** SET  12. **

 

*** Last updated - October, 2004 ***

 

 

1.

Q. Hello Ms. Arnaz,

I'm a theatre student at Marymount Manhattan College, and I have been given the song "They're Playing My Song" to sing in my musical theatre techniques class. I love the score and the script, and the history behind how the show came about. I had never heard of the song or the show before, and I was so pleased to learn that I would be working on the scene prior to the song as well. I love the character of Sonia, and I was just wondering if you, being the one who first brought her to life so well, could give me a tip? If you could give one piece of advice as to how to bring her to life, what would it be? I don't know if that's too broad of a question, I honestly don't do this very often. I just love your Sonia, thought it would be fun to ask you, and appreciate your work at an actress and creative talent. so if nothing else, just know that you've won yourself a new fan.

Thank you so much,

Tova Heller

 

Lucie:   Dear Tova, If it isn't too late for you to take advantage of this (sometimes by the time these get to me and by the time I get a chance to answer them all, people have grown older and had grandchildren!), I can tell you the best thing to keep in mind.  Sonia cares deeply about people, she genuinely cares what happens to both Vernon and to Leon.  She is led by her heart, not her intellect.  And remember, whenever playing comedy, not to play for laughs.  Play the reality of the situation.  It's easy in most of Neil Simon's work to do that, because he sets the situations up so believably.  Just say the lines with truth and the laughs will be there.  Don't try to be funny EVER.  Sonia is vulnerable.  She writes lyrics with deep emotion.  Read her words in those songs and you will know her.  ("I'm afraid to fly and I don't know why.") Good luck with you work. -L.

 


2.

Q.  Dear Lucie,
Hiya!  I grew up watching I love Lucy along with the other clasics, like Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett.  I'm only twenty one years old, so imagine my suprise a few years ago to come across Witches Of Eastwick.  I am studying theatre at university in Denver, and had already heard of Maria Friedman and Joanna ridings talents, but had not heard of yours ( by that I mean singing).  Of course I had seen you in movies, but was completly suprised to hear you sing. I absolutley loved the way all three of your voices blended!  its one of my favorite cds and I play it constantly. my question is, what was the experience of the show like, and working with the cast, (particualarly the girls), and did you all get along? Have you kept in touch with anyone from the cast? Also, when/if Witches comes to Broadway, do you have any ideas as to who might be cast?  Thanks again, and keep up the good work!!
Love, Laurie

 

 

Lucie:   Well, Laurie, These are not easy questions to answer here.  Someday I may have to write a book about it. The experience was............. invaluable. The good, the bad and the ugly. I learned a lot. So many in that company were so very talented.  So many were hard workers and great folks to hang out with between shows and afterwards.  I keep in touch with many of them still.  There were some tough times.  Egos and a lot of unnecessary paranoia got in the way of having a really positive and memorable experience and there was one person, in particular who made it very difficult for the company to enjoy it the way it could have/should have been enjoyed.  But, that situation took care of itself and everyone who did things for wrong of selfish reasons ended up being the biggest losers in the end. 
 
I doubt WITCHES will come here without a complete overhaul.  The original book and music was grand.Johnathan Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe are two very talented, and gifted writers.  Their work was what sold us all on the piece.  Somehow along the way it got trasformed into somewhat of a cartoon, I fear.  That, in my opinion, was unnecessary and unfortunate and the what led to the eventual death of the future of the piece on Broadway. 
 
However, I enjoyed bringing my children to and living in London, for the most part, and I was proud to have performed at the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane in such a mammoth production and to have flown over the heads of the audience there.  WOW. I met and worked with some extremely talented and adorable people - Rosie Ashe and Steven Tate and Peter Jobeck and Caroline Sheen, our choreographer, Steven Mears and Bill Bronn, our orchestrator, David Caddick, our music supervisor and David White the musical director were immeasurable help to me on all fronts and Maria Friedman and I now have rekindled our love for each other, which had to take a vacation to heal after we were all so "beat up" during that 15 month experience.  Joanna Riding I have not spoken to, but, there is no double meaning there.  We just have lost touch. I adored many in our ensemble and Camilla Clutterbuck, our wonderful stage manager, and Autumn Smith on the crew and so many others backstage. I have no regrets.  I just often wonder what it COULD have been like if we were working with all "grown ups"? That's as honest as I can be. Probably too honest for my own good.  But, hey, that's who I am.




3.

Q.  Dear Lucie

This is absolutely incredible..I cannot for one minute believe that I am writing to Lucie Arnaz. I hope you are very well and wish you the best in everything you do. I truly cherish the "I Love Lucy" series from the 1950s and have often wondered whether yourself and Desi Arnaz maintained a close relationship with your father in the years following the separation from your mother Lucy. What was he like as a father and were children very important to him?  Thank you so much.

