Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: August 26, 2001
By: Laura Deni
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KAREN ZIEMBA LEAVES CONTACT FOR HOUSE AND GARDEN

KAREN ZIEMBA

"After two years, it's time to move on," said Karen Ziemba last Thursday in discussing with Broadway To Vegas about leaving her Tony Award winning role in Contact and opening simultaneously in two shows - House and Garden.

She'll begin rehearsals in early September for the East Coast premiere of the Alan Ayckbourn's duo of comedies at the GEVA Theatre in Rochester, NY.

Ziemba's final performance at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre as the 50's housewife with the vivid imagination will be on Sunday, September 2nd.

Ayckbourn's linked plays, House and Garden - which received their US debut at the Goodman Theatre last year - are performed concurrently in side-by-side theatres.

Ziemba plays Trish, the put-upon mistress of the chaotic country estate where both plays are set. She is joined by Christa Moore and Julian Gamble under the direction of GEVA's Artistic Director Mark Cuddy.

"I'm not exactly sure how this is going to work because we haven't started rehearsals, but what happens is that the two theaters are connecting," she explained.

"As I am doing my scenes in one play, House, for example and I need to go out into the garden for whatever reason, I will go into the other theater."

"It is fascinating," she stressed. "When I read it, I thought, this sounds something interesting to do. Also, because it was Alan Ayckbourn. I've always loved his writing."

Along with Garden showing simultaneously on the Nextstage with the very same cast, House is one half of an unprecedented theatre event. Since both plays are complete-theatre experiences, you could see just House - two upper-crust marriages in hilarious upheaval, the awkward confusion of young love, a devious politician with bizarre ulterior motives, a French film star who has one too many drinks - but wouldn't you be itching to know what was happening in the garden?

At least those are the hopes of those involved in the productions. An intriguing marketing concept banking on patrons having seen one show, would then be motivated to attend the other

Karen Ziemba as Cassie in A Chorus Line

"We certainly hope so!" exclaimed Karen. "There is a theater in New York that is planning on doing House and Garden maybe next year, which has nothing to do with this production. But, I think they will eventually want to do it in New York because it is just such a wonderful idea. People who advocate New York theater are going to be willing to go see both plays. Or, spending a day in the theater where you can see a matinee, have dinner, come back and see the second show. So, it will definitely be done somewhere."

It will not be Ziemba that takes the production into New York. "No, not that I know of," she replied." The production I'm going to be in is a five or six-week run."

It's a departure for those who have spent a decade enjoying Ziemba - who made her Broadway debut in A Chorus Line, going on to 42nd Street, Crazy For You, And The World Goes Round, Steel Pier - No singing - no dancing.

"Yes, its going to be a real challenge - I think for the whole cast," laughed Karen.

This isn't the first time she has been in a production where she didn't chortle a tune or kick up a heel "but it has been awhile. It's going to be a real left-hand turn."

Born and raised in Michigan the only girl with three brothers, Karen was "dancing since I was a little girl. My grandmother, my mother's mother, Winifred Heidt, was a mezzo star at City Center Opera for many years. She did hundreds of Carmens all over the world. In fact, Beverly Sills was just starting out and was once in the chorus behind her. She remembers my grandmother very well.

KAREN ZIEMBA during her Ohio ballet days

"And when the first revival of Carousel was done at City Center, my grandmother played Mrs. Mullen," related Karen about the production that featured Barbara Cook as Carrie and Jo Sullivan as Julie.

"My mother was very cognizant of the arts, music, dance, and Broadway. My father managed people's finances. He loved music. He paid the bills for the ballet lessons and he worked very hard," continued the charming artist.

"I went to the University of Akron for four years and majored in dance. I had a chance to dance with the Ohio Ballet for a year, which was a professional regional company, which is still there. Because I was quite adept and pretty skilled, compared to most of the people in the dance department, ballet director Heinz Poll, from the Ohio Ballet, picked me out from an experimental performance that the dance department had. So, I had a chance to get a taste of what it was like to be in professional ballet."

She's not only been in the business every since, but worked steady.

"I had an advantage because I had been trained so well," she emphasized.

Ziemba stressed that excellent training can be found almost anywhere - the important element is the teacher not the location.

