2015 Interview with Carole Cook

The inimitable Carole Cook is one of those theatrical greats who...well, the mere mention of her name makes faces light up. And immediate laughter abounds at the thought of the outrageous things she has said onstage. This fiery redhead legend - it's OK, she and Lucy were friends - is about to open her night club act for 5 performances only - directed by the one and only David Galligan - at Tom Rolla's Gardenia. Miss Cook took time from her rehearsals to sit down and chat about the upcoming show.

Talk a little about the content of your show. Is it a series of anecdotes from your life in chronological order?

To an extent it is in chronological order, but not all of it. When I talk about certain things, it'll spark a memory that I'll then bring up. Some sweet things that happened when I was young that influenced me later in life. Frankly, I hope it gives the show a very spontaneous feeling, and I want the audience to feel like I'm telling it for the first time. I love the illusion of it being for the first time. Some of them are my favorite stories. I love telling them. And I love to hear the audience react. Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they take things very seriously. But they all mean a lot to me. I go emotionally with it each night. David Galligan, the director, does such a wonderful job molding and shaping the show, and Chris Marlowe tailored the songs which just makes it such a pleasurable experience for me to perform it.

The last thing I want to create is a spoiler alert, but will you give us just a tease of the music? What are some of the songs you have chosen to perform? What is your favorite one?

My favorite song in the show - there are two: I absolutely adore a song that goes waaay back and is pertinent now. It's called "Something Cool" by Billy Barnes (I sing 4 of his numbers in the show). And I'm very fond of "Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair." And, of course, I love doing "Hello, Dolly!" Gower Champion really created a legend with that staging, and I loved doing it for two years in Australia. I mean who wouldn't? You have 20 handsome guys looking at you coming down the stairs. "Before The Parade Passes By" is also very special to me. Honey, let me tell you, that's what Dolly's all about. 'I'm gonna throw open the doors and embrace life and just do it!' I believe in that song. And it's what I believe for my life, too.

What is one of the funniest mishaps - when everything went wrong - you can remember from a show you did onstage?

Oh, my dear, my life has been full of missteps. Like when there's a mess up and you're laughing your ass off. And you try to shake it off and say, "Carole, be a professional!"
There was a play, I can't even remember the title. It was a murder/comedy and in the end of Act 1 there were people sitting around the breakfast table. And I burst in (I was the murderer) and the curtain comes down. This night, I came on to kill the man. I reached in my pocket to shoot him dead and there is no gun! I did not have the gun. It was a breakfast scene, so I grabbed a jar of grape jelly and I reached in and grabbed a handful and started throwing it at the man!! I was screaming "Poison jelly!!" I got so into it, I hit everyone at the table. I "killed" the whole cast with poison jelly at the end of Act 1! Now what??? In Dolly one time I kicked my foot up and my shoe went flying off into the audience. And this little bald man brought it down to the foot of the stage. I gave him a big, red kiss on the top of his head. These crazy things are the best part of live theatre.

How did doing Steel Magnolias change your career?

I would not say it changed my career, but it gave impetus to it. I loved playing Ouisar. Everybody in it loved what they were doing, and that was joyful. And we're in an audience-pleasing show, so it was just so rewarding. All of the women, there were six of us, loved each other. I don't think there were any cross words among us. It goes against the axiom that women do horrible things to each other in show business. Barbara Rush and Margo Martindale were in that show and we toured for years. We did the Kennedy Center and performed for the Bushes. Bobby Harling wrote it, and it was just a fabulous show.

What is the favorite show you have done? Why?

It's difficult to pick a favorite. I worked with my husband, Tom Troupe, in Lion In Winter, and that was special. There are wonderful things about many shows that make them dear to me. I've done such enjoyable shows from comedy to drama. I love Chekhov. Some would find that hard to believe. I'd love to do Gypsy. Honey, there's a roomful of shows I'd like to do. The trick is, "Keep breathing!"

Did anyone serve as mentor to your career?

