Marvelous Marvin

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 4:41 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

Feb. 21-22, 2004

What: "The World of Marvin Hamlisch," featuring the UNLV Classics & Jazz Orchestra.

When: 4 p.m. today.

Where: University of Nevada Las Vegas' Artemus Ham Hall.

Tickets: $35-$60.

Information: (702) 895-2787

Marvin Hamlisch has written hundreds of songs during a brilliant career that spans more than 30 years.

In 1973 he won three Oscars: two for his music in the Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand film "The Way We Were" (Best Dramatic Score and Best Song) and one for the Redford and Paul Newman film "The Sting" (Best Song Score or Adaptation).

Hamlisch, who will perform at 4 p.m. today at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Artemus Ham Hall, wrote the music for "A Chorus Line," which premiered on Broadway in 1975 and ran for 15 years, closing in 1990 after 6,137 performances.

The musical won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, nine Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the London Evening Standard Award, a special citation Obie Award and a Gold Record Award from Columbia Records.

Among the Broadway shows the 59-year-old Hamlisch has composed are "They're Playing Our Song," "The Goodbye Girl," "Sweet Smell of Success" and "Imaginary Friends."

In addition to the Oscars, Hamlisch has won four Grammys, four Emmys, one Tony and three Golden Globe awards. He has composed more than 40 motion picture scores, including music for "Sophie's Choice," "Ordinary People," "Three Men and a Baby," "Ice Castles," "Take the Money and Run," "Bananas" and "Save the Tiger."

During a recent telephone interview from his home in New York City, the prolific composer and songwriter discussed his stellar career.

Las Vegas Sun: Of all of the music you have written, which is your favorite?

Marvin Hamlisch: Songs are like my children. I'm not going to pick between my children. Besides, sometimes your favorite isn't one people know about. Some are thrilled about your choice, some wonder why it's your favorite.

Sun: "Chorus Line," which won a Pulitzer among other awards, must be one of your favorite.

MH: The entire experience of "A Chorus Line" was unbelievably special.

Sun: What song launched your career, so to speak?

MH: One of my first songs was "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," which I wrote with Lesley Gore in 1963.

Sun: Tell us about your concert at UNLV.

MH: It's a family-oriented show. I'll be doing songs by artists such as Julie Stein and Cole Porter as well as my own stuff, like "The Way We Were." There's a lot more comedy than people think. I'm going to be doing songs I wish I had written. We do some funny things, like "Rent a Composer," in which I write lyrics on the spot. Basically, it's a good time, particularly for parents. But kids will enjoy it too.

Sun: Have you performed in Vegas often?

MH: I've only performed there a few times. But I used to visit Vegas a lot in the early days. I loved to see Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and all the lounge acts. One of the main reasons you went to Vegas were the lounge acts. They were something quite amazing. Louis Prima was unbelievable.

Vegas has changed so much from those years, and the changes are very interesting. It's a much more family-oriented place now.

Sun: You have won almost every major award you can win in the business. How do you top yourself?

MH: I don't try to top myself. That's not something that is a legitimate goal. What I do is try to have a success, although I don't think I will ever do another show that will run 13 or 14 years.

I would like to do something successful like "A Chorus Line," which was embraced by the public and critics. When both like you, that's success.

Sun: Which do you enjoy the most, performing or writing?

MH: I enjoy performing a lot. I can come to Vegas and pretty much know I will be successful, because I have been successful everywhere else. I can come calmly to Vegas and feel confident that all will be well.

Writing, for me, is the most fun. But it has the most hazards. You don't know if it will be good, bad or indifferent. You don't know if people will like it. You don't know that you're going to be able to write another "The Way We Were."

Sun: What is it that you like most about performing?

MH: What gives me the most satisfaction is seeing people who really like the music. You don't have to be a Phi Beta Kappa to enjoy music. I'm not trying to become an elitist, by just playing for certain audiences.

Sun: When not performing and writing, what do you do?

MH: I am principal pops conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and the Buffalo (N.Y.) Symphony Orchestra, my home orchestra.

Sun: Are you a workaholic?

MH: Yes, I am. I don't do well when I'm not working. I don't vacation well. If I last maybe seven or eight days I'm doing real good, then something starts itching in me, saying, "Hey, come on. Time to go to work."

Sun: Are you working on any major projects right now?

MH: Yes, but I can't talk about it. Hopefully, in the next six months I will be able to.

Sun: What do you think of today's music?

MH: We are definitely waiting for the pendulum to swing back. It has swung wildly toward hip-hop and rap, which, by their very nature, are non-musical. They are rhythmic, but not musical. I'm waiting for the style somehow to be fused into music, or for something new to happen so that music and melody will come back. Those things are missing today.