From Playbill - 3/9/08
STAGE TO SCREENS: Chats with Debbie Allen, Scott Bakula and
Chita Rivera
By Michael Buckley
Two decades after his most recent Broadway appearance (in
Romance/Romance, for which he received a 1988 Tony nomination), Scott Bakula is
taking a not-quite-"Quantum Leap" back to musical theatre.
Considered by many to be one of the nicest people in show business, Bakula stars
in the world-premiere engagement (March 4-April 13) of Dancing in the Dark at
San Diego's Old Globe. Might the show transfer to New York? Says Bakula, "That's
what they've talked about since day one."
Douglas Carter Beane has adapted Betty Comden and Adolph Green's Oscar-nominated
screenplay for "The Band Wagon" (1953). The popular M-G-M movie starred Fred
Astaire as dancer Tony Hunter who, because of his fading film career, agrees to
co-star with a ballerina (Cyd Charisse) in a Broadway musical.
Writers of the show are two of his friends (Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant) — a
team not unlike Comden and Green — and the director's a theatrical Renaissance
man (Jack Buchanan). Playing those respective roles at the Old Globe are Bakula,
Mara Davi, Beth Leavel, Adam Heller, and Patrick Page. Among those also in the
cast are Sebastian LaCause, Benjamin Howes and Jacob Ben Widmar.
Has Bakula seen the movie? "Yes, but not for a long time." I'd read that Bakula
plays more a singing, rather than dancing, Tony Hunter, but he tells me: "I'm
Tony Hunter, the singer and the dancer. I do a fair amount of dancing, but no
one's Fred Astaire.
"Elements of the story are the same, but it's deeper. It has a new creative
energy. Douglas has had the freedom to go in and, with Gary [Griffin, who's
directing], flesh out the story, especially in the second act, so that it isn't
just number after number [as might be said of the film]."
Featured in "The Band Wagon" score, by Howard Dietz (lyrics) and Arthur Schwartz
(music), are songs first written for eight of their Broadway revues. Two songs
deleted from the movie ("Bran' New Suit," "Sweet Music") have been reinstated.
Numbers from Dietz and Schwartz shows were added: "Something You Never Had
Before" (from The Gay Life) and "Rhode Island Is Famous for You" (Inside USA).
"The Girl Hunt" ballet, danced by Astaire and Charisse in the movie, has been
eliminated.
Due to his TV exposure, one could count Bakula among the most readily recognized
actors. With which character do most people associate him — Sam Beckett, the
"Quantum Leap" scientist (1989-93), or Jonathan Archer, the "Star Trek:
Enterprise" captain (2001-05)? "Both," he replies, "but 'Quantum Leap' probably
carries the day."
Each week, time-traveler Beckett leaped year to year, into the body of a
different person, in order to improve matters. His guide was Al, a hologram,
played by Dean Stockwell, with whom Bakula remains friends: "He's a good man."
"Quantum Leap" earned Bakula four Emmy nominations, and as many Golden Globe
nods (winning the latter award in 1992). The actor directed three of the 96
episodes, and sometimes sang on the series. A 1989 show had him performing songs
from Man of La Mancha. "That one had John Cullum and Janine Turner — before they
did 'Northern Exposure' [their 1990-95 series] — and Michele Pawk was in it,
too."
"Boston Legal" (in February) featured Bakula singing "Once Upon a Time" and
playing piano. It reunited him with Candice Bergen, with whom he did 13 "Murphy
Brown" episodes (1993-96). "Candice is a love, and great to work with." Will he
appear again on "Legal"? "You never know. [Laughs] I didn't die at the end."
Shenandoah, "with John Cullum as the star, was the first Broadway show I ever
saw." A few years later, Bakula made his professional stage debut in the musical
"at a North Carolina dinner theatre. I've appeared in the show several times,
playing various roles. I did it on the old straw-hat circuit, with John Raitt
one year, and Ed Ames, another; a couple of national tours; twice at Paper Mill
Playhouse." In 2006, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., Bakula graduated to
"the lead role of Charlie."
Following a turn as an understudy in Is There Life After High School?, Bakula's
Broadway debut occurred as baseball's Joe DiMaggio in 1983's short-lived
Marilyn: An American Fable. Does it bring back any memories? He laughs. "Many,
but they're way too long."
On April 8, 1995, Bakula appeared as J. Bowden Hapgood, opposite Madeline Kahn
(Cora Hoover Hooper) and Bernadette Peters (Fay Apple), in a Carnegie Hall
benefit concert of the Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents musical Anyone Can
Whistle. Angela Lansbury, who had originated the Hooper role, narrated.
Recalls Bakula, "It was extraordinary! It was almost impossible to step back and
appreciate what was going on. I knew Bernadette, and had met Angela a few times,
but I didn't know Madeline. She's greatly missed. It was wonderful to share that
rare and magical night with her."
Born in St. Louis, MO, Bakula's the father of four. Daughter Chelsy and son Cody
are the children of his marriage to Krista Neumann; Wil and Owen are his sons
with actress Chelsea Field. Do any of them plan to follow in Dad's footsteps?
"They all love [the business] in different ways, but I don't know what they'll
end up doing."
His most recent musical theatre experiences include a May 2007 engagement of the
Richard Rodgers-Samuel Taylor musical No Strings at UCLA's Reprise!, and An
Evening with Scott Bakula, a January 2008 benefit concert for the restoration of
Ford's Theatre.
Film appearances include 1999's Oscar-winning Best Picture, "American Beauty,"
in which Bakula and Sam Robards played Kevin Spacey's neighbors, a gay couple
named Jim and Jim. His next TV stint is five episodes of "State of the Union," a
sketch-comedy series, co-starring Tracey Ullman, that starts March 30 on
Showtime.
Claims Bakula, "The Old Globe engagement [of Dancing in the Dark] gives us a
great opportunity. It's a very big show, with a lot of numbers, and really great
actors." Saying that it would be great to have him back on Broadway, Bakula
laughs, and responds, "I hope to get there."
*
About the Movie: Hugh Fordin's book "M-G-M's Greatest Musicals: The Arthur Freed
Unit" devotes a chapter to "The Band Wagon." The author writes that it was
producer Freed's idea to create a picture (scheduled to be called "I Love
Louisa") around the Dietz and Schwartz catalogue, and that he hired Comden and
Green to do so.
Freed assigned Vincente Minnelli to direct. He and Minnelli subsequently asked
Alan Jay Lerner to supply (sans credit) the narration for "The Girl Hunt" (a
Mickey Spillane-spoof) detective ballet. Jose Ferrer inspired the director's
role, which was declined by Clifton Webb. Though Webb sang and danced on
Broadway (including three Dietz and Schwartz revues), he never did either on the
screen.
Edward G. Robinson and Vincent Price were considered, but on Webb's
recommendation the part went to Britain's Jack Buchanan. Fordin also states that
when Freed wanted a new song for the finale, Dietz and Schwartz took only a
half-hour to write "That's Entertainment!"
©
2008 Playbill