There are so many more opportunities for women in comedy now. There's SNL and so many other things to cut your teeth on. Just get out there and do it! There are so many talented, funny women right now, and it's hard work. Lucille Ball, God knows, proved that. Lucy loved to rehearse, you could never rehearse her enough. And I learned my professional dedication from that.
Years ago, Lucy heard about me and sent for me to come to LA. And at the meeting we had a long talk and I told her some of the stories I do in my show, in fact. And at the end of our conversation she wanted to put me on contract. She asked if I would consider changing my name which was Mildred Frances Cook then. And I said, "Of course!" (I mean, it was Lucille Ball, after all!) And I said, Carole, for Carole Lombard who was married to Clark Gable. And Lucy said, "Carole Cook." "You, Carole Cook, and Carole Lombard have the same healthy disrespect for everything in general," and I took that as the greatest compliment.

Talk about your marriage to Tom Troupe and how that wonderful marriage has lasted all these years. What's the secret?

We've been married for 51 years, and it's been the best thing that's certainly ever happened to me. He's made me better. He's just improved me. I don't think there's a secret. You just do it every day. There has never been jealousy between us - any competition professionally. If only one of us can get the job, I want him to get it. I want people to recognize the talent that each of us sees in the other. He was in The Caretaker, and I thought he was the best actor I'd ever seen. I didn't see any tricks in his work. There was so much honesty-nothing showy. But the end result was stunning. There was always a hint of danger in his work. George C. Scott had the same quality, and it sets some people apart. Tom plays comedy as honestly and dead seriously as tragedy. Anything less than great in those two fields will get you booed off the stage.

What do you want to be remembered for most? What should the inscription on your tombstone say?

I would like to be remembered as somebody who brought a little difference to people's lives for the good. We all want to be beloved, and that would be nice. I'd like for them to think "I'm glad I knew her."
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Interview with Brady Schwind

Producers Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman and The Transfer Group have announced that CARRIE THE MUSICAL will return to Los Angeles at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, the first theatrical musical at that venue. CARRIE THE MUSICAL begins previews on October 1, 2015 and officially opens on October 8, 2015.   

 Directed by Brady Schwind and choreographed by Lee Martino, this immersive staging of CARRIE takes the legendary musical off the stage and puts the audience right in the middle of the action, back in the rooms and hallways of high school and, of course, with a prime seat at the prom.   This production is based on the acclaimed run this past spring at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, with most of the original La Mirada cast.  

Director Brady Schwind recently sat down to chat about the changes that have been made to the show since last March.

Has the show changed in any way since March? Have you had to adapt it to the new space in any way?

Yes, indeed it has!  Our pilot production at La Mirada this spring was a fantastic chance to test the environmentall-immersive concept I had for the piece, but The Los Angeles Theatre is a whole different play-ground. Quite literally!  This old jewel of a downtown movie palace is a vast, fascinating labyrinth of space, with decades of lore and an astonishing architecture. It's also one of L.A.'s best kept secrets. One of the biggest thrills for me on this incarnation, is imagineering how the story of CARRIE can work in tandem with the story of this extraordinary building.  So while, we are taking the bones (and hopefully the best aspects) of what was done before, we are completely re-imagining the show for our new home. Everything is bigger and better! We have lots of new surprises, and I think for even those who saw it at La Mirada, it will feel like a fresh, new production.

Expand once more on your mission for Carrie. How does the immersion help audiences to understand the issues better?

I love iconic stories. I love stories that have endured for decades. And I love asking 'why' those stories have endured, and to then as a director  to ask if I have any new insights into what makes them relevant.  The brilliance of Stephen King's work on CARRIE is that he took what is, by-and-large, the most universally terrifying  time in a person's life -- the American high school experience - and in his own way 'theatricalized' it into a grand, almost operatic horror story.  In this immersive approach to CARRIE, we are asking the audience to step back into high school -- and to bring their own personal memories with them.  The characters in the piece are archetypes -- we know who they are -- we know who we are in relationship to them, and of course -- we all, at some time or another, know what its like to feel like Carrie.  The environmental landscape, which takes away any 4th wall separation between between the cast allows audiences the opportunity to get swept up, not only in the experience of the story, but in the experience of how how their own personal story relates. 

What are the plans? A Broadway run?

Oh wow! Taking this revival of CARRIE to Broadway would be a a personal dream come true for me, but right now we are focusing on other cities where we think the show could be unique and powerful.  Certainly, Las Vegas holds the potential for an especially grand staging, and I love the idea of New Orleans, a city with haunted roots that seem a natural fit to the story.  But I think this production could also find great success internationally too -- in Europe or Japan.  Even if the culture is a little bit different, we have all shared these universal experiences and feelings of growing up. I think CARRIE speaks to everyone.

