Once the initial hoopla dies down, a once-hot play or musical needs new blood to keep ticket sales healthy. And there's nothing like a "name" to bring flocks of fans to the theater.
The latest troupers to put their spin on well-established roles include Lucy Lawless, a.k.a. "Xena: Warrior Princess," opening tonight as Rizzo in "Grease"; pop tunester Deborah Gibson, currently in rehearsal as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast"; and Kimberly Williams, renowned from the two Steve Martin "Father of the Bride" films as well as TV's "Relativity," as confused heroine Sunny Freitag in "The Last Night of Ballyhoo."
While the three twenty-something actresses bear similarities in their reasons for coming to the Great White Way - basically, to stretch their proverbial wings - each has a unique tale about her method of arrival.
LUCY LAWLESS
The role of Rizzo, the "bad girl" in "Grease," has been filled by one celeb after another since the revival opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in May 1994. Starting with Rosie O'Donnell, Rizzo's Pink Ladies jacket has passed to the likes of Maureen McCormack, Brooke Shields, Joely Fisher, Jasmine Guy, Sheena Easton, Jodie Watley, Tracey Nelson, Mackenzie Phillips and Debby Boone.
But none of the various Rizzo auditions could match that of Lucy Lawless.
On hiatus from her New Zealand-based "Xena" schedule, Lawless was a guest on O'Donnell's talk show when she spontaneously broke into a chorus of "I'm an old Cowhand." "Grease" producers were not only watching, but immediately roped in.
They made me an offer and I jumped at it," says Lawless, who's admittedly nervous about tonight's official opening. "I loved the thought of singing for the hell of it."
Actually , the 29-year-old Auckland native has sung exclusively in the shower for about 10 years. Before that, she starred in one high school play after another. The bad news: She had picked up a lot of bad vocal habits.
"That's why the producers have been tutoring me," she says. "They've been completely amazing and totally supportive."
Ditto for Angela Pupello, who's played Rizzo since April 8. But watching Pupello's expertise as a dancer proved intimidating. In fact, the required fancy footwork has been Lawless' biggest concern.
"My Rizzo will have to be a different take on the character," she says. "They've retooled things slightly, letting me focus on my own energies and what I can bring to the part."
But that doesn't mean Rizzo will be making eyes at good girl Sandy. Unlike her "Xena" character, there'll be no Sapphic themes. That's a relief to Lawless, who says that people constantly comment on that aspect of the show.
In reality, Lawless has a 9-year-old daughter, Daisy, and is "partnered" with Rob Tapert, who produces "Xena" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Both will stay with her during her seven-week run as Rizzo. Then it's back to New Zealand for more 14-hour days, five days a week, as Xena, a role to which she's committed through the year 2000.
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