From Press-Enterprise - 2/28/08
Old Globe's 'Dancing in the Dark' reworks old movie musical
By: Fielding Buck
Fred Astaire's "The Band Wagon" was about the madness that
goes on trying to open a Broadway musical. Now a stage version of the 1953 film
is days from opening at The Old Globe in San Diego.
Renamed "Dancing in the Dark," it stars "Quantum Leap's" Scott Bakula in the
Astaire role and a lot of Broadway talent.
Among them is Beth Leavel, a Tony Award winner for "The Drowsy Chaperone." She
said, in a phone interview on her lunch break during rehearsals, that it's like
life imitating art and art imitating life.
"The Band Wagon" was a light comedy directed by Vincente Minnelli. The score
consisted mostly of existing songs by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz.
Astaire played a washed-up movie star who returns to live theater, overcomes a
lot of backstage madness and falls in love with a ballerina. Leavel's role, as a
writer, was played by Nanette Fabray.
Among Leavel's numbers is "Triplets," in which she and Bakula play babies in
enormous bonnets, and "That's Entertainment," in which chorus members hoist her
on a ladder.
"It's the same songs, but the book has been explored deeper. And the
relationships that are in 'The Band Wagon' have really been fleshed out more.
They have more dimensions and more history. It's not just singing and dancing,"
said Leavel.
"In this musical, my character, Lily, was in love with the Fred Astaire/Scott
Bakula character. So there's all sorts of interesting baggage."
Leavel said she won't have much chance to check out San Diego until the show
opens.
"I feel like I've been in the basement of the Old Globe for 4 ½ weeks. Rumor has
it that it's a really beautiful city. But you know those invisible fences that
your dog has? I feel like I'm in my fence. And I haven't quite gotten out of my
collar area yet. ... Rumor has it there's even an ocean nearby!"
"Dancing in the Dark" is written by Douglas Carter Beane, whose "Xanadu," a
spoof of Olivia Newton-John's 1980 roller-disco musical, is running on Broadway
and will come to La Jolla Playhouse in the fall.
Leavel said this project is completely different.
"It's probably the antithesis of what 'Xanadu' is. Nothing's being sent up here.
It's all just really truthful storytelling.
"That's why I think -- I'm speculating -- that's one of the reasons they wanted
to rename it from 'Band Wagon.' Because it really is different. It is our
'Dancing in the Dark.' "
'Dancing in the Dark'
When: Tuesday-April 13
Where: The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park
Tickets: $52-$79.
www.oldglobe.org
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