Today we are talking to a spectacularly talented and universally beloved stage and screen star who is celebrated around the world for her wacky, witty and winning way with a character - 7-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman. Discussing the finer points of her just announced participation in the upcoming Encores! mounting of celebrated Vincente Minnelli movie musical THE BAND WAGON, Ullman opens up about her anticipation in taking on the role of scrappy and smart Broadway lyricist Lily Marton, famously essayed in the original film by Nanette Fabray. Also, Ullman sheds some light on some of the musical material we can anticipate hearing from her in the newly devised Encores! edition of THE BAND WAGON penned by Douglas Carter Beane, including such showstopping classics as "That's Entertainment" and "Louisiana Hayride". Furthermore, Ullman elaborates on her excitement in teaming with noted co-stars Brian Stokes Mitchell and Michael McKean, as well as performing for the first time at the recently renovated City Center under the direction of Kathleen Marshall. Plus, Ullman also clues us in on what viewers can expect from the hotly anticipated feature film edition of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's celebrated fairy tale-themed musical INTO THE WOODS and shares stories from the set. Additionally, Ullman reflects on some of her early stage roles, ranging from a Berlin stage production of another Vincente Minnelli movie musical masterpiece, GIGI, along with THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and more. All of that, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Woody Allen movies and much, much more in this exclusive conversation with a comedy legend.
More information on Tracey Ullman in Encores! THE BAND WAGON is available at the official site here.
That's Entertainment PC: How did you get involved with THE BAND WAGON at Encores!?
TU: Well, I know
Kathleen Marshall very well because I did ONCE UPON A MATTRESS with her - with
Carol Burnett, up in Canada, for Disney.
PC: Of course.
TU: So, I know Kathleen very well and it's really wonderful to work with her again. Also, I just worked with her brother,
Rob Marshall, on the film of INTO THE WOODS, which comes out Christmas Day.
PC: Small world, isn't it?
TU: It's just fantastic - the pair of them! They both work so hard and they both care so much. Just to be around them is so much fun!
PC: I assume you are familiar with the Vincente Minnelli film?
TU: Let me tell you: I've seen the movie of THE BAND WAGON many times. I think they showed it every Saturday afternoon in England when I was about 6!
PC: So, you are intimately familiar with it, then!
TU: Yes, yes - it was always on TV! And, this new script is quite different - and it's terrific.
PC: What can you tell me about this new stage version?
TU: Well,
Douglas Carter Beane has done it and he has incorporated so much - we're still putting on a show, but it's a different script. The movie we all know never really actually was a stage musical, anyway, was it?
PC: The title and some songs is basically all that remained, more or less.
TU: Right. It was a smaller version and then they expanded it and changed it for the film and now we are trying out this stage musical version with a new script. It's quite an interesting prospect, I think!
PC: You can say that again.
TU: I mean, there's some great songs in it! Actually, they've put more songs in for this character than there were in the film...
PC: Can you give us any hints?
TU: Well, to be honest, I haven't really heard them yet! I get back to America in a couple of weeks and start rehearsal then. I still haven't been sent the music. But, as I say, the script is just... [Pause] it's different and it's more intricate in the relationships and it's just terrific writing. But, to answer your question, I'm not sure what the new songs are all going to be just yet.
PC: Of course there are a few we can expect given the source.
TU: Oh, of course, of course - I am part of "That's Entertainment" and some others from the film that people know. To be honest, I haven't really done a lot of "Broadway" singing or performing, so I am really looking forward to it.
PC: You're anticipating embarking on the journey, clearly.
TU: Oh, yes! Just to work with Kathleen again - and doing a whole Broadway-level show in a month! I mean, it's too good to be true!
PC: Are you looking forward to filling Nanette Fabray's formidable heels?
TU: Yeah, I am!
PC: You will stop the show with "Louisiana Hayride"!
TU: "Louisiana Hayride" - yeah, yeah, yeah. [Sighs.] OK - whatever you say! [Laughs.]
PC: What about your starry fellow actors?
TU: Yes, I am very much looking forward to working with
Michael McKean again.
PC: Have you worked with Brian Stokes Mitchell before?
TU: No, I haven't, but I'm sure it is going to be fantastic.
PC: How many weeks of rehearsal are you going to have - a week or two?
TU: Yeah, I think so! I think that's about it. We're just going to do it as fast and furious as possible. I know that Kathleen will have us up and doing it and dancing and doing as much as possible. So, because of that, I want to come in knowing my lines, I think! [Laughs.]
PC: At the least!
TU: It's the least I can do.
PC: With such a well-known property, audiences will be prepared to have fun, as well - which is always advantageous.
TU: I am really looking forward to working with Broadway
legends like
Brian Stokes Mitchell and to be with my friend
Michael McKean - and
Kathleen Marshall! It's going to be so much fun. A show in a month?! It's a dream. I am really excited. What
Douglas Carter Beane has done with this script is brilliant - brilliant. He's really brought it up to 2014.
PC: It's still a period piece, though, yes?
TU: Yes, it's period - he's taken the film and the original set-up and made it different and exciting for the stage. As we were talking about, what we all know as the movie of THE BAND WAGON has never been a show onstage, really. It's a great, great script.
PC: Adding extra cache, THE BAND WAGON is Liza Minnelli's favorite movie of her father's, as well.
TU: Oh, is it?! She's such a lovely girl - I just adore her.
PC: Minnelli's GIGI is also coming to Broadway this season, so I was curious about a Berlin production you did of it at the start of your career?
TU: [Laughs.] Yes, I did. I was a dancer. It was my very first job - I was 16.
PC: Wow!
TU: I just know it in German, though!
PC: Such as?
TU: [Sings "Thank Heaven For Little Girls" in German.]
PC: You're not kidding!