19th-century church, used exclusively by the University's Ohio Ballet Center

"I happened to have had a really wonderful ballet teacher, Evelyn Creason. Once we got to be teenagers she brought her girls to New York for a few weeks to take classes and see what it was like to be a professional. So, it wasn't like we were in a little fish bowl. We were introduced to the real world and saw how far we had to go to get to our goals, if that is what we wanted.

"Then at the University of Akron my ballet master, Jerry Burr who had danced with original Joffrey Company in the 50s, was such a great teacher. He started us all over from scratch - from the ground up - like planting the seed to literally make my technique better than it had ever had been. I had really great training! So, when I went to audition for a show my dancing was exemplary. Then I opened my mouth and I could sing - that is why I had the double edge there"

"But now I want to be able to climb another mountain - to try something different. And, to get people to take your seriously, you've got to be able to show them what you can do. Since I've won the Tony I've auditioned for many plays. And, I did quite well in the auditions. Actually I was asked to do a play last year, but I couldn't get out on my Contact contract."

In an era of drive by marriages Ziemba has been married for 17 years to actor Bill Tatum, whom she met when the two worked together in a production of Seesaw.

KAREN ZIEMBA and HARRY GROENER in Crazy For You Photo by: Joan Marcus

"The most important thing to realize is that you'll never have the perfect relationship. Nobody does - like The Grass is Always Greener as Fred Ebb wrote," said Karen referring to a song from And The World Goes Round, a revue by Kander and Ebb in which Karen starred.

"But, you have to work at marriage," continued Karen, who is both sensible and articulate. "You have to be good friends, respect each other and realize that living with anybody is not easy. You can live alone and do your own thing and not have anybody bother you, but when you are living with someone else domestically there is always going to be things that they do that will not be the way you want them to be done. They're not always going to say the right thing you want them to say at the right time. It's just human nature. You just have to be kind in talking to each other about those things - what your needs are - supporting each other in your hopes and dreams, listening - and it's still not easy!"

Ziemba and her husband are parents to a dog.

"I do have a step son," quickly added Karen, " but he is a grown man now, so I say this is my husband's son. I don't say this is my step son, because we look like we could be dating!"

As for the Norwich Terrier, "Of course he's part of the family, but doesn't run the family. You can't let a dog do that, or you're in trouble. A dog of that sort would, too, because Terriers are very bright. He lives in New York and has been going to the theater - staying in the dressing room - ever since he was a puppy. He's a very good theater dog. He's portable, likes traveling on planes, cars, boats. He just wants to be with his people."

When Karen comes into her dressing room the pup can stand up on his hind legs, but it's not to give Karen his own version of a standing ovation. Rather, it's "to get a cookie. No tricks unless there is a reward."

Karen and company in Contact

Ziemba has does her own set of tricks in Contact, rewarded with the 2000 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Winning all of the plaudits is great for the ego but it doesn't guarantee anything.

"I still have to audition," she responded with an incredulous tone, surprised that anyone would think she wouldn't have to audition. "You have to prove yourself to people. You have to show up and read for them. A Tony is different from an Academy Award in that when you win an Oscar and all of a sudden you are offered all of these films.

"The theater is a very different kind of world. What winning a Tony does is validate you to the theatrical community - in saying this person can carry a show. This person has certain qualities that can hold an audience and take them through their journey. That is a very good place to be."

Contact was Ziemba's sixth project with Susan Stroman and a life altering experience.

Karen Ziemba in Contact

"It changed my life so much! It gave me not only the Tony award, but it's made me feel that I can do anything - going through emotions from A to Z - just like my character did. I don't get to do that in every role," she said referring to her character - a timid, painfully abused wife, who goes out to dinner at an Italian restaurant with her overbearing Mafioso thug (Jason Antoon) husband. He doesn't want her to talk, or smile at the waiters. When he gets up to hunt down ever-elusive dinner rolls his warning of, "Don't move!" becomes the running gag.

Ziemba's character uses her imagination as a coping mechanism. With a sad drama life, her dreams provide her with wild fantasizes, including transforming the restaurant into a follies-type cabaret.

"That's why it was very special because I got to experience joy and pain and everything in between playing that character. You ask me to do anything now and I go - Sure I can do that!"

There has been criticism leveled at producers for casting television stars in theatrical production hoping the names will sell tickets.

