Q&A: Broadway Betty

Kimberley McGee

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000 | 9:34 a.m.

While daytime TV stars -- Kathie Lee Gifford, Susan Lucci, Judith Light -- seem to be migrating to Broadway, Broadway seems to be seeping into the Las Vegas scene with production shows such as "Chicago" (which ends its run at Mandalay Bay at the end of the month) and "Notre Dame de Paris" at Paris Las Vegas.

On Tuesday Tony award-winning Broadway singer and screen actress Betty Buckley brings her style of stage tunes from 30 years in Broadway shows such as "Cats" and "Gypsy" to "Betty Buckley's Broadway" at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the UNLV Performing Arts Center (8 p.m.; tickets are $35, $45 and $55).

Although Broadway is Buckley's first love, the one-time Miss America contestant also dabbled in the movies with her debut in Brian DePalma's 1976 adaption of the Stephen King horror classic, "Carrie." A four-year stint as the understanding stepmother, Abby, on ABC's "Eight is Enough," the hit series from 1977-81, made her fairly famous.

But Buckley remained Broadway-bound. And busy. A Grammy award may be in the wings for Buckley, who was recently nominated for Best Spoken Word Album.

Recently Buckley talked about her stage habits, traveling with pets and life on Broadway in a phone interview with the Las Vegas Sun from her home in Los Angeles.

Question: Do you have any rituals you perform before taking the stage?

Answer: Yeah! I always do. I've been a student of Eastern philosophy for 27 years so I meditate and pray and I always have to reach out and touch the ground. And I always have to do my magical handshake with my assistant. We call it 'The Grip.' We do it before I go on stage and everybody (back stage) laughs.

Q: What's a magical handshake?

A: It's hand, hand, fist, fist, hip, hip and then you kind of wave your hand.

Q: Then you go on stage and do a serious song?

A: Yeah! That's right! (she laughs.)

Q: What are your favorite songs to perform?

A: I love "Memories," the song that I'm known for from "Cats." I have many favorite songs.

Q: Why "Memories"?

A: It's just beautiful. It's a beautiful experience. The character (Grizabella) who sings it, I feel like she is one of my great teachers.

Q: What has she taught you?

A: Many things, mainly how to view life. Just to try to be constantly present and witness its beauty. To remember to appreciate every moment.

Q: So do you enjoy performing because of the emotions that the songs stir in you?

A: Yeah! But I think I also perform because it is something I was born to do. I've been singing since I was 2, performing since I was 11 and professionally since I was 16.

Q: Did you always want to go to Broadway?

A: I've heard about Broadway since I was 11. I had been singing in church. They always put me in the back of the choir and said, "blend in." I realized that there was a purpose for my loud voice on Broadway.

Q: Do you prefer Broadway or concert tours?

A: I like both. It's fun having a hit show because you get to be at home and there is a definite structure and routine to your life. But, it's also fun to go on the road. When you do a concert tour, you have days between that you can just live your life.

(As she speaks, a melodic whistle begins in the background.)

Q: Is that a bird singing?

A: Yeah, my parrot (Blue), an African Gray Parrot. He's really sweet. He's 8. (Birds) are so affectionate, they are really sweet. I don't think people realize how individual and affectionate birds are. I have three Shih Tzus, too. Usually I travel with one Shih Tzu but if I go away for months at a time I take everybody.

Q: Why such a long concert tour this time, with dates through April, 2001?

A: I do concert work to make a living; it is the mainstay to my livelihood. I'll be on the road for 10 days and then I'm in New York at the Carlyle Hotel for five weeks. Then I go back on the road again and then I have a break and then I have different dates throughout the spring into June.

Q: Sounds exhausting. Do you prefer the road schedule to a stationary stay on Broadway?

A: It's different kinds of exhaustion, I guess. The eight-time-a-week schedule can be very tiring (on Broadway) and your days are spent in full-time maintenance just to do the show. The same thing is true on the road, but when you have breaks between it's nice, too.

Q: Will you see any of the Broadway shows on the Strip while you are in Las Vegas?

A: I hope to see a little bit when I get out there. Maybe Wayne Newton. I have a friend who is an assistant of his now and she told me about him and he seems like a really nice guy.

Q: Your work on the album "The Diaries of Adam & Eve: Translated by Mark Twain" was nominated for a Grammy last month. With all of the audio books and voice-overs that you do, did you expect a big hit with "Diaries"?

A: I didn't think too much about it. The producer called and asked me to do it and I love Mark Twain.

Q: You thought it'd be just another fun project?

A: Exactly. I went in and read the letters of Eve and it was a blast.

Q: Any plans for television or movies in the future?

A: Well, we'll see. It just depends on the project and the people, I guess, like everything else. If it was the right situation, sure. I think that (Broadway) is one of my primary skills but I'm a good actress as well, so, whatever.