The star of stage and screen nods to fellow stage stars Cyndi Lauper and Kiki & Herb, choosing their singles "Shine" and "Running Up That Hill," respectively. "To say that Cyndi Lauper is a rock star is an understatement," says the actor. "She played Pirate Jenny to my Mack the Knife on Broadway a couple years ago and once in my dressing room I had her singing this song in real life in one ear and it playing on my iPod in the other. Those are the moments in my life when I feel so lucky."

Cumming, who won his Tony as the Emcee in the Broadway revival of Cabaret, last starred on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera. The Scottish thespian has also appeared on stage in Design for Living and in his theatre company Art Party's inaugural production, Elle. His film credits include "Circle of Friends," "Plunkett & Macleane," "Titus," "Nicholas Nickleby" and "The Anniversary Party" — which he wrote and directed with Jennifer Jason Leigh. Other credits include television's "Annie," "God, The Devil and Bob," "The Goodbye Girl" and the TV movie version of the musical Reefer Madness.

Classic Stage Company presents the production Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Viacheslav Dolgachev. Previews began Feb. 20 toward a March 13 opening. The run plays to April 13.

Cumming is joined onstage by Dianne Wiest, Kelli Garner, Ryan O'Nan, Annette O'Toole, David Rasche, John Christopher Jones, Bill Christ, Ryan Homchick, Greg Keller and Marjan Neshat.