"The people that are in television and films that also do theater do it not only because they can sell tickets, but obviously because they can act," responded Karen. "They feel they have the strength and the will to do a good job. They aren't there to make a fool of themselves in front of an audience. For someone do something on the stage is taking a big risk. And, is very gutsy, I think.

KAREN ZIEMBA and JERRY ORBACH in 42nd Street Orbach was a Broadway star before becoming a hit on the small tube. Photo by:Carol Rosegg

"There is always going to be somebody better or more famous, or has done more movies or TV that wants to do the piece and - they are going to be cast before you anyway. I don't mean that in a bitter way at all. That is just the way it is. If that person has the ability to do it and they happen to have more of a TV Q as it were - a bigger name - why wouldn't the producer go with that?" she questioned.

"The more versatile you can be, the better chance you have of continuing to work. Sometimes versatility gets in the way so that people don't know how to label you. I think if one stays in the same persona that they were ten years before they are not going to be able to move on, because we all do age and you can age into roles that are appropriate of your age bracket and you can carry them believably.You can't still play the ingenue when you're fifty five. You have to reinvent yourself all the time."

Nobody has ever said any of it was easy and Karen agreed. "That is the thing that is difficult. People think of me as someone who is singing and dancing all of the time. Yes, that is what I do and I do that well, but I also do something else. If I can act when I am dancing and I can act when I am singing there is no reason why - if I have the abilities - that I can't do the same thing and not carry a tune. It's all about how I create a character and how I bring that person to life and it is believable and appropriate? Am I right for that character? House and Garden is another step for me."

As to her plans after House and Garden she may just pamper herself with eating "usually something really salty and fattening; Italian food, baked Brie."

Then again this is a multi-talented woman who is constantly looking toward the next project. "A good friend of mine who is a novelist and playwright has written a play with music for two women and I am one of them that he has in mine. That is a possibility, but that is still in developmental stages. Another wonderful actress, who has been on Broadway recently, has possibly been slated for the other role. It's a two-act play and both acts are sort of related. So, there is that."

Of course, there is always Susan Stroman. Would she say yes to Stroman without questioning the part?

"Yeah, when she says let's work on something. I've got a great idea I'd say - Sure"

Performances of House and Garden begin October 9th and continue through November 11 at the GEVA Theatre, Rochester, NY



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SING ALONG SOUND OF MUSIC will have the hills near Robert Redford's Sundance Institute in Utah tunefully alive beginning Wednesday.

Sing-A-Long Productions obtained the rights from 20th Century Fox to produce an "audience-interactive" experience using the Oscar winning 1965 musical. Audience members are enticed to dress up as their favorite characters, sing along with the songs, cheer the heroes, boo the villains and use props and hand gestures to enjoy themselves. The film even has subtitles to encourage singing and dialogue quotations, while the audience is supplied with complimentary "Fun Packs," containing approved theme props.

The Fan Pack includes; flash cards needed for the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? song, a swatch of cloth you needed to wave so Maria (Julie Andrews) would get the idea to use the drapes as material for play clothes and an invitation to Captain von Trapp's ball patrons need to produce when Lisle says she has never been to a ball. There is also a sprig of Edelweiss to be held aloft during the song and, lastly, a party popper to be used at the precise moment of Maria and George's first kiss in the gazebo.

The Sing-A-Long Sound of Music will debut in Utah in Kingsbury Hall on Wednesday, August 29, as a fund-raiser for the non-profit Sundance Theatre program, before beginning a run at the Sundance Outdoor Theatre September 3-8.

According to Aaron Young, managing director of the Sundance Theatre program, he and other Sundance officials have had "a lot of requests" to perform the popular Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical. However, since they have been looking for "new ways to do old plays," they opted to bring in the sing-along program.

CHARMIAN CARR

Opening-night crowds will be treated to a special appearance by actress Charmian Carr, who played Liesl in the film. Carr is an unofficial spokesperson for the Sing-A-Long program and often participates in the show including leading some of the sing-alongs. She will also host an invitation-only, pre-show reception and sign copies of her books, Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl.

The sing-along began as a one-shot AIDS benefit three years ago in London and grew to a weekly event. In the audience at Carr's first appearance was John Lightburn, a film producer who had never seen the movie in its entirety until then, decided to form a North American tour and to invite Carr to make personal appearances.

