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Award-winning cabaret and recording artist ANDREA MARCOVICCI has wowed audiences around the world with her timeless artistry. She is currently preparing to play fashion icon Coco Chanel in the 42nd Street Moon production of the musical COCO opening April 24 at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco, CA. Solo shots of Ms. Marcovicci are courtesy of AndreaSong, Arthur Shafman and KMP, Inc. COCO photos are made possible by 42nd Street Moon, Encore Communications and KMP, Inc. This interview facilitated and made possible by Kristopher McDowell Productions Inc. Special thanks to Lesley Alexander and Greg MacKellan.
In COCO, you play Coco Chanel, a legendary fashion icon. The role was originated on Broadway by a Hollywood icon, Katharine Hepburn. Any trepidation about stepping into the shoes of either icon? Because I never saw the show nor did I ever have a chance to hear it until the cast album ad script were presented to me by 42nd Street Moon Artistic Director Greg MacKellan, I simply had no chance to build up any fear.I am honored to be considered to play such a role. I must say I felt somewhat right for the part, but what is truly exciting about this project, is the fabulous melodies of the score of COCO. With no disrespect to the grand and glorious Hepburn, the cast album does not really showcase the beauty of this magical score. In rehearsal, we will be restoring the music to the musical. You see the score is actually quite challenging and it must have been terrifying for Hepburn. The real truth about it is this is a huge acting role. The only trepidation I had when I accepted the role is shouldering what is clearly a star driven vehicle. It is about having the strength and power to do the role seven or eight performances per week. The script is fabulous and I can't wait to perform this role.
When Katharine Hepburn first heard the COCO cast recording, she remarked that she sounded like Donald Duck! Do you find the range of the score limited, seeing as how it was tailored to Ms Hepburn, or have you discovered a way to find more musicality in the piece than was previously realized? I don't think she sounded like a duck. She sounded like Katherine Hepburn! She sounds great for what she is doing. I have been training and my voice is very strong and I plan to give audiences a delightful surprise. I find it interesting that Coco Channel thought Hepburn sounded too tough in the role. Coco considered herself very flirtatious and feminine, I plan to play Coco accordingly. I’ve always considered you one of the Great America Songbook’s most ardent admirers. Do you have any favorite contemporary songwriters’ work that you’d like to (or plan to) add to your next solo recording? As a matter of fact, after I am finished with COCO in San Francisco and I turn the delicious 60, I plan to do a show about contemporary composers. This is all happening at the same in my life as it did for Hepburn which I find quite interesting... In May of 2009 I will present a major concert that includes both old and new music. The new show will feature music by contemporary composers such as John Bucchino, Craig Carnelia and Shelly Markham. Since the show is a year out there are new songs yet to be discovered for this special project.
Complete the following sentence, "Cabaret is NOT a dying art form because…" There are just too many people entering the profession currently. We have Kristopher McDowell at the ripe age of 29 and, of course, my protégé -- the beautiful Judy Butterfield -- age 17; and Jennifer Sheehan (22) in New York. Then there is Maude Maggart who is in her early thirties, is touring all the time and hardly has time to write anymore! There are many others who are under 35 years of age that are beginning to really make a mark in the cabaret world. As new people are coming up preserving the American popular song they bring with them new life in the medium. As one club closes another opens. Most importantly, every single time I go out into an audience I notice some little baby boy or girl in attendance. So the dying art is nonsense... You see, when I am 59 and I don't feel a day over 39 and I kick my leg up higher than girls half my age, this art form is certainly not dead! In a 1994 article you wrote for the NEW YORK TIMES, you said that "cabaret is a safe haven for the hopeless romantic." Are you a hopeless romantic? Absolutely! And with my feet on the ground.
So what next after COCO? I will be performing and traveling with "Marcovicci Sings Movies II" which plays two weeks beginning March 6 at the Gardenia Room in Los Angeles. I will then take "Movie Night II" to San Francisco and play the new room at the Hotel Nikko in October and return to my annual eight week run at the Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel in New York for the holidays. The Rodgers & Hart show went very well in NYC and will also be touring the country the rest of the year. I am performing six shows for Lyrics & Lyricists toward the end of May and first part of June in a concert that celebrates songs written since 1965. But back to COCO again... Do you know what I really love the most? It's not having a star vehicle, it's not being able to sing, dance, and act all at the same time -- all of which I love. The exciting thing for me is being a member of a company. I am a road warrior most of the time and it can get lonely out there. I have Shelly Markham with me on the road, which is fantastic, but being part of a full company is so precious to me and I will treasure the experience..
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