Podcast appearances and mentions of dorothy brock

The luminous Kate Baldwin joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul this Women's History Month to discuss acts of kindness throughout her career on Broadway, Maestra Music and more. Kate Baldwin is a two-time Tony Award and four-time Drama Desk Award nominee who has delighted audiences across the country with performances on Broadway, in concert and on television. Kate starred as Irene Molloy opposite Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce and Gavin Creel in the hit Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, for which she was nominated for the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. She originated the role of Sandra Bloom in Big Fish on Broadway and earned accolades and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her work as Leslie Lynnton Benedict in Michael John LaChiusa's Giant at The Public Theatre. She received a Drama Desk Award nomination for her role as Jen in Keen Company's 20th Anniversary revival of Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald's John & Jen. She garnered critical acclaim and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Tom Kitt and John Logan's Superhero at Second Stage. But it was her starring role in the 2009 Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow, which drew Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and put her on the map as “a real musical theatre star.” (New York Post) Kate has appeared in the Broadway casts of The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. Other New York theatre productions include Songbird at 59e59 and in The Dead, 1904 for Irish Rep, Fiorello! and Love Life for City Center Encores! She starred in The King and I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Irving Berlin's White Christmas (San Francisco, Detroit, Toronto), The Women at The Old Globe, Henry V at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, She Loves Me at the Willliamstown Theatre Festival, and The Music Man and South Pacific at Arena Stage, earning a Helen Hayes Award nomination. She drew raves for her portrayal of Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County directed by original cast member Hunter Foster and for her turn as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at Goodspeed Opera House directed by original creator Randy Skinner. She has performed in concert with the American Pops Orchestra, New York Pops, Boston Pops, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Portland Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Chicago Symphony, American Songbook series at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and at the legendary New York nightclubs Feinstein's, Birdland and 54 Below. Her concert work also includes several appearances with Stephen Sondheim as a featured performer in his critically acclaimed evening, “A Conversation with Stephen Sondheim.”  On television, her work includes appearances on “The Gilded Age” (HBO),  “Law &Order: SVU” (NBC) “Just Beyond” (Disney Plus) “Live from Lincoln Center: Stephen Sondheim's Passion” (PBS) and “First You Dream: the Songs of Kander and Ebb” (PBS) Kate is a 2023 Chicago/Midwest Emmy nominee, alongside partners at HMS Media for creating and producing “Broadway Comes Home,” a love letter to her hometown of Milwaukee. She is a proud advisory board member for Maestra Music, which provides support, visibility and community for the women and non-binary people who make the music in musical theatre. Kate's debut album on PS Classics, “Let's See What Happens” features Lane and Harburg songs from both stage and film. Her second album celebrates the work of lyricist Sheldon Harnick and is titled, “She Loves Him.”   She is a graduate of Shorewood High School in Shorewood, WI and Northwestern University. She lives with her husband and son in Maplewood, NJ. Visit: maestramusic.org Follow Kate: @realkatebaldwin Follow us: @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast Support the show! (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with the Queen of Zazz, Angie Schworer. With a dozen Broadway credits under her belt, and multiple national tours to boot, Angie recently wrapped up the run of “Some Like It Hot” on Broadway and is now in Florida playing Dorothy Brock read more The post Special Episode: Angie Schworer on Bringing Some Zazz to ’42nd Street’ appeared first on BroadwayRadio.

Beth Leavel (bethleavel.net) is a Tony Award-winning stage and screen actor. She recently starred as Miranda Priestly in the Broadway-bound new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, directed by Anna Shapiro and featuring music by Sir Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Most recently, Beth was seen on Broadway as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom, for which she was nominated for Tony, New York Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. She received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby, It's You. On Broadway, Beth also originated the roles of June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War and Tess in Crazy For You. Other Broadway credits include Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Ellie in Hal Prince's Show Boat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Other New York credits include starring as Lucille in the New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, as well as the off-Broadway productions of Lone Star Love and Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Regionally, Beth has performed some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre – from Mama Rose in Gypsy at The Muny and Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly at Cape Playhouse and The Muny, to Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Witch in Into the Woods at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Beth has dazzled and delighted sold-out audiences with her cabaret act, which she has taken from 54 Below in New York City to other venues across the United States. You might also recognize Beth from numerous commercials and TV shows/films, including Ghosts of Christmas Always, The Bite, Walking Dead: World Beyond and the final episode of ER. She holds an MFA and an honorary PhD from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Of all the roles she has played, on stage and off, Beth is most proud of being T.J. and Sam's mom. She is helplessly in love with her fiancé, Adam Heller, and thanks her cat, Malcolm, for keeping her sane during the pandemic.

