Interview: Valerie Perri Loves Making The Theatre WORLD GO 'ROUND

Following Reprise's successful re-launch (as the newly christened REPRISE 2.0) with a crowd-pleasing SWEET CHARITY, REPRISE 2.0 mounts THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND on the Freud Playhouse boards beginning September 5, 2018. We had the chance to chat with one of WORLD's talented cast members, theatre vet Valerie Perri on being back with Reprise, while hitting highlights of her extensive theatrical career.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview, Valerie!

So, what cosmic forces converged to bring you into THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND?

They say timing is everything. This is my second go around with this show; however, I am singing several new songs this time around which is both fun and challenging.

Do you know which songs you're singing yet?

Yes, I do and I love 'em all! I get to do a couple of wonderful and lesser known tunes, too, "Colored Lights" and "Isn't this Bette." I'm looking forward to having fun with "Arthur in the Afternoon," and in this production, our director, Richard Israel, has switched things up so I will be singing "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" which was originally sung by a male when originally produced. The show is jam-packed with great songs and every one is a winner sung by ensemble of powerhouse actor/singers.

What's your personal favorite Kander & Ebb show/song?

In my freshman year at the University of Miami. I was cast in CABARET as a Kit Kat girl and my college pal, Ray Liotta, was cast as a waiter. We were the newbies of the production since it had already been produced the year before at the Ring Theater. We were just taking the slots of graduating seniors for a run that was to be performed in the Miami area. It starred Gail Edwards as Sally Bowles, with guest artists Mercedes McCambridge as Fraulein Schneider and Kurt Kaszner as Herr Schultz. It was my first Kander and Ebb show and had a profound influence on me. As far as favorite song, that's hard to pick. I would have to say whichever tune I'm hearing at the time. Their melodies are so tuneful. Their lyrics and internal rhymes are smart and clever and go right to the heart.

You have worked with Gerald Sternbach before. Have you done any shows with any of the others in THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND?

Yes, Jerry and I did a show in 1976 called A-5-6-7-8. We were both just getting started in the business. We've since done several shows together and have remained close friends over the years.

Larry Cedar and I did a wonderful staged reading last year of a new musical called I HATE HOLMES written by Madeline Sunshine and Adam Gorgoni. Kelly Dorney and I just recently sang in a benefit concert for the Foundation of New American Musicals. Dawnn Lewis and I have also sung in benefits together around L.A. and, ironically, we are both University of Miami Ring Theater Alumnae. Our director, Richard Israel, and I shared the stage in a production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Sacramento Music Circus and John Todd, our choreographer, was assistant choreographer in my last Reprise production, MAN OF LA MANCHA, as well as choreographing a production of SUNSET BOULEVARD we did for Musical Theater West. Michael Starr is the only performer in the cast I have not yet had the pleasure of working with, but we've already begun rehearsals and I'm having a ball getting to know him and his talent.

Besides your very full theatre resume, you often partake in cabaret shows. Do you have any go-to Kander & Ebb songs you sing as Valerie Perri yourself?

I get asked a lot to sing "Cabaret," "All that Jazz," and "Ring Them Bells," but I frequently love to pull out "A Quiet Thing" for an intimate moment, and I actually recorded "Isn't This Better" on my compact disc.

You've worked with Hal Prince, not once, but twice. What words of his wisdom, directorial or otherwise, do you take to heart even today in 2018?

I consider Hal, a champion of mine. He took a chance on a totally unknown and cast me in one of the most challenging musical theater roles of my career. I will always remember his words to me on opening night when we bumped into each at Water Tower Place right before our Chicago opening. "Don't spend all your money until the reviews come out and you know you're a hit." I adore him and will always be grateful for all his sage advice and teachings.

I have so many questions I would love to ask you on your incredible musicals and plays, we would be here for an unconscionable length of time. So, how about a word or a sentence about the following names or titles I'll throw you, OK?

Jerome Robbins:

A brilliant artist and a perfectionist. One time he made a surprise visit to the show and came backstage furious saying "If I ever see any woman wearing one stitch of make-up again in the Fiddler scenes, you'll be fired immediately." From that point on the baby wipes were used every night religiously to scrub off every inch of make-up before going onstage for those scenes.

Eva Peron:

Playing this character was true Cinderella story for me. It provided me my equity card. It was both vocally and physically challenging and my most satisfying role.

Norma Desmond:

Every performance was an emotional roller coaster. I wore great costumes and I got my 10,000 steps in every night climbing up and down that staircase.

Dolly Levi:

Larger than life, and a joyous role to play. I enjoyed stripping this character down in rehearsal and then adding all the comedic layers keeping her very real.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR:

Ground-breaking musical! Ironically, I sang "I Don't know How to Love Him" for my high school talent show before getting the chance years later to perform Mary Magdelene in a wonderful Los Angeles production starring Sam Harris and original cast members, Carl Anderson and Barry Dennen. Incidentally, my husband, Cliff Lipson, was in both the original Broadway show and the film; so he's taught me every parody lyric imaginable.

I LOVE NY campaign:

Simply one of the best gigs offered in NYC at the time I was living there. Imagine getting paid to travel all around the world singing songs from current Broadway musicals, all to promote tourism.

THE GRADUATE @ Laguna Playhouse:

I loved my experience with this show. The Laguna Playhouse is a terrific theater with a great staff and crew. We had a super fun and talented cast! Mike Matthews is an extraordinary director. Melanie Griffith couldn't have been a sweeter and more generous person onstage and off. It was like "Broadway at the Beach" with all of Melanie's celebrity friends coming to support her. I nearly flipped when I walked into her dressing room and met Bette Midler, Alana Stewart, and Carole Bayer Sager, all in one night!

You've performed in concert halls large and small from Carnegie Hall to Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles. Any particular venue you'd still love to stretch your vocal and acting chops in?

I've truly enjoyed performing in those beautiful venues, but really it's about the work itself that excites me.

As one who's performed in many cities, any distinct audience characteristics you could assign to any individual city? (more boisterous? talks back? appreciative? more respectful?)

I don't notice a tremendous difference from city to city, but audiences do differ nightly during a run. Some audiences come prepared to have a great time and they are with you from the moment the curtain rises. Others may take a bit longer to warm up. My biggest pet peeve these days is when people in the audience are texting or videoing on cell phones and that happens unfortunately everywhere -no matter what city you're in.

What advice would the now much more experienced Valerie Perri give to her much younger self starting out when you were credited as Valerie Klemow (your original acting and birth name)?

Yes, Valerie Klemow is my birth name. It was constantly being mispronounced and I was told by a casting director to change it. Today, I would tell my younger self to be totally authentic and love and embrace every single thing about you that makes you unique, that includes the good, the bad, and the ugly; and even if you have to constantly correct people, don't change your name.

You've performed with Reprise before in their MAN OF LA MANCHA. How's it feel to be back in a REPRISE 2.0 production?

It feels great! I am so looking forward to sharing the music and lyrics of Kander and Ebb in this multiple award-winning show and to be a part of the inaugural season at REPRISE 2.0.

Thanks again for this interview, Valerie! I look forward to your glorious Kander-&-Ebb-ing.

Thanks so much, Gil. Cheers!

For ticket availability and show schedule through September 16, 2018; log onto www.reprise2.org

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