BWW INTERVIEWS: Shoshana Bean On 'Barbra', PEEP SHOW and Being A 'Superhero'

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Broadway star and recording artist Shoshana Bean sits down with Broadway World to talk about her recent solo concert at the Ford Amphitheater entitled Shoshana Bean: A Happening at the Ford, her love of Barbra Streisand, and gives us a glimpse into the life of a "Broadway Superheroine." Interview by Amber Romina Cassell

I guess we'll just get right down to it. What's going on this Thursday?

[Laughs] What isn't going on this Thursday? We're doing the kickoff to Los Angeles Gay Pride at the Ford, which is also kicking off Upright Cabaret's "Wicked" Summer Nights Series. My particular evening is a tribute to Barbra Streisand, which is the beginning act, and then going into the second act which is my own material. Just to sort of illustrate how I've been affected by someone as powerful and iconic and influential as Barbra is.

So why Barbra? Obviously she means a great deal to you...

I think growing up she was it for me. And then at some point, once you're involved in musical theater, its just sort of cliché and almost taboo to be a fan. And then the gay men claimed her and she was off limits.

Coming back to her material and after doing the research and listening to all the stuff again...It's interesting when you go back to stuff that you were raised on, you see "Oh my God, I do that because of that!" I didn't even know why I have that habit or why I have that style. She was a huge influence!

In preparing for this concert, Director Billy Porter and I watched all kinds of footage of her including interviews and her movies...I realized [Barbra] did everything herself. She directed. When she directed Yentl and Prince of Tides, she does everything from the cinematography to the music, she's involved in every detail. And that's why she's so brilliant, because she doesn't let anybody tell her what to do, she trusts smart people, but she also trusts herself.

And I love that I can do this concert and be like "I became the woman/performer/artist I am because I had someone to look up to like that." It took this to remind me, but I'm like "Hell, it may be the harder road, but it's the more gratifying, more successful, more proud road to take." I'm not saying I'll do everything on my own, but to be able to trust yourself and know when to assert yourself and not be afraid to be called a 'bitch' or 'controlling' or whatever the stigmas that follow her...and myself as well, sometimes. And because it's Gay Pride Weekend! I mean, what's more appropriate for the boys?

Any apprehensions about stepping into Barbra's shoes for the night?

That's why it's okay, because it's not an impression. We don't want people to think that I'm trying to be her or one-up her. She has sung some of the greatest songs of all time and had them arranged in some of the most ingenious ways and that's what we're attempting to honor, as well as the kind of performer-someone who's charming and accessible and relatable and funny and easy.

I watched those old videos in preparation for this and wondered "When did we start to work so hard?" I think of my generation and the way that we perform and you can always see that we're working and I'm like "when did this effortless brilliance dissipate?" 

It's just sort of dipping back to a time when things were more classic. And with the stuff that we do in the second act that's my own stuff, we've also stripped it down from the more contemporary layer upon layer upon layer of effects and sounds to just the bare bones of what makes a really good song, which is what she always did. She took these great songs and rearranged them in fabulous ways that you weren't expecting to hear.

It seems like Streisand might be a little different than what your younger theater fans might be used to...

Than Idina? [Laughs] I would be blown away and honored if them coming to this were to open up their ears and their knowledge of Barbra. If they were like "Wow, if she sang that stuff..." I would love it if someone were educated about Barbra. I can't imagine I'm going to enlighten anyone about The Queen Bee herself, but that would be amazing!

In your own words, how would you describe the "Shoshana style"? What parts of you are being brought to the table on Thursday night?

On Thursday night, I would say you'll see my more soulful side. I am totally gonna be more myself. Well, I think I'm always myself, but there's also something about [Streisand's] stuff that inspired and informed what we did in that she's fearless and goofy and playful and experimental. And so the things I'm doing on Thursday I probably never would have done before had I not been given the permission to play within the realm of "Hey, Streisand does whatever the freak she wants!" So I'm doing some goofy, fun, frightening, risky things for me! Y'know, I'm not tightrope walking or anything crazy like that, but for me the things I'm doing are exposed and frightening.

And as far as my own style, I do come from a soulful background as far as what I listened to and how I like to sing so even the Barbra stuff will be more soulful. My stuff is definitely more soulful, but the cool thing about my stuff in this...is that its so stripped down. So really just the basic meat of the song, of a well-written song, shines through, and the vocals obviously, and the musicians. It's just really organic and stripped down, yet really has a lot of sustenance, if that makes sense...

So there's a story that you had a pretty remarkable run-in with Shirley MacLaine back when you were in Hairspray. What exactly happened?

I love this story, only because it's the perfect example of life answering you when you have questions. I had sat out that day for the first time to watch the show up in the sound booth.

Up until that point, you have a very clear idea in your head of what you're doing onstage and what it looks like to the audience and how important you are and I was like "Oh my God, we have this entire world created back there...these characters and our lives are so important to us...and you can't even see us!" We're back there in the dark, and if you weren't even looking for us...I was just so disillusioned by what I saw. I was like "Why do I work so hard, why do I give so much every night when you can't even see me?"

