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Bebe's back on Broadway

INTERVIEW: Ms. Neuwirth shows off her voice in Dallas tonight

12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 2, 2007

By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News
ltaitte@dallasnews.com

Most people know Bebe Neuwirth for her work as Lilith on TV's Cheers and Frasier, but theater fans idolize her for her Tony Award-winning turn as Velma in the record-breaking Broadway revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago. Thanks in large measure to the stunning impression Ms. Neuwirth created in the show, it is still running today after more than 10 years (and a touring version comes to town again Tuesday for the Dallas Summer Musicals).

FILE 2006/The Associated Press

Bebe Neuwirth brings her powerhouse vocals to Kander and Ebb songs tonight.

Ms. Neuwirth is coming to Dallas as well, as the headliner in the Dallas Theater Center's Centerstage gala tonight at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. We spoke to the star by telephone as she was preparing to make the trip.What are you doing for your Centerstage show here?

I'm singing Kander and Ebb songs, backed by a full-out orchestra of 45 or 46. That's a lot more instruments than we are used to these days.

When you opened Chicago on Broadway in 1996, did you think it would still be running there in 2007?

I didn't think it would still be on Broadway in 1998. I think we led the revolt that pried musicals away from the special effects. Everything back then was about the splashy effects like the chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera. We said that Annie [Reinking, who choreographed the show and played Roxie] was the helicopter, and I was the chandelier.

Were you disappointed at not being in the Oscar-winning film version?

I was at a table with Patti LuPone and Julie Andrews and so many others [who starred on Broadway but didn't make the movies]. When they make movies, they want a movie star.

You took time off from stage work for a few years.

I went back into Chicago as Roxie last year. It was a lot of fun, it really was. But I had to have a hip replacement so I could dance again, also so that I could cross the street.

Why didn't your 2005-06 Law & Order spinoff, Trial by Jury, get picked up by NBC?

Not a clue. It was a terrific show, with fantastic writing and a great cast and crew. Our ratings started strong and got better every week. Chalk it up to the mystery of television.

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Home The Arts Books Performing Arts Visual Arts Buy Tickets Attractions Kids & Family Sports & Recreation Best in DFW Celebrity News Movies Music & Nightclubs Reviews Restaurants Television TV Listings Video Games Visitors' Guide Columnists Video GuideLive.com/extra About GuideLive Blog: Arts Blog: Local Scene Blog: Movies Blog: Music Blog: Eats Blog: TV Blog: Punchbutton Blog: Shopping Buzz Blog: Texas Pages Newsletters Submit an Event Search Archives	Bebe's back on Broadway INTERVIEW: Ms. Neuwirth shows off her voice in Dallas tonight 12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 2, 2007 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com Most people know Bebe Neuwirth for her work as Lilith on TV's Cheers and Frasier, but theater fans idolize her for her Tony Award-winning turn as Velma in the record-breaking Broadway revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago. Thanks in large measure to the stunning impression Ms. Neuwirth created in the show, it is still running today after more than 10 years (and a touring version comes to town again Tuesday for the Dallas Summer Musicals). FILE 2006/The Associated Press Bebe Neuwirth brings her powerhouse vocals to Kander and Ebb songs tonight. Ms. Neuwirth is coming to Dallas as well, as the headliner in the Dallas Theater Center's Centerstage gala tonight at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. We spoke to the star by telephone as she was preparing to make the trip.What are you doing for your Centerstage show here? I'm singing Kander and Ebb songs, backed by a full-out orchestra of 45 or 46. That's a lot more instruments than we are used to these days. When you opened Chicago on Broadway in 1996, did you think it would still be running there in 2007? I didn't think it would still be on Broadway in 1998. I think we led the revolt that pried musicals away from the special effects. Everything back then was about the splashy effects like the chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera. We said that Annie [Reinking, who choreographed the show and played Roxie] was the helicopter, and I was the chandelier. Were you disappointed at not being in the Oscar-winning film version? I was at a table with Patti LuPone and Julie Andrews and so many others [who starred on Broadway but didn't make the movies]. When they make movies, they want a movie star. You took time off from stage work for a few years. I went back into Chicago as Roxie last year. It was a lot of fun, it really was. But I had to have a hip replacement so I could dance again, also so that I could cross the street. Why didn't your 2005-06 Law & Order spinoff, Trial by Jury, get picked up by NBC? Not a clue. It was a terrific show, with fantastic writing and a great cast and crew. Our ratings started strong and got better every week. Chalk it up to the mystery of television. This text is invisible on the page, but this text is affected by the invisible item's flow. This text is invisible on the page, but this text is affected by the invisible item's flow. More headlines 'Hallucinogenic Toreador' a surreal oddity - and that's just as it should be Takács Quartet program a well-coordinated balance of Hadyn, Schumann and Bartók Dallas Center for the Performing Arts hires chief from Florida Tyler Perry takes the stand in copyright lawsuit Theater Review: WaterTower's 'This Wonderful Life' has explosive charge of hope, goodwill More... ARCHIVES: Search for more stories on this and other topics \| Search Tips SUBSCRIBE: Get The Dallas Morning News delivered to your home	Advertising