Bebe Neuwirth is a queen on Broadway.
The two-time Tony winner, who performs Sunday at the Cascade Theatre in Redding, has played both leading lady roles in “Chicago.” Her Broadway credits include “Fosse,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sweet Charity,” and “Damn Yankees” among others. She’ll likely star opposite Nathan Lane in “The Addams Family” next year.
Stage is one thing. The powerful medium of television is quite another. And then there’s that odd intersection where deep nostalgia slams into a powerful medium.
And thus, we find Bebe Neuwirth walking a tight rope with Lilith Sternin.
We all know Lilith, the pale psychiatrist and love interest of Dr. Frasier Crane on “Cheers” and “Frasier.” Neuwirth’s Lilith was stiff, dry, intellectual, sexy, vulnerable and unforgettably hilarious. Lilith is cemented in the foundation of two of the great TV situation comedies of all time.
But out here in the real world, she was actually kind of a side gig for Neuwirth. Don’t get her wrong, she loves Lilith. Lilith is part of the reason Neuwirth can travel to the hinterlands and sing Kurt Weill, Cole Porter and Tom Waits tunes.
But here’s what’s hard to love: Neuwirth just dances her ass off for two hours as Velma in “Chicago,” and someone outside the theater greets her with, “Hey, I never knew Lilith could dance.”
One…two…breathe…find your centering point.
“I mean what can I say to that?” Neuwirth asked me in a phone conversation recently. “It’s just so weird. Maybe that person went to see show because they knew Lilith was in it. Maybe they thought they were being nice. I try to be polite. I want to help educate the person. The thing is, I’ve worked so long and so hard, and that kind of thing tends to pull the rug out from what I just did.”
It’s the approach that makes every difference.
Yelling “Hey, Lilith!” on the street — bad form. You deserved to be slapped by Norm.
Coming up quietly on the subway and saying, “You know, I really loved that character on ‘Cheers’ ” — good form. Woody slides you a pint on the house.
You see, the energy Neuwirth has poured into her craft could light lower Manhattan for a month. Why does she look so damn good at age 50? You would too if you danced every day of your life since age 3.
She’ll move around a bit on Sunday night, but mostly it’ll be a showcase for her voice and the stylings of pianist Scott Cady. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available at the Cascade Theatre Box Office, online, or by calling 243-8877.
“The music is eclectic,” she said. “There are standards that everybody knows and songs that not so many people may know.”
On the phone, Neuwirth is warm and engaging. You want to ask her to come over for wine and some of Doni’s leftover chocolates.
I told her about the momentum for musical theater in the north state — James Santos’ Project Dance, The Redding City Musical Theater Company, The Westside Performing Arts Company, the incredible Shasta High program. I asked her what advice she has for young people (and not-so young ones) who have a love of singing and dancing.
“Get on stage,” she said. “Stay in class and get on stage as much as you can.”
And then Neuwirth mentioned one of her early mentors, Joan Lucas, who now lives in Mount Shasta.
You see, once upon a time before Julliard and Broadway and even Kelsey Grammer, there was a young girl in New Jersey just taking dance lessons. And a dance teacher who believed in her.
Joan let her know that she could be funny and dance. And that’s how it turned out.
Funny, huh?