What other shows and directors have you been influenced by? Any shows you dream of directing?

My work on CARRIE definitely takes some inspiration from the work of Michael Bennett and Tommy Tune  (namely their productions of FOLLIES and GRAND HOTEL) which were both riveting fantasias on environment and memory. And I'm fascinated by the historical work of theatrical pioneers like Tom O'Horgan and Peter Brook. Of the current crop of directors, I'm endlessly thrilled by the work of Marianne Elliott, Alex Timbers and Sam Gold and this season, like everyone else was knocked out by Thomas Kail's work on HAMILTON and Michael Arden's re-imagining of SPRING AWAKENING at DeafWest.

As for shows I'd like to direct -- well, anything by Tennessee Williams and Chekov (what director wouldn't) -- but I also have a secret dream of taking a stab at LOLITA MY LOVE (the fabled John Barry / Alan Jay Lerner take on the Nabokov book) which I think, like CARRIE ,has always been a mis-understood musical waiting to be mined for gold.

 Any final words about the cast, the space or the production. Look forward to seeing it again.

I adore our cast, who I think have completely redefined these roles.  I am thrilled that almost all of them are returning to the production.  And I'm honored too with the best creative team in Los Angeles.  But most of all, I am blessed to be working with writers (Composer Michael Gore, Lyricist Dean Pitchford, and Book Writer, Larry Cohen) who are still in love with CARRIE -- ever open to new ideas,  and firmly committed to making this production the best Prom Night she's ever had.

Los Angeles Theater, 615 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

                 /Performances begin Thursday, October 1, 2015

                               /Opening Night Thursday, October 8

                               /Performances on sale through November 22.

                Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings at 8p

Saturdays Oct. 17, Oct. 31 (Halloween), and Nov. 14 at 6:30p and 11p

Saturdays Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21 at 2p and 8p

Sundays at 2p and 6:30p

                              Tix available online at ExperienceCarrie.com or by calling 1-888-596-1027

                 

One of the Top Ten Stories on BWW this week:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Regional-Roundup-Top-10-Stories-This-Week-Around-the-Broadway-World-925-The-Engemans-WEST-SIDE-STORY-BEAUTIFUL-Tour-DTCs-MOONSHINE-and-More-20150925

Interviews for Welcome to My World with Bruce Kimmel, Sami Staitman and Corey Fogelmanis

     

        Welcome to My World, starring Sami Staitman, is the first ever one-girl musical written for and about a fourteen-year-old. The musical will have its world premiere September 10 and continue through September 27, 2015 at the Grove Theatre in Burbank, CA. The Disney Channel’s Corey Fogelmanis (“Farkle” on Girl Meets World), who appears as a Special Guest on the show’s upcoming Kritzerland Records’ CD Cast recording, will be on hand opening weekend for a private Meet & Greet with fans who have donated to the production. The show is created and directed by prolific Bruce Kimmel, surely no stranger to LA theatre.

         In the following brief interviews, creator/director Bruce Kimmel, star Sami Staitman and CD guest Corey Fogelmanis talk about Welcome to My World.

     BRUCE KIMMEL wrote, directed and starred in the cult movie hit, The First Nudie Musical (available on a Special Edition Blu-ray).  He also co-created (with David Wechter) the story for the hit film, The Faculty, directed by Robert Rodriguez.  As an actor, Mr. Kimmel guest-starred on most of the long-running television shows of the 1970s, including  The Partridge Family (recurring), Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, MASH, Alice, and many others, including leading roles in several pilots for all three of the major networks. Mr. Kimmel is a legendary Grammy-nominated producer of theatre music on CD, having produced over 180 albums. He has produced solo albums for Petula Clark, Helen Reddy, Jason Graae, Liz Callaway, Christiane Noll, Rebecca Luker, Brent Barrett, Sally Mayes, Judy Kaye, Judy Kuhn, and many others.  In addition to the albums he has personally produced, Kimmel has also released over four hundred classic cast albums and soundtracks, including his acclaimed remix of the original cast albums of Follies; Promises, Promises and Sugar.  His label, Kritzerland, issues a new CD every two weeks.  For nearly five years he has been producing and hosting a series of live entertainment tributes based on albums he’s produced.  The series takes place at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal in North Hollywood and features top regional  singers and special guest stars. He is also the creator, writer, and director of the popular web series, Outside the Box.  Most recently he directed a critically acclaimed production of Li’l Abner; and took a sampling of his Kritzerland shows to New York.  He also directed the hit Los Angeles musical revival of Inside Out, and One Starry Night:  From Broadway to Hollywood, a benefit for ALS at the Pasadena Playhouse which starred Renee Zellweger, Petula Clark, Melissa Manchester, and Ed Asner, among others.