Beth Leavel (bethleavel.net) is a Tony Award-winning stage and screen actor. She recently starred as Miranda Priestly in the Broadway-bound new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, directed by Anna Shapiro and featuring music by Sir Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Most recently, Beth was seen on Broadway as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom, for which she was nominated for Tony, New York Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. She received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby, It's You. On Broadway, Beth also originated the roles of June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War and Tess in Crazy For You. Other Broadway credits include Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Ellie in Hal Prince's Show Boat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Other New York credits include starring as Lucille in the New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, as well as the off-Broadway productions of Lone Star Love and Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Regionally, Beth has performed some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre – from Mama Rose in Gypsy at The Muny and Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly at Cape Playhouse and The Muny, to Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Witch in Into the Woods at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Beth has dazzled and delighted sold-out audiences with her cabaret act, which she has taken from 54 Below in New York City to other venues across the United States. You might also recognize Beth from numerous commercials and TV shows/films, including Ghosts of Christmas Always, The Bite, Walking Dead: World Beyond and the final episode of ER. She holds an MFA and an honorary PhD from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Of all the roles she has played, on stage and off, Beth is most proud of being T.J. and Sam's mom. She is helplessly in love with her fiancé, Adam Heller, and thanks her cat, Malcolm, for keeping her sane during the pandemic.

CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, is currently celebrating her new album After the Ball from Club44 Records, has captivated audiences throughout her performing career. Recognized with a string of honors that includes two Tony Awards, she has appeared in twenty Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, as well as gracing television series and specials, films, concerts, recordings and opera. It was for her “dual role of a lifetime” as Edith Beale and Little Edie Beale in Grey Gardens that Ebersole won her second Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as virtually every available Off-Broadway honor. Other memorable New York roles include her Tony-winning turn as Dorothy Brock in the hit revival of 42nd Street, her Tony-nominated portrayal of Elizabeth Arden opposite Patti LuPone in War Paint, her Tony- and Outer Critics Circle-nominated appearance in Dinner at Eight, her Obie-winning and Drama Desk-nominated appearance in Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, her performance as Guinevere alongside Richard Harris and Richard Burton in Camelot, and her leading roles in Oklahoma!,On the Twentieth Century, Steel Magnolias, The Best Man, and the revival of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit. In 2018 she made her operatic debut under James Conlon's leadership as the Old Lady in Francesca Zambello's production of Candide at LA Opera. Recently starring as Lucille Dolittle, a role based on Lucille Ball, in Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-nominated Licorice Pizza, Ebersole has appeared in numerous feature films. Previous film credits include The Wolf of Wall Street, Amadeus, Black Sheep, Dead Again, Folks!, Ghost Dad, My Girl 2, Richie Rich, Tootsie, True Crime, and The Big Wedding, which features her account of her original song “Gently Down the Stream.” Since launching her TV career alongside Eddie Murphy as a regular cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” Ebersole has also accrued a long list of television credits. Currently starring in Chuck Lorre's hit CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola,” she recently portrayed Estelle Schneider in the award-winning Netflix series “The Kominsky Method,” and has appeared on “American Horror Story,” “Blue Bloods,” “Madam Secretary,” “Murphy Brown,” “Pose,” “Search Party,” “The Colbert Report,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Will & Grace” and Gypsy, in which she played Tessie Tura to Bette Midler's Mama Rose. Ebersole has performed at some of the nation's foremost concert halls, including New York's Carnegie Hall, L.A.'s Disney Hall, Boston's Symphony Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Her concert highlights include appearances in San Francisco Symphony's tribute to Leonard Bernstein, concert versions of The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall and of A Little Night Music with the Boston Pops, and Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty, both of which were filmed for broadcast on PBS TV. A celebrated recording artist, her discography includes Christine Ebersole: Live at the Cinegrill, In Your Dreams, Sunday in New York, Christine Ebersole Sings Noël Coward, and Strings Attached. www.christineebersole.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My interview with the multi-Tony Award nominated actress, Kate Baldwin. She is currently starring as Dorothy Brock in the Goodspeed Opera House's 2022 production of 42nd Street. We talk about the musical and her appearances in the Broadway shows, Finian's Rainbow, Big Fish, and the starry revival of Hello, Dolly! that starred Bette Midler. Musical selections included.