TU: After doing it in German so much, I'm dying to see an English version now! [Laughs.]
PC: That is hilarious.
TU: It was so much fun! We found out halfway through our run that Christina Harker, who played Gigi, was in very dangerous situation, though, so that put a bit of a damper on the production.
PC: Given Kathleen and Rob are both director/choreographers, is it safe to say that you find that physicality is a way into a character - particularly given your dance background?
TU: Oh, yeah, yeah - definitely, especially for musicals. But they are both fantastic. They come so prepared, with all the dancing mapped out in their heads and everything. I like to dance and I started out as a dancer - I'm not a great dancer, but I know all that stuff. Kathleen and her brother are a lot alike - they both come fully-prepared and they both have energy like you can't believe and it is a pleasure to work with them both. That's one of the reasons I am doing THE BAND WAGON - to get to work with Kathleen again. It's a really fantastic script, so we'll see what happens! I know I am looking forward to it.
PC: Have you been in the new City Center theater complex yet?
TU: No, I haven't! I have heard it is gorgeous, though. One thing I do have to say, since it is a relatively new venue, is that I hope they get the sound right! Whenever you are in musicals, you always have to have a radio mic in your wig - they can spend all the money they want on the show, but it's always the same radio mic. Always! And, they have to get better radio mics!
PC: You're begging for an improvement.
TU: I am! At the end of the day, it's always the radio mic going out - you either have to wear that pendant or the awful thing that comes around your face; the
Britney Spears microphone thing. So, technically, let's hope the sound is great!
PC: Did THE BAND WAGON project come up while you were working on INTO THE WOODS?
TU: Actually, no. This came along very recently. I finished filming INTO THE WOODS last year.
PC: Did you enjoy that experience?
TU: Oh, yes, I did - very much.
PC: Your co-star Billy Magnussen said it was a sensational set and the cast had a great rapport. Would you agree?
TU: Oh, yeah! We did. And, my God, Billy, certainly - he's like "Rawr!" He's just always right out there - he's so fantastic! You know, it's like being with an over-excitable teenage Labrador!
PC: What a way to put it!
TU: I can only imagine the two of you together - all that energy! It would be quite a handful! [Laughs.] Terrifying, really!
PC: Your energy and his must have been combustible, as well!
TU: It was quite a lot of fun, yes - Billy's just fantastic.
PC: He's doing a lot of hi-profile projects, these days.
TU: I know! With
Steven Spielberg and all sorts of people - he's off and running! I am so happy for him.
PC: Your primary co-star in the film is of course the actor playing Jack, Daniel Huttlestone. He is growing up fast, isn't he?
TU: Yeah, he is - I think he's bigger than he was last year! He's fantastic, too - just a great kid who you know is going to make it through to adulthood with no problems. He's got it all in perspective - and he's so adorable! He's just the cutest thing.
PC: You are clearly enamored with him.
TU: I am! He's just so cool, you know?! I remember that me and
Emily Blunt were like "Oh, my God! Daniel is so cool!" You know, imagine you're back in school and it's like everybody wants to hang with Daniel - he's just got it. So, yes, to answer your question, working with him and him being my son... he is extraordinary in the film and he is a lovely fella.
PC: Hopefully you will team up again someday.
TU: I remember he kept telling Billy, [Posh Accent.] "Billy, we've got to find you a nice girl - you've got to calm down, mate!" [Laughs.]
PC: Those two could tear up the town!
TU: He used to say that to Billy and Billy would be all, [Hyper Voice.] "Argh, I'm so excited!" and Danniel would say, "No. Billy, you've got to calm down and we'll find you a nice girl to settle down with," you know, giving him advice! [Big Laugh.]
PC: What a great story!
TU: They were hysterical - hysterical - together!
PC: Have you seen the final finished film yet?
TU: I have - and it's just wonderful. Wonderful! You're going to love it.
PC: INTO THE WOODS will be your first time to do a movie musical since ONCE UPON A MATTRESS was on TV - some of your other musical roles have not ended up in the final finished films, unfortunately [in EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU and I'LL DO ANYTHING].
TU: Yes, it is - I think you are right. Those others were a long time ago now.
PC: Is it true that once upon a time you played Janet in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW onstage?
TU: Yes, I did - I did. And, since you asked I will tell you: I dated my Rocky! [Laughs.]
PC: No way!
TU: I did. It's sort of a thing, too - you know, Janet has to date her Rocky; and, I dated mine!
PC: You fulfilled that requirement for the role, then!
TU: Yes. This was many, many years ago, mind you. I remember it was a freezing cold theater in London where we did it and I was like the twelfth replacement Janet - you just sort of put your suspenders on and freeze in a theater like that in England.
PC: What a memory!
TU: But, I loved it, though - I loved it.
PC: I wasn't aware that you had as extensive a theatre background as you do before reviewing your resume earlier today.
TU: Oh, yeah - I've done a lot.
The Young Vic for a long time and other things. I also did a musical with
Victoria Wood called TALENT a long, long time ago - when I was up for doing 8 shows a week, you know?! [Laughs.]
PC: You are still capable of that these days, no doubt.
TU: We will see!
PC: Would you be interested in doing a full-fledged Broadway show sometime soon?
TU: Oh, definitely - if the right thing comes up. It would be fun.
PC: Do you have a particular role in mind?
TU: No, no - nothing, really.
PC: One last thing: given you co-starred in SMALL TIME CROOKS, do you have any memories of working with Elaine Stritch?
TU: No, not really - nothing more than just saying hi and telling her I was a big fan, which I was and I am.
PC: This was an absolute blast - thank you so very much, Tracey. THE BAND WAGON will be a blast!
TU: It was so lovely to talk to you, Pat! Thank you so much for helping to publicize this - I hope to see you during the run. Bye bye.