And I went back to work that night and I put on my makeup and my costume and was like "Well. Let's do it." And I remember starting the show at probably 70%. And that's the thing about that show, its so magical that you can't stay at 70%, its so uplifting and inspiring and amazing that like 10 minutes into the show, if even that, I was like "I can't give 70%, I have to give 150! Because its me and its this show and I can't dumb down who I am because I think I'm in the dark!" [laughs] It was one of those things.

And I did my show as I always do and it was so funny because she was there and of course I saw her at some point and everyone knew and it was the buzz. [whispers] "Shirley MacClaine's there!" And Harvey's dresser came up to the girls dressing room after the show and was like "Shoshana, Ms. MacClaine would like to speak with you." And I was like "What?" So I went down and she was like "Honey, you are a star. You just shine up there. You just stand out and shine and you're gonna be a star." And Harvey was like "She's Marissa's understudy!" And she was like "You call me when you go on, I wanna see you do that part!"...And I didn't, of course, but...it was one of those things that you have to pay attention to. Don't give up, you never know.

They say that every album is supposed to tell part of an artist's life story. What part of your story is being told in your album Superhero?

It tells the story of a relationship that I had from beginning, middle, to end. For me, I think it's the process of finding something, holding onto it, losing it, coming to terms with losing it, being at peace with it. Ultimately "Superhero" [the song] was written when I was at that point of being "I don't wanna do this alone anymore! I need someone to fly in and save me. Pull me out of the fire and fly me off to...wherever Superman takes Lois."

I just didn't want to do it alone anymore and at some point, once I just kept moving forward and chipping little by little away and it was done, I did it alone! Well, not alone really, there was a cast of thousands to make it happen...but the motivation was singular and the intention was singular. That's why I named the album Superhero, because I was like "I did it! I am my own superhero! I don't need someone to fly in and rescue me, I don't need someone to do things for me. I'm obviously very capable!" Its just you have to go through it. It was just the evolution of me figuring who I am and what I'm capable of. Every lesson is that: what I'm capable of.

Equality and gay rights are obviously very important to you. How does it feel that your show is the official kickoff for LA Pride?

I love it! I'm so excited! Its super powerful the times we're in, I feel like things are changing now and I think that change is painful and often difficult, but ultimately that's when change happens, when things get a little uncomfortable. I think it's a huge honor.

Five years ago you were asked in an interview where you saw yourself in five years. You said you'd be "Living in LA with a house, a dog, an SUV, and having already worked on a few of my own albums, I'd like to be producing new talent by then." How accurate is that prediction?

Well, I live in LA! I don't have an SUV because that's not very ecologically conscious. I don't have a house, I have an apartment. I have a dog. YES! I have finished an album! Am I working on new talent? Not yet. No...I'm behind! [laughs] I have some work to do! Damn!

If I were to ask you again where you saw yourself in five years, what would you say?

Oh God. How old am I? Five years, would put me at...Oh god, I have to own a piece of property by then. There is one role in particular I will have to have played, but I'm not gonna say it for the record. I'd probably like another album. I would like to originate a role back on Broadway. I should probably be married by then! That's marrying age. Yeah. No kids...well, yeah, a year or so after that, probably have a kid. That's a big age. Oh the pressure!

Time for a deep, personal question...What are ketchup chips?

[Laughs] Ketchup chips, Jesus Christ...ketchup chips are something I discovered in Toronto while I was doing Wicked. Ketchup is my favorite condiment and I put it on everything. I remember when I was younger I used to eat potato chips with ketchup. So I saw them in the store, and sometimes you can go wrong when you buy the flavored chips. Like those Limón chips? Disgusting. Certain ones are just not good. And I saw it and I was like "That sounds disgusting." And my friend was like "You know what, you just need to try them. If you like ketchup, you're gonna love these." And I did. [Sighs] And I loved them, and you get them in the states many places. I found one bag in New York at Barzini's. But then they weren't there anymore. But get this, this fan of mine knew that I loved them and brought me eight bags to my closing in Joseph!! They're just...they're awesome.

After The Ford concert on Thursday, you're taking off again?

[Laughs] Yeah, Friday!

Where to this time?

I'm not sure I'm allowed to say yet. I haven't signed the contract, but I'm sure its fine because we've already started rehearsals. I'm going to Vegas to do "Peepshow."

How did you get involved with "Peepshow?"

I was involved from the beginning as Jerry [Mitchell] was sort of conceptualizing it. But...you know...I'm not Mel B, so I can't open a show in Vegas. [Laughs]

But how do you feel about replacing Mel B?

I'm excited! I'm excited to do it and I'm excited to be in one place for more than a week. I'm excited to be in a whole different arena, a whole different audience. Its not Broadway, its not music in the sense that it's a musical venue. It's a whole different ball game. And I love Vegas, as trashy as that might be! I LOVE VEGAS!

And are you still going to Washington to do their Pridefest?

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to Seattle. I start Peepshow Friday, I'm there for a week, I go to New York to do a show at Birdland, come back for a week, go to Seattle to do Pride, go back to Vegas for a couple days, go to Cleveland for the Fourth of July with the Cleveland Pops, and then I'm back in Vegas for two and a half months. If I can get through the next month, I will be a superhero!

For the latest news and updates on Shoshana, visit her website www.shoshanabean.com, and for more info about Upright Cabaret's "Wicked" Summer Nights including Eden Espinosa (July 24) and Stephen Schwartz (Aug 23), please visit www.uprightcabaret.com

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