In a recent article it was revealed that Lucie Arnaz asked her famous mother, Lucille Ball, to fire her if she received backlash for nepotism when she costarred on Here’s Lucy. Not only was she not fired as she was able to show here comedic timing on that show but she was hired many times after that on Broadway, TV and in films.
The ever popular I Love Lucy had many episodes devoted to a plot where Lucy tried to get into her husband’s show, but TV Lucy sadly had no musical talent; the same is happily not true about real life Lucie.
Reprising a show that she did at 54 Below in July 1999, Lucie Arnaz: I Got the Job! Songs from My Musical Past makes a triumphant return to that venue July 19 to the 22nd. Accompanied by her long time musical director, Ron Abel, she delivers songs and stories with comedy and heart.
Beginning the evening with There’s No Business Like Show Business that she sings offstage in a darkened house, she and Abel meld it into a nice medley with A Lot of Livin’ to Do as she walks on stage.
Of course, Ms Arnaz grew up in a talented family and she reminisces about her time on Here’s Lucy where musical numbers were a regular plot device. Singing with Carol Burnett, Wayne Newton, Frankie Avalon and dancing the Charleston with Ginger Rogers was a masterclass in musical training and Ms Arnaz learned well.
Right out of the gate, after Here’s Lucy, she was in the national tour of Seesaw and from that show she sang Poor Everybody Else, ending the song with “Poor everybody else except me,” on a long note that showed her audience that her voice was in fine form. She reminisced about playing Annie in Annie Get Your Gun in the 8,000 seat open air arena at Jones Beach Long Island where neither rain, nor wind nor soaking wet astroturf stays those actors from performing their musical numbers. She chose You Cant Get a Man with a Gun and I Got lost in His Arms to sing from that show; two very different tunes that showcased her fun side and romantic melodies.
While cast in Annie Get Your Gun, she was called to audition for a brand new musical, They’re Playing Our Song, a part which she finally got after six weeks of waiting for the phone call and hearing that Bette, Cher and Barbara (no last names required) were already in the running. She cherishes that experience and her memories of composer Marvin Hamlisch who wrote the music to Carol Bayer Sager’s words. Lucie had never created a role before, and it was the first time she realized her voice was her instrument and the sound of the instrument was hers. Marvin wrote the music to fit her keys and taught her so much about performing and about life. She said Marvin “helped her find the humor in life,” which considering she was born into a comedy team that became legend is a wonderful tribute. Singing the title song of the show set a lively tone; but, when she sang I Still Believe in Love her voice sounded as strong and sweet as it did on the original cast recording from 1979.
Twenty years later she was asked by Sir Cameron Macintosh to create a role in his production of The Witches of Eastwick. Hers was the first phone number he dialed to star in this musical based on the film with four lead characters, and she had the first choice of which role she wanted to play. A cast of three sexy witches and a demon she jokingly chose the devil; but, in reality she played Alexandria; however, at 54 Below she does sing the devil’s song, Who’s the Man? with wit, style and a touch of testosterone.
Although I am sure she prefers to create her own characters in new musicals, she said she had a great time singing music and lyrics of David Yazbek with a stellar cast as a replacement in Dirty Rotten Scandals and here she croons What’s a Woman to Do?
In addition to her singing and acting Ms Arnaz has had her chance to direct a new musical Hazel based on the comic strip and 1960’s TV show. With words and music by her musical director, Mr Ron Abel, whose ability to arrange all the music of the evening and accompany her solo on the piano is beyond compare, Lucie sings a wonderful song from the show, He Just Happened to Me that could become a cabaret standard.
The final song of the evening is from the musical Pippin which Lucie performed in the national tour. At 54 Below she sang No Time at All with her feet firmly on the floor which was totally different from how she sang it on the tour, hanging from a trapeze in the arms of a sturdy young man. Frightening to be sure but “the coolest accomplishment of my career.”
Lucie Arnaz is the consummate performer with a stage presence that lights up the room. Her voice is strong and has great range and her comedic timing is spot as if she were born with it. In this show which continues through July 22, and possibly another return engagement, proves that not only did Lucie get the job but she also gets the job done.
The post Lucie Arnaz Returns to 54 Below in I Got the Job! first appeared on Times Square Chronicles.
