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DIVA TALK: Chatting with Tony Winner Harriet Harris Plus Vintage Minnelli and Bassey
By Andrew Gans
10 Feb 2006
Q: How do you find living in L.A. as compared to living on the East Coast?
Harris: It's completely different, but I really do miss both places. If I'm in New York, I miss being here, and there's so many things I miss about New York when I'm out here. But I'm very happy whether in New York or here.
Q: You're also going to play Vera in the Kennedy Center's production of Mame — another great part.
Harris: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. It's such an adventure and to be doing something completely different than you thought you'd be doing.
Q: How did that role come about?
Harris: Well, it was not an audition because I think people would be so non-plused. It was an offer, and I thought it would be an awful lot of fun. I can't wait to see what Christine does. I don't know her well, but I certainly know her work well, and I'm looking forward to working with her. I think that will be a blast.
[Never Gonna Dance will play The Richard and Karen Performing Arts Center, which is located at 6200 Atherton Street in Long Beach, CA, Feb. 18-March 5. Tickets, priced $25-$50, are available by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4 or by visiting www.musical.org.]
FOR THE RECORD
Shirley Bassey Live at Carnegie Hall
Fans of big, brassy belting can probably do no better than Shirley Bassey, the Wales-born singer-actress probably best known in the United States for her recordings of three James Bond themes: "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker." Bassey, who launched her career at age 14 in the tour of Memories of Al Jolson and later appeared in the West End revue Such Is Life, has tremendous fan bases on both sides of the Atlantic. And, in 1973 she gave a legendary performance at Carnegie Hall, which has now been reissued on CD by DRG Records, as part of The Broadway Collector Series.
The single CD, simply titled "Shirley Bassey Live at Carnegie Hall," also features Woody Herman and the Young Thundering Herd and gets off to a rousing start with Bassey's no-holds-barred rendition of "Goldfinger." Just listen to the way she tears through the song, ending on a fabulously high note on "only goooollllllld!" The 18 tracks that follow are a mix of theatre tunes, pop songs and standards, and Bassey is in wonderful, thrilling voice throughout.
Highlights of the recording include the Sweet Charity ballad "Where Am I Going?," a devilishly fast "Johnny One Note," a stentorian version of Leiber and Stoller's "I (Who Have Nothing)," the aforementioned 007 theme song "Diamonds Are Forever," the little-heard Leslie Bricusse charmer "You and I" and the Oscar-winning song from "Lovers and Other Strangers," "For All We Know."
Liza with a 'Z'
On March 7, just three weeks prior to its airing on the Showtime cable network, a CD of "Liza with a 'Z'"—the soundtrack to the acclaimed TV special originally broadcast on NBC on Sept. 10, 1972—will arrive in stores. The Columbia/Legacy recording features 11 tracks, a mix of Minnelli classics and a few the award-winning performer has rarely performed.
Highlights of the single CD, which boasts a young, vibrant Minnelli in terrific voice, include the infectious, upbeat opening number, John Kander and Fred Ebb’s “Yes”; a definitive version of Kander and Ebb’s story song "Ring Them Bells," which tells the humorous tale of Shirley Devore, who traveled around the world "to meet the guy next door"; a surprisingly effective rendition of the Dusty Springfield hit, “Son of a Preacher Man”; a jazz-flavored “Bye Bye Blackbird”; a Peter Matz arrangement of “My Mammy” that builds to an exciting, belty climax; and a wonderful Cabaret medley that features Minnelli’s takes on “Wilkommen,” “Married,” “Money, Money,” “Maybe This Time” and the title tune.
Liza lovers should note that Showtime will air the fully restored and digitally remastered version of Liza Minnelli's iconic 1972 concert, "Liza with a 'Z'," April 1. The concert, which was taped live at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre, won a Peabody Award along with four Emmys: Best Performance for Minnelli, Best Direction and Best Choreography for Bob Fosse, and Best Music, Lyrics and Special Material for Kander and Ebb.
DIVA TIDBITS
Tony Award winner Betty Buckley and famed jazz musician Kenny Werner will celebrate their 17 years of musical collaboration this month. An Evening with Betty Buckley and Kenny Werner, which will draw upon the repertoire the acclaimed duo has performed over the past two decades, will be presented in both Boston and Los Angeles. Concertgoers can expect to hear several tunes from Buckley’s critically hailed Smoke program as well as tunes from earlier collections. A one-night engagement at Boston’s Regatta Bar & Grill in the famed Charles Hotel is scheduled for Feb. 11; show times are 7:30 and 10:30 PM. Following the Boston performance, Buckley and Werner will head to L.A. where they will perform Feb. 15-19 at the Catalina Bar & Grill. Show times are 8:30 and 10: 30 PM. The Regatta Bar & Grill is located within the Charles Hotel at One Bennett Street in Cambridge, MA. For reservations call (617) 395-7757. Visit www.regattabarjazz.com for more information. The Catalina Bar & Grill is located at 6725 West Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. Call (323) 466-2210 for reservations or visit www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Broadway favorite Andrea McArdle will perform a solo concert at Birdland Feb. 14. The Valentine's Day concert is scheduled for 7 PM and will feature McArdle's renditions of "Losing My Mind," "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," "Native New Yorker" and the Annie charmer, "N.Y.C." McArdle will be accompanied on piano by musical director Ben Toth. Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street. There is a $40 cover and $10 food-drink minimum. Call (212) 581-3080 for reservations or visit www.InstantSeats.com/Birdland.
The 11th Annual Nothing Like a Dame concert — the annual fundraiser benefiting The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative of The Actors’ Fund of America — is set for March 6. Presented by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the 11th annual Nothing Like a Dame concert will be held at the Imperial Theatre; show time is 8 PM. Those participating in the event will be announced shortly. Tickets for Nothing Like a Dame are priced $50-$5,000 and are available by calling (212) 840-0770 or by visiting www.broadwaycares.org.
Want to spend New Year's Eve with four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald? Fans of the celebrated singing actress can do so when McDonald offers a concert Dec. 31, 2006, with the New York Philharmonic. Ted Sperling, who won a Tony Award for his orchestrations for Adam Guettel's Light in the Piazza score, will conduct the acclaimed orchestra. Show time is 8 PM. Avery Fisher Hall is located at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza. For more information visit www.nyphil.org.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
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