Kind Regards from Claude and all the fans in Australia.

  

Lucie:   Claude, We were very, very close to our dad.  We spent each and every weekend and every summer with him.  He was a great father to us- present and involved and never talked down to kids.  He had a wonderful sense of play and enjoyed showing us how to do things- swim and ride horses, deep sea fish, handicap the races, catch lobsters, take care of puppies and stray kittens, play the drums, cook dinners, edit films, find great books to read, paint, entertain friends with parties and live music- he was one of a kind. 
 
If he hadn't had that  disease, that so many do, he'd proabably still be teaching my children those things.  But, he drank. And, so, he missed out on the best years of his and our and their lives.  And I miss him every single day.



4.

Q.  I'm a big fan of yours, and your family. I've collected many photographs, clippings, videos, ect. for over 30 years, on all of you.

I attended the celebration at the LUCYFEST for your Mom's 90th Birthday in Aug., 2001, and I met you, it was a great thrill. Thanks to you and Desi Jr. for attending, it made it so special for us.  I hope you can make it again another year.

Sorry to take so long to get to the question, but---did you get a reading from John Edward when you appeared on his show in 2002?  I was unaware of your appearance, and wondered what he told you, and indeed, if a transcript of the show is available for the web-site?

Thanks, and we love you,
Rick Hatch

 

Lucie:    Rick, John does not do readings on the show when he is simply interviewing celebrities or being interviewed by them.  But, I have had several other private readings from him.  All of them were totally remarkable and fascinating.  Much of what he said he could not have known and that is always astounding to me.  I know a few people who can do what he does, but, it is a rare and heavenly gift to have and I believe that he uses it so unselfishly and wisely.  He is a blessing to the planet.

 


5.

Q.  Dear Lucie,
            Friends of mine gave me tickets to your concert at Founders Hall this evening because they had a conflict in their schedule.  I'm not sure if they had the opportunity to see you in "Witches of Eastwick," but it is highly probable.  So I brought a friend of mine with me.  You are phenomenal!   I laughed, I cried, my heart danced.  What a glorious time we had!!!  I love musical theatre and have the tape of "The Wizard of Oz" concert when you were Auntie Em.  I wasn't fortunate enough to see you in a live musical production, but I do have the soundtrack to "They're Playing Our Song."  My fiancée is a saxophone player at the Stardust and we enjoy musical theatre.  You mentioned that you will be appearing at the Cinegrill for a week in November; are there any other dates you have scheduled on the West Coast?


Thank you,

Kathryn

Lucie:  Dear Kathryn, Thanks so much for those words of praise.  I am having such a great time here at Founder's Hall.  It the perfect space for my shows and I'm thrilled that you liked the 80 minutes we put together.  I will, indeed, be appearing at The Cinegrill in November (9-13th), it was just booked the day we opened here in Orange County.  But, as of now, that's the only other West Coast gig I can promote. I have some private and corporate functions in the area, but, none you could purchase a ticket to.  So, the Cinegrill is the best bet.  However, as soon as I know of any, I will post them here on the website, so keep checking in.  Again, thanks for your very kind and supportive words about my performance this week.  Much love, LucieA

 

6.

Q.  Hey Lucie: I'm a big fan of yours. I saw you in "Vanities," "Seesaw"(my favorite), "Whose Life Is It, Anyway?" (twice -- to see you in both roles), and "My One and Only." I'm coming to see your cabaret show in Orange County this week. I read in Playbill on Line that you would be touring in "Wonderful Town" -- is that true? Also, are you bringing "Witches of Eastwick" to Broadway or are you done with that? Looking forward to your show ... Joe Parrish

 

Lucie:  Dear Joe, Thanks for your email.  You have seen some of my own favorite shows that I have done! Please stick around after my performance at Founder's Hall so I can say a quick hello, will you?  And as for Wonderful Town touring......well, they hired me and then they put the whole thing "on hold".  "On Hold" doesn't work for me too well, so, in the meantime, I am out doing other things, singing and dancing and reading scripts and moving on.  Doesn't mean that if they did decide to do the tour and I wasn't all booked up at that point, that I wouldn't do it.  It's a fun show and under the right circumstances, touring the U.S. in it could be delightful.  And I do not believe that Sir Cameron Mackintosh will be flying Witches to Broadway anytime soon.  The reasons are many and too long to explain to you here. But.....I never say never.  We will just have to wait and see.  I guess.  For myself, 15 months was quite long enough five years ago. But, I have had a bit of a respite from that experience and who knows, with a whole new cast....it could be tempting.  Hope you enjoy our show. Bessos, Lucie

 

Love,
Lucie Arnaz

 

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