"You might think I would get bored, but I never do, because the people are always different and the costumes are so imaginative," Carr said.

"You are overwhelmed with the amazing ingenuity. We have costume contests. One night in San Francisco, the winner was completely covered with black balloons, and all that was visible were two eyes, with two little horns coming out of her head. I asked her who she was and she said she was the `lonely goat turd' - a common mistake people make when hearing the song `Lonely Goat Herd'," Carr said.

Some of Carr's other favorite costumes have been a bee from the song My Favorite Things, the frog placed in Maria's pocket, and even the Alps. "The Alps took 10 minutes to get on stage because they were all connected," she said.

While shooting The Sound of Music, Carr, then 21, had no idea she would have a lifelong connection to the movie. In fact, after poor reviews by the New York critics, she was certain the film wouldn't make its money back. For two years, she attended premieres in various cities. "I was the only recognizable person they could get because Christopher (Plummer) hated the movie and Julie (Andrews) didn't want to be associated with the film," she said referring to the feelings of Plummer and Andrews which changed after the film became successful. "I kept thinking that soon it would end, but I had no clue people would be able to buy it on videotape or watch it on TV for the rest of their lives," continued Carr.

Because the lyrics are shown on the screen Lightburn had to get permission from the Rodgers and Hammerstein estates, and then from 20th Century Fox, the studio that released the movie.

They were helped by the DVD coming out for the first time, using that release to launch the tour in New York.

At first they were worried that American audiences wouldn't respond to the interactive nature of the event the way English audiences did, but their fears proved groundless and the sing along road show has been a success.

Adding to the nostalgia is the live appearance by Carr.

Following the making the film Charmian found herself involved in two careers. She spent many years acting in national commercials while at the same time developing a highly successful Interior Design business. Her clients include Michael Jackson. Charmian was the contractor and designer on his Encino, California "Disneyland" home. She toured with Michael, who introduced her to scores of renowned people. Carr also designed five homes for her Von Trapp sister 'Louisa,' Heather Menzies and husband Robert Urich.

Julie Andrews and the "children" at the 30th reunion

After a divorce and revived interest in the movie, Carr has found herself once again in the spotlight. She remains in touch with the actors who portrayed the other von Trapp children and considers them "my second family." Last November they were reunited in Saltzburgh to film a Sound of Music documentary.

An opening night benefit for local organizations is staged in most cities on the tour. "Sure, we don't have to, but why not? Frankly, the whole thing is more fun than money anyway," Lightburn said. "We can only go in a single theater and the marketing costs kill us. But I'm having fun. In many cites we go to old historic movie theaters, and I like bringing something that helps keep them open."

"I have been asked by some diehard fans if I think it is sacrilegious to shout out things or to get wild, and I think it's the opposite," Carr said. "If these people didn't love the movie so much they wouldn't bother with these ingenious lines or the costumes."

KISS ME KATE has officially opened a long engagement in Los Angeles. Rex Smith and Rachel York star as the egotistical, feuding leads. The production includes Nancy Anderson as Lois/Bianca, Jim Newman as Bill/Lucentio, Michael Arkin, Susan Beaubian, Randy Donaldson, Herman Petras, Richard Poe, and Chuck Wagner. Also in the production are; John D. Baker, Tina Marie Casamento, Laura Marie Crosta, John Treacy Egan, Juliet Fischer, Ivy Fox, Keith Howard, Michael Lackey, Rachel Lafer, Kevin B. McGlynn, Carol Lee Meadows, Kimberly Dawn Newumann, Stephen Reed, Marci Reid, Jody Reynard, Rommy Sandhu, Margaret Shafer, Steven Sofia, Matthew J. Vargo and Carmen Yurich. Shubert Theater Los Angeles through Oct 13.

BOY'S LIFE Howard Korder's 1988 Pulitzer Prize nominated play, directed by Drew DeCorleto begins performances, Tuesday, September 4th; presented by Broken Watch Productions, Inc.

Accepting post-college boredom comes easier to some than others. Boys' Life traces the misadventures of three former college buddies. Navigating the big city, longing for the good ol' days of sex, drugs and fun with various women.

Howard Korder the recipient of a 1996 Guggenheim Fellowship in play writing.

