Don't you just love a whodunit? And don't you just love Kander and Ebb, the guys who brought you CABARET and CHICAGO?? Now you can get your fill of both of them in the new hit Broadway musical, CURTAINS, playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre with an all-star cast featuring David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk, Edward Hibbert, Jason Danieley, and the triple threat dynamo who talked to me about life in front of the curtains, Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba.
The Tony-winning actor-singer-dancer is one of Broadway's most versatile and beloved performers. Her current role as Georgia in CURTAINS has earned her Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Ziemba received the Tony award—along with the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards—starring in Susan Stroman and John Weidman's hit musical, CONTACT, at Lincoln Center Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in A CHORUS LINE and later played opposite Jerry Orbach in 42ND STREET. She has starred as Roxie Hart in the revival of Kander and Ebb's CHICAGO, and originated the role of Rita Racine in their STEEL PIER, for which she received her first Tony award nomination as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations, and starred in CRAZY FOR YOU. Off-Broadway, she appeared in AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND for which she received a Drama Desk Award and I DO! I DO!, earning her a Drama Desk nomination.
Ziemba and I had a great chat about life on the stage and CURTAINS and some great theatre memories, which I now get to share with you. Enjoy!
TJ: Hi Karen. This is a real pleasure to talk with you, believe me. I have been a big fan of yours for a long time.
ZIEMBA: You know, Tim, it's hard to believe that I have been doing this for as long as it's been because it seems like it was just yesterday. It's amazing how many different people in this business you get to know and how many different shows you work on….it just becomes this huge family.