     
     What made you decide to write this musical? Was it Sami's talent that totally motivated it or do you have a passion for the craziness of that age?

     About three years ago I was asked if I could find a comic monologue for a thirteen-year-old girl.  I searched, couldn’t, and ended up writing one for that girl. That planted the seed about doing an evening of monologues for the character I’d created, who I’d called Molly. And I thought it would be fun to have one song in it to set up the show – and I wrote the beginning of one, which I called “Welcome to My World.”  But things were busy and I kind of just put it away.  Last year, after I’d been working with Sami for two years, I began to think about it again as a vehicle for her.  We sat down, I told her how much work and commitment it would be and said if she was willing to go there, I would begin writing the rest of the show. She was and I did. I’ve written fifteen books, thirteen of which are fiction, and eleven of which feature teen or pre-teen protagonists – I guess I love writing young characters.

       What do we learn about the 14 year-old girl in the show without issuing a spoiler alert?

     Molly pretty much runs the gamut in terms of subject matter – she talks about anything and everything that’s on her mind, some of them quite frankly – as she says at one point, “Have you noticed that I have no edit button?”  I hope both young and older folks will relate to the subjects and I hope they find Molly unique and even refreshing for a fourteen-year-old.

       Did you compose new songs or are you using familiar ones?

     Originally it was going to be just one song to open the show, but as I began writing the monologues I would get to the end of one and think, gee, what a good place for a song, and it just kind of morphed into a musical – but when you have Sami that’s just kind of a natural thing to do.  With the exception of one song that I wrote a few years ago and which Sami had already sung in a Kritzerland show but that also worked perfectly for this show, all the songs are new.

      Sami is best at comedy. Do we get a chance to see that in the new show?

      The majority of the monologues are comic, so, yes, she gets to do lots of comedy in the show. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    SAMI STAITMAN, a millennium child, has been performing on stage since she was 4, where it was love a first footlight! Sami's first professional gig was at the age of 8 and she hasn't stopped since. She adores musical theatre and has over 30 credits on stage. She is equally at home in front of the camera or in a recording studio singing and recording voice-over.  Sami has performed on stages all across the country from Los Angeles to New York. She is part of a very active cabaret scene performing in Los Angeles and in NYC alongside some of the great talents in musical theatre and cabaret today. Sami earned her Equity card at the age of 11 for the title role of Annie at the Pioneer Theatre Company.  Sami balances school with a professional acting and singing schedule performing in cabarets around the country and also taking part in musical theatre productions, readings and workshops, TV/Film & Voiceover. All this and she competes on the Comedy Sportz LA High School Team. She's fortunate that she has a school that is supportive of her career and a loving family that is by her side. At school, as a part of her core curriculum she takes American Sign Language as her foreign language requirement and she's a natural. In January, 2015, Sami was nominated for three Robby Awards, from Los Angeles critic Rob Stevens who recognizes the best of theatre in Southern California.   www.samistaitman.com

        How does it feel to be starring in your very own show at 14?

      Starring in this original musical is such a thrill and an honor for me!   I am beyond grateful to Bruce for this amazing opportunity!

       Has Bruce really nailed 14? Does he have you playing yourself or a fictional character?

       When Bruce first told me about this project I was really excited about it! Bruce and I spent a lot of time talking about all kinds of things.  About once a week for many months, me, my mom and Bruce would have lunch and he'd ask me all sorts of questions or I'd tell him stories that had happened to me at school, with friends or at camp.  So although I am playing a fictional character, I completely get Molly.  She and I are very different but share a lot of the same experiences.  And yes, he's really great at capturing what's going on in a 14 year old's world.    