The cast includes Teresa Goding, Andrew J.Hoff, Alecia Hurst, Jeslyn Kelly, Jeremy Koch, Leo Lauer, Danielle Savin, Alli Steinberg, Matt Walton. Set and Light design by John Wiese.

PINK ELEPHANTS An over-the-top, below-the-belt musical noir farce, fueled by a stereophonic, jazz-infused rock quartet, and a cast including Candis Cayne and Mario Diaz.

Danielle Gerardo, Alex Keomurjian and Candis Cayne in Pink Elephants.Photo by Roberto Espinosa

It's the summer of 1961 in Manhattan. The city pulses and writhes with jazz and liquor. It's a not-so-typical night at the Slipper Room, a neighborhood bar on the Lower East Side, when Sylvia Chase, the vicious gossip columnist, is murdered. As Detective Cunningham (Carter Cochran), a gritty Sam Spade-like anti-hero, questions the drunken suspects, he gets more than he bargained for. As each suspect recounts the evening's events, the audience enters a series of cinematic flashbacks, each one a different "killer" song and dance. Accusations fly, and so do the one-liners, in this hard-boiled musical that proves there's still plenty of life yet in the post-Charles Ludlum stage camp.

But who did it? Was it Rose (Sherie Weinstein), the bitter ex-reporter, still living in the shadows of her past, lamenting the career Sylvia Chase (Ellen Halsted) stole from her? Or was it Grant (Clayton Smith) or maybe Bubbles (Danielle Gerardo), the jilted love birds, torn apart by Sylvia's heartless manipulation? Perhaps it was Bongo (Mario Diaz), the Beat? Sylvia' s next column promised a heap of trouble. And what would be worse for this wild child? A life in Rikers, or at the bottom of the Hudson? It's possible Harry Anderson (Alex Keomurjian), the drunk, did it: wrought with the memories of his lost wife, a ruined business and a life gone sour. Even Max (John Fico), the bartender, had a motive. With one bad poker game, he lost everything, and now Sylvia Chase holds the cards to his future. Could it have been Dot Stevens (Kathy Fenker), President of the Ladies Auxiliary? What really lurks behind her pristine facade: a socialite or psychopath? And then there's Ginger (Candis Cayne), the secretary. So hungry to rise to the top, she'd stop at nothing to gain the power that obsessed her. Not even murder.

The names of some of these characters are interesting. Just curious, but did anybody's legal department walk past this script and look at the monikers? We made a phone call and couldn't get an answer.

The central character is named Sylvia Chase. The is a very much alive Sylvia Chase and a deceased Ilka Chase. The living Chase is a respected national news reporter who has had the usual tiffs associated with getting and keeping assignments. The deceased Chase, with a different first name than the character in this play, was not only living in the era in which this play is set, but was a columnist, author and actress. She had a pity wit coining such phrases as; You can always spot a well-informed man -- his views are the same as yours, and - When he said we were trying to make a fool of him, I could only murmur that the Creator had beat us to it.

HARRY ANDERSON went from being arrested as a con artist to an Emmy winner

She is best remembered for her stage role as Sylvia Flowers in the production of The Women, and penned her memoirs, Past Imperfect.

And then there is the character named Harry Anderson, who is a con artist and throws fits when he marriage and career go south. The real life Harry Anderson started out as a con artist getting arrested in San Francisco. He could work Harrah's Hotel in Nevada and did - but he couldn't gamble there because he was caught card counting at the gambling tables. When the talented actor/standup comediam/magician was experiencing both marital and television sitcom career problems it was widely reported that the usually easy going Anderson threw fits on the set. Anderson, by the way, has reinvented himself as a widely respected speaker on business topics.

Back It Up Productions and the Slipper Room present the World Premiere of Pink Elephants, written and directed by D'Arcy Drollinger, with Choreography by John Paolillo and Music Direction by Ben Morss.

Pink Elephants opens Thursday September 6th and continues Thursday nights through October 25th at the Slipper Room, NYC.

WHO'S WHERE

BRUCE WEITZ has been starring in the production of Heaven Can Wait at the Westport Country Playhouse, which happens to be Weitz's old stomping grounds.

Bruce Weitz hit by Shelly Winters and spat upon by Walter Pigeon

He spent the first eight years of his life living in the vicinity and when he was 18 returned to serve as a paid intern at the theater.

