have worked with and think are very talented and their work should be showcased. I figured it would be a good way to nudge myself into doing [a show].
Q: Tell me a little bit more about Silence — The Musical.
Howard: [Laughs.] It's a parody. It's a musical version of "The Silence of the Lambs." It's hilarious. I was just dying laughing when I got the sides. I would play Catherine, the girl that gets kidnapped and put down the well. I do hope it happens.
[Lisa Howard currently co-stars in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Circle in the Square Theatre, 50th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. For tickets, call (212) 239-6200.]
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