DIVA TALK: She Said/He Said with Girl Crazy's Becki Newton and Chris Diamantopoulos
By Andrew Gans
November 20, 2009
News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.
BECKI NEWTON and CHRIS DIAMANTOPOULOS
The 2009-2010 City Center Encores! season kicks off Nov. 19-22 with the classic George and Ira Gershwin musical Girl Crazy, the 1930 production that made a star out of a young Ethel Merman. Directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, the 2009 cast boasts Ana Gasteyer, Wayne Knight and Marc Kudisch as well as acting couple Becki Newton and Chris Diamantopoulos, who play, respectively, Molly Gray and Danny Churchill. Newton is best known for her portrayal of receptionist Amanda Tanen on TV's "Ugly Betty," while her husband, who plays Rodney in USA Network's "The Starter Wife," has appeared in productions of Les Miserables, The Full Monty and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We recently posed the same set of questions to both Newton and Diamantopoulos; their answers follow:
How did you meet Chris/Becki?
Becki: Chris and I met on a Tuesday afternoon when we passed each other on the subway platform. I was on my way to a voice lesson. He stopped me and pretended to be lost. I knew he was making it up, but I didn't mind a bit.
Chris: We met walking by each other [during] rush hour, in the subway tunnel at Times Square.
What makes Chris/Becki a great husband/wife?
Becki: All of my single friends tell me they want to find a Chris for themselves. He has a way of making me feel like there is no one on earth who can do what I do, even if it's just making a lasagna.
Chris: All of who Becki is. She's not only a great wife, she's the best person I know.
What makes Chris/Becki a great actor?
Becki: Chris is an incredible actor because he seems to make any character in any genre fit him with equal ease. From stage to screen, the array of characters he has portrayed always astounds me. There is nothing that Chris can't do.
Chris: She's fearless, and she's got great timing.
How did your casting come about for Girl Crazy?
Becki: I have wanted to do a musical since moving to NYC seven years ago. When I heard that Encores! was casting Girl Crazy, I jumped at the chance to audition because Gershwin has always been my favorite music. I worked with vocal and acting coaches for hours, so that I could be as prepared as possible, and so that I could walk into the room and just have fun.
Chris: Becki tricked me, then guilted me into it! She's always loved Broadway shows, and has wanted me to get back to stage for a while now. I miss the theatre, but I've had my hands full with "24" this season. She heard Encores! was casting the leads, and she told me she was going to audition for it, and I told her to go for it. She got us both an audition, and a couple of days before the audition, I found out she had scheduled us. I couldn't say no to her...but more importantly, no one says no to Jerry Zaks!
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| Becki Newton and Chris Diamantopoulos in Girl Crazy |
| photo by Joan Marcus |
Becki: Performing opposite Chris is a dream. He is so confident and solid from all of his experience on stage, which in turn puts me at ease. He is also very easy to fall in love with, so it works great for my character!
Chris: It's so much fun working together. We had always wanted to find a project, and we assumed it would be a TV gig, [but] this is a dream come true. It is challenging though, pretending we don't know each other.
Do you have a favorite moment in the show for your character?
Becki: I love singing "Cactus Time in Arizona." When you listen to it, you don't necessarily think it is a typical love song. But there is something so infectious and happy about it, that even in its quirkiness it makes perfect sense.
Chris: I love singing "Embraceable You."
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| Becki Newton and Chris Diamantopoulos |
Becki: He is the smartest person I've ever met.
Chris: She's incredibly physically strong. She's tiny, but what a powerhouse.
So far, what's your favorite memory/moment of working with Chris/Becki?
Becki: My favorite memory is when Jay Binder ran up to us after our final dance audition and said, "We would love for you two to play these parts!" I have always imagined what it would be like to be offered a part on stage. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would happen alongside my husband.
Chris: Listening to her really sing for the first time. I was just blown away.
Do you have any other theatre projects in the works?
Becki: Michael Urie and I are currently working on a show that will open at Feinstein's in February of 2010. It's about two kooky supporting characters who desperately want to be on Broadway, but go about it all the wrong way. We're really excited about it.
Chris: Not yet, but I understand they are doing an adaptation of "Robin and the Seven Hoods." The '60s is my favorite era, and I am a Sinatra fanatic. I grew up listening to all his music and watching all his films. I would love to sing those great Van Heusen tunes.
[Tickets for Girl Crazy are available by visiting the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues), by calling (212) 581-1212 or by going to www.nycitycenter.org.]
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.