For only the second time in my career, I'm doing back to back shows at the same theater. First there was Anne of Green Gables this past summer and now there's 42nd Street here at the Goodspeed Opera House. It's a show I've done before a few years back and in the same role as well, only this time there's a lead producer who's working to bring this production (and hopefully its cast) to Broadway. It has Carina-Kay Louchiey as the young starlet Peggy Sawyer and Max von Essen as the hard-nosed director Julian Marsh. I'm in the role of Pat Denning, playing opposite one of my favorite leading ladies of Broadway... Kate Baldwin, who plays the veteran actress Dorothy Brock, joins the podcast to talk about this current production of 42nd Street and why it means so much to the both us. Then we take a surprisingly candid and unvarnished look at her career and why she was told she'd probably never have one in theater. We also discuss the ways we performers often compare ourselves to others and how to handle those times when someone else books the show instead of us. Learn more about WINMI Podcast at whyillnevermakeit.com  Subscribe to WINMI and get Bonus Episodes on Supercast  Donate to the making this podcast and its production efforts   MAESTRA, founded by Georgia Stitt As Kate mentions in this episode, she and Georgia Stitt have worked together for years. And it was back in 2017 that MAESTRA MUSIC was formed by this composer/lyricist and music director to give support, visibility, and community to the women who make the music in the musical theater industry. Their membership is made up of female-identifying, non-binary, and gender non-conforming composers, music directors, orchestrators, arrangers, copyists, rehearsal pianists and other musicians who are an underrepresented minority in musical theater. It was back in Season 4 that Stitt came on this podcast to talk about her career and this wonderful organization.   FINAL FIVE QUESTIONS WITH KATE BALDWIN In addition to our main conversation, Kate answered the five final questions on topics that we only briefly touched on in this episode. She shares her definition of "making it" as well as what annoyed her most about some singers (riffing). She also discusses music directors, her early days in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and the importance of going where you are loved. Read it all on the WINMI Blog. Follow Kate: Website | LinkedIn 

Cine en la Fundación: Los orígenes del cine musical (IX). Presentación de "La calle 42" (1933) de Lloyd Bacon. Javier Ocaña. La calle 42 (Forty Second Street, 1933, EE. UU.) de Lloyd Bacon, con Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, Ruby Keeler y Dick Powell (85') El productor musical Julian Marsh, en horas bajas tanto económica como personalmente, decide montar un último espectáculo antes de retirarse. Los problemas empiezan cuando queda claro que la financiación de la obra depende no solo de la presencia de la actriz Dorothy Brock, sino también de su interés amoroso por uno de los productores. Con el sonido, llegó al cine el musical. La calle 42 es uno de los primeros exponentes del género, pero su importancia va mucho más allá de su condición pionera: las poderosas coreografías de Busby Berkeley, filmadas con exquisito sentido de la plasticidad, apuntarían las enormes posibilidades de un cine basado en la música y el movimiento. El sábado se proyecta el vídeo de la presentación del día anterior. Explore en canal.march.es el archivo completo de Conferencias en la Fundación Juan March: casi 3.000 conferencias, disponibles en audio, impartidas desde 1975.

Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Bonnie Langford Interviewed Guest: Frances Fricker Reporter: Henrietta Harrison Interviewed Guest: Sharie Fetzer Bonnie Langford was just seven years old when she performed as Bonnie Butler at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Gone With The Wind. She has since appeared in everything from Gypsy to Cats and Chicago. In more recent years she has played Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and brought her unique portrayal of Roz in Dolly Parton's 9 to 5, The Musical. Bonnie joins Krupa to discuss her career spanning 50 years on stage and her current role as Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes. A professional woman who was continually called "good girl" by her boss has won an employment tribunal. Frances Fricker was told by her boss which photo to put on her work profile because HE thought it was the most attractive. The judge in the tribunal found that Frances, an accounts executive with a consultancy company called Gartner, had been sexually harassed at work, and because she fought against the harassment by taking a grievance, she was treated even worse. He also described the culture where she worked as laddish and toxic. In the latest in our series about Life after Divorce we hear a male perspective - Ryan, not his real name,  is 34 and has two young children. He met his wife in his early twenties and married in 2015  but their relationship began to deteriorate after kids came along and they began the divorce process in November 2020. His own parents divorced when he was young. More than 40% of marriages end in divorce – and most of us will have been affected by one  - whether it be our own, our parents' or our children's. Yet we don't speak easily about the process or the fallout.  In Life After Divorce our reporter Henrietta Harrison, who has recently been through a divorce herself, is speaking to listeners at different stages of the process.   It's estimated that Lipoedema effects up to 1 in 10 women in the UK. It's the build up of fat cells in the bottom, legs and sometimes the arms. Until recently the most common type of treatment was liposuction – which permanently removes fat cells – but as of last month the regulator NICE has said liposuction can no longer be used as a treatment in the UK – deeming it unsafe and ineffective. We hear from Sharie Fetzer from Lipoedema UK and a patient who was halfway through her liposuction treatment when the rules changed.