      Tell me about your friendship with Corey Fogelmanis.

       Corey and I have been friends since we were about 9 years old when we were both cast in a local community theater production.  After that we went to NYC together for Broadway summer camp together.  Then when I was cast in a musical movie and they needed a boy to sing, we recommended Corey.  Next, when I was cast in a TV Pilot which had a musical number in it and they needed a boy to sing and I recommended Corey again. Then I introduced him to my agent who signed him and the rest is history. 

      I understand there's a song that you will be sharing with him on the album? You will do a version that you are singing in the show and he will do a different version? Talk more about this.

      We're each singing the song titled, "Everything is Gonna Be All Right".  It's a very positive, sweet song about no matter how bad things might be going, everyone goes through things like this and you're not alone in feeling the way you do, but in the end you'll get through it and that "Everything is Gonna Be All Right".  I think Corey's fans will love the song and it really speaks to kids our age.  Corey has a great voice and a lot of people don't even know that he's been singing most of his life.  It's one of my favorite songs in the musical and I can't wait for people to hear this song as well as all the other songs too! It really talks to not only kids my age, but it's a great song no matter how old you are.  This musical is filled with so many wonderful, fun and heartwarming songs.   (ask Bruce, but I think all the songs will be available on ITunes.) 

      Do you get a chance to do a lot of comedy in the show? Give us an example or two.

     This show is very funny, and Molly talks a lot - I mean a lot! Well she has to, doesn't she? Since she's the only one on stage, besides Alby Potts, the show's Musical Director, who is also on stage.  I don't think Bruce would want me to give anything away, so you'll just have to come and see it!  But as funny as it is, this musical also has it's sweet moments as well. 

     Tell me about the music that you sing in the show. Is it all original? 

     Every single song is a Bruce Kimmel original and they're all fantastic!  Only one was written before the show, but it actually happened to me in real life, so Bruce kept it in the show.  I love singing all the songs and I think everyone who hears these songs will have a favorite or many favorites and will want to sing them too. The songs are so amazing!  There are fast list songs to slow moving ballads, story songs and everything in between!  I can't wait for you to hear them all!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

     Corey Fogelmanis, “Farkle” on the Disney Channel’s mega-hit TV show Girl Meets World, has been involved with theatre from a very young age; and this year was honored to receive an Arts Advocate Award for his dedication to community theatre.  Staitman and Fogelmanis have been close, longtime friends and, together, have performed in numerous stage shows and on TV and in films.  Because of their shared passion for musical theatre, Corey lent his support to Welcome to My World by not only agreeing to be a part of the musical’s upcoming Kritzerland Records’ CD Cast recording and singing a special bonus track titled “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright”, but will appear opening weekend at a private Meet & Greet event for fans who donated to the production.  For more information about the CD, visit  www.GetTheCD.com.

         Tell me about your Disney Channel show and the character "Farkle" whom you play. Do you sing in the show?

        Currently, I am working on a show for Disney called Girl Meets World. It’s a sequel to the hit 90s show Boy Meets World. Basically, the show follows the daughter of Cory and Topanga, Riley, and her friends as they make their way through life. In the show I play Farkle, who is part of a group of four close friends. He is very smart and likes school and values the friendships he has. I do not sing in the show.

      What other kinds of roles have you had a chance to play - on TV or stage? Do you prefer musicals?

       I spent a good amount of time on stage before I started television and film. Some of my favorite roles that I have had the chance to play on stage include 10 year-old Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, Bugsy in Bugsy Malone Jr., and Young Don in Singing In The Rain. I like to perform whether it’s on tv or on stage.

       Tell us a little about the song you sing on the CD without giving too much away. I understand it is a different version of one Sami is singing in the show?

       The song I’m singing on the CD is called "Everything is Gonna Be Alright". It’s about not giving up and holding on because in the end everything will work out. I’ve added my take on it and I’m excited for it to come out.  

     Previews: Thursday, September 10 at 8pm; Friday, September 11, at 8pm/Runs: Saturday, September 12 – Sunday, September 27.  Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm Tickets:  Gala Opening Night September 12.  Thursday – Sunday: $25./Telephone Ticket Reservations: Plays 411 - (323) 960-7787 or reserve online at www.plays411.com/world