Q+A, CAROL LAWRENCE

Friday, July 7, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.

Who: Carol Lawrence

When: 7:30 p.m., today-Sunday

Where: Suncoast Showroom

Tickets: $39.95

Information: 636-7075

Almost 12 years have passed since Broadway, television and cabaret star Carol Lawrence performed in Las Vegas, last appearing in 1994 with Rich Little at the Desert Inn.

It was the year after her last performance on Broadway, when she substituted for a vacationing Chita Rivera, who had the title role in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1993-95), a musical set in a South American jail about a gay man and a political prisoner locked in the same cell.

Lawrence was married to Robert Goulet from 1963 to 1981, a union that produced two sons, Michael and Christopher.

The 73-year-old singer, dancer and actress debuted on Broadway in 1952. Her breakout role was that of Maria in "West Side Story" (1957).

Since then Lawrence has performed in countless Broadway productions and TV series, in addition to performing extensively in nightclubs, cabarets and concert halls around the country.

She recently spoke to the Sun by telephone from her home in Los Angeles about her long career and changes in the entertainment business.

Why has it been so long since you performed in Las Vegas?

I've been doing Vegas, off-and-on, since 1957. But it has changed so much. I do an old-fashioned act - I sing and I dance - I can't compete with Celine Dion and the other extravagant shows.

How has Las Vegas changed since your last engagement here?

It has grown so tremendously. And there's not as much warmth there.

Do you stay busy performing elsewhere?

I don't perform as much as I used to. There are not that many nightclubs and cabarets left. And Atlantic City has become a smaller version of Las Vegas.

Where do you perform?

I performed in Branson (Missouri) last year, and I'm working on another show that, hopefully, will be for Branson.

What about Broadway?

There's nothing in the offing right now. Broadway is a very strange place. It's very different now from when I first started. It mirrors what's going on in the world, and so the productions are much more aggressive - edgy kinds of shows as opposed to the days of the romantic ballads. It takes a harsher look at life.

You were in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" several years ago, a major departure from the type of shows you had done in the past.

It was a strange play, but I got to do the fun part. I came out at the beginning. The rest of the story was so dark and tragic.

What can fans expect of your show at the Suncoast?

It's a family show with a lot of humor, a lot of family warmth and love going on onstage. My son Christopher sings. At one point I bring six men out of the audience, give them top hats and canes, and we perform a number. I sing some Broadway songs, but it isn't only Broadway. I sing the songs of a lot of melodic composers.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't performing?

Being with my family. I have a wonderful house in Los Angeles and an apartment in New York. And I'm always looking for new things to do.

Will you be performing in Vegas more often?

We'll have to wait and see.