Lori Ann has been a performer in a number of Muni shows over the years. She made her Muni debut in the pit chorus for The Will Rogers Follies in 1996. The following summer, she made her onstage debut as a member of the mission band in Guys and Dolls. Since then, she has played many roles including Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street in 1999, Vera Charles in Mame in 2002, Mrs. Baskin in Big in 2003, Matron Mama Morton in Chicago in 2006, The Witch in Into the Woods in 2010 and Ursula in The Little Mermaid in 2016. Lori Ann was also the assistant director for Guys and Dolls in 2011 and The Sound of Music in 2014. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.

Nancy made her Muni debut as Julie La Vergne in 1980's Show Boat. Since then, she has performed many roles over the years. She has played such roles as Eva Perón in 1985's Evita, Aldonza in 1992's Man of La Mancha, The Witch in 1991's Into the Woods, Dorothy Brock in 1988's 42nd Street and Countess Charlotte Malcolm in 2001's A Little Night Music. In addition to performing, Nancy has also vocal directed, costumed and even served on the Muni's Board of Managers. Nancy's last appearance on the Muni stage was as Mrs. Potts in 2005's Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org

Beth Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby, It’s You. Other Broadway roles include June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War, Ellie in Hal Prince’s Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Beth Leavel was also seen in New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette as Lucille. She originated the role of DeeDee Alan in the world premiere of Prom at the Alliance Theatre. She has performed the roles of Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at the North Carolina Theatre. She recently made her NY Cabaret debut at 54 Below to sell-out audiences. Numerous Off-Broadway, regional theatre, commercials, and TV, including the final episode of ER. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Leavel https://www.playbill.com/person/beth-leavel-vault-0000071732 https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/beth-leavel-70613 https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Beth-Leavel/ https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/beth-leavel/profile/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1769792/

For more than three decades Christine Ebersole has dazzled on stage, screen, in television series, concert appearances, recordings and on and on. A two-time Tony winning actress, her eclectic career includes everything from joining the cast of Saturday Night Live to being in the films The Wolf Of Wall Street, Amadeus and Tootsie to starring on Broadway playing Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, captivating audiences in the dual role of ”Little” Edie Beale/Edith Bouvier Beale in Grey Gardens and playing Elizabeth Arden in War Paint. Ebersole is currently starring as Bob’s mom Dottie in the CBS hit comedy, Bob Hearts Abishola. The second season premieres November 16, 2020. This episode was recorded September 21, 2020. Produced in part by the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Stanley is a British actress and singer. She has had an amazing career in musical theatre playing Mum in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve); lead vocalist in The Song Book of Judy Garland (UK Tour); Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Dominion 2014 and seasons in Edinburgh, Manchester, Plymouth & Southampton); Grace Farell in Annie (New Zealand Tour & UK Tour); Gill in Jackie the Musical (Gardyne Theatre, Dundee); Tess in Crazy for You (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and Novello Theatre); Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour); Velma Kelly in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre & World Tour); Edna the Spectacle (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Erma in Anything Goes (National Theatre & Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Miss Dinsmore/Dora Baily in Singin' in the Rain (National Theatre); Chess (UK tour); Me and My Girl (UK tour); My Fair Lady (UK Tour); and 42nd Street (Dominion Theatre & UK Tour).She has recently finished playing Mrs Brice, in Funny Girl (Théâtre Marigny, Paris) and is about to play the part of Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris).Her career also includes theatre, concerts, video, workshops, film and TV work. For a complete resumé see https://www.spotlight.com/5164-9084-2838.

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel has been delighting Broadway audiences for decades. She was nominated for the 2019 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards for The Prom and she received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone.  Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby It’s You.  Her other Broadway credits include: Mrs. June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the 42nd Street revival, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War, Ellie in Hal Prince's Showboat, and her Broadway debut as Anytime Annie in the original production of 42nd Street. She will soon be bringing the iconic role of Miranda Priestly to the Broadway stage in the highly anticipated production of The Devil Wears Prada. 