Weitz, who made his Broadway debut in a revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1976), starring George C Scott, and became a household name through his Emmy Award winning performances in Hill Street Blues, had an interesting entry into the world of theater.

He got smacked in the head with a script by Shelly Winters when Weitz walked across the stage at he wrong time during a rehearsal. Walter Pigeon spit on him every time the actor objected to the way Weitz moved the furniture. He was also in charge of feeding Zsa Zsa Gabor's dogs, which were better behaved than the humans.

TONY ORLANDO is the Labor Day Weekend attraction at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas performing September 1-2.

ART GARFUNKEL takes center stage August 31 and September 1 in San Diego, CA at the Summer Pops At Navy Pier.

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHY WestFest - August 31-September 3, in Vail, CO.

SHAUNA HICKS who was in Blood Brothers opens tomorrow in her own show Shauna Hicks and Her 70's Mix directed by Michael Schiralli. August 27 through October 19 at the Triad Theatre, NYC.

AEROSMITH tonight in Phoenix, AZ at the Cricket Pavilion. On Tuesday it's center stage in Selma, TX at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Thursday the group can be found in The Woodlands, TX at the C.W. Mitchell Pavilion and they round out the week Saturday in Dallas, TX at the Smirnoff Music Centre.

B.B. KING has a busy week. Tonight the bluesman is in Memphis, TN at the Great Southern Beer Festival. On Tuesday he'll talk to Lucille on Pittsburgh, PA at the Iron City Light Amphitheatre. Wednesday he's center stage in Wallingford, CT at the Oakdale Theatre. The next night the city is Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Friday the performer does it again in Manchester, NH at the Singer Family Park. He closes out the week on Saturday in another Manchester but this is Manchester Center, VT at the Riley Rink.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE takes the stage tonight in Detroit, MI at the Opera House. She does a three nighter Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Chicago, IL at the Chicago Theatre.

JOURNEY today in Syracuse, NY at the New York State Fair.

DESTINY'S CHILD today in Rosemont, IL at the Allstate Arena. On Thursday the group performs in San Diego, CA at the San Diego Sports Arena. Friday brings them to Las Vegas for a show in the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The next night they are in front of the microphones in Concord, CA at the Chronicle Pavilion.

BILL COSBY brings his talents to Resorts in Atlantic City September 1-2.

MARILYN McCOO AND BILLY DAVIS open in the Grand Theater of the Hilton Hotel, Atlantic City for an engagement running Aug. 18-Sept. 2

CROSBY STILLS AND NASH perform tomorrow August 27 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel NJ.

LEE ANN WOMACK stars at the Claridge in Atlantic City August 31-Sept.

STEVIE NICKS took ill and canceled last night's sold out concert at the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas. Date re-set for October 6 with an additional show added for October 5.

JOHN DAVIDSON who starred on Broadway in State Fair, and Foxy, played Curly in Oklahoma! at NY City Center and last appeared in New York co-starring with Morgan Fairchild in High Infidenlity at the Promenade Theatre, returns to Las Vegas next month after an absence of 10 years.

SMOKEY ROBINSON center stage at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City August 31 through September 2.

TORI AMOS Thursday in London, UK at the Union Chapel.

SADE performs Monday in Atlanta, GA at the Philips Arena. On Wednesday and Thursday it's center stage in Fort Lauderdale, FL at the National Car Rental Center, and on Saturday the city is New Orleans, LA at the New Orleans Arena.

U2 in the spotlight on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland at Slane Castle.

JOHNNY MATHIS sings August 3 in Saratoga, CA at the Villa Montalvo.

PIFFLE AND PROFUNDITIES

SEN. ORRIN HATCH the right leaning Republican Senator from Utah, has bi-polar occupations, keeping his conservative political views out of his song writing gigs. The accomplished composer co-wrote America Rocks, a song that is featured in the new sex, violence and profanity ladened movie Rat Race, much of which was filmed in Las Vegas. Hatch made his cabaret song writing debut a couple of years ago when he penned a song for Elaine St. George's cabaret show at Judy's Chelsea in NYC.

JERRY HERMAN has recovered nicely after surgery for a hammer toe - even though the operation was on his "peddle foot."

Next Column: September 2, 2001
Copyright: August 26,2001. All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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