Beth Leavel (#249) - December, 2009
from ATW - Downstage Center Hosted by American Theatre Wing
"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.
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