Kaitlin Lawrence's previous credits include a national touring production of CALIFORNIA DREAMING (Mama Cass). Select Regional: STEEL MAGNOLIAS (Shelby), MARY POPPINS (Mrs. Banks), and ALASKA CABIN NITE (Amber). She also has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Florida. This interview was recorded in April of 2016 when she starred as Dorothy Brock in a national touring production of 42ND STREET. Follow Kare Reviews at www.karereviews.com and on Twitter: @KareReviews Follow Jeffrey Kare on Twitter: @JeffreyKare If you like what you've heard here, please subscribe to any one of the following places where the Kare Reviews Podcast is available. Anchor, Apple, Google, SoundCloud, Spotify, Breaker, Overcasts, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeffrey-kare/support

This week the gang discuss Becky's life as an adult, Martin's new day job and Ella's WOMB! In their first ever interview they sit down with West End Star Steph Parry. They talk all about her show saving performance in Mamma Mia! and her new role as Dorothy Brock in the West End production of 42nd Street. Subscribe, Comment and Share!!

"Mamma Mia’s" newest leading lady, Beth Leavel (Tony Award winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for "The Drowsy Chaperone"), talks about slipping into the polyester disco gear of Donna Sheridan, describing the rare opportunity of joining a long-running production and still getting a full rehearsal period, as well as the benefit of coming in with an almost entirely new set of leading actors. She also talks about one of her earliest professional experiences, understudying Lynn Redgrave in "The King and I" at the St. Louis MUNY; snagging a role in the first national tour (and later joining the Broadway cast) of the original "42nd Street", even though she hadn't studied tap dancing since childhood; originating the role of Tess -- initially a two-line part -- in the original production of "Crazy for You"; taking over the role of Dorothy Brock after first standing by for Christine Ebersole in the 2001 Broadway revival of "42nd Street"; how playing Vera in "Mame" and the Countess in "A Little Night Music" informed her Tony-winning performance as "The Drowsy Chaperone"; why she loves playing Miss Hannigan in "Annie" (including the time she appeared with some 70 orphans at once); her work in the new musicals "Dancing in the Dark" and "Minsky's" on the west coast and the recent workshop of "Elf"; and how she managed to research one of her roles at a diner in New Jersey.

"Mamma Mia!"'s newest leading lady, Beth Leavel, talks about slipping into the polyester disco gear of Donna Sheridan, describing the rare opportunity of joining a long-running production and still getting a full rehearsal period, as well as the benefit of coming in with an almost entirely new set of leading actors. She also talks about one of her earliest professional experiences, understudying Lynn Redgrave in "The King and I" at the St. Louis MUNY; snagging a role in the first national tour (and later joining the Broadway cast) of the original "42nd Street", even though she hadn't studied tap dancing since childhood; originating the role of Tess -- initially a two-line part -- in the original production of "Crazy for You"; taking over the role of Dorothy Brock after first standing by for Christine Ebersole in the 2001 Broadway revival of "42nd Street"; how playing Vera in "Mame" and the Countess in "A Little Night Music" informed her Tony-winning performance as "The Drowsy Chaperone"; why she loves playing Miss Hannigan in "Annie" (including the time she appeared with some 70 orphans at once); her work in the new musicals "Dancing in the Dark" and "Minsky's" on the west coast and the recent workshop of "Elf"; and how she managed to research one of her roles at a diner in New Jersey. Original air date - December 28, 2009.

"Mamma Mia!"'s newest leading lady, Beth Leavel, talks about slipping into the polyester disco gear of Donna Sheridan, describing the rare opportunity of joining a long-running production and still getting a full rehearsal period, as well as the benefit of coming in with an almost entirely new set of leading actors. She also talks about one of her earliest professional experiences, understudying Lynn Redgrave in "The King and I" at the St. Louis MUNY; snagging a role in the first national tour (and later joining the Broadway cast) of the original "42nd Street", even though she hadn't studied tap dancing since childhood; originating the role of Tess -- initially a two-line part -- in the original production of "Crazy for You"; taking over the role of Dorothy Brock after first standing by for Christine Ebersole in the 2001 Broadway revival of "42nd Street"; how playing Vera in "Mame" and the Countess in "A Little Night Music" informed her Tony-winning performance as "The Drowsy Chaperone"; why she loves playing Miss Hannigan in "Annie" (including the time she appeared with some 70 orphans at once); her work in the new musicals "Dancing in the Dark" and "Minsky's" on the west coast and the recent workshop of "Elf"; and how she managed to research one of her roles at a diner in New Jersey. Original air date - December 28, 2009.