Transcript of Robert Armin's
online chat with
Nancy Anderson (October 13, 2003)

[Nancy Anderson is such a good typist – and so fast – that the early part of the chat scrolled off the screen before it could be saved! And it was good stuff, too. Nancy talked about being hired for the National Tour of Kiss Me, Kate for a year run, but only played two months before she was invited to open the London production with Brent Barrett and Carolee Carmello. She was with the production when Kiss Me, Kate was recorded for television and can be seen as Lois Lane/Bianca on the recently released DVD. Nancy also talked about making her Broadway debut in A Class Act, for which she had to "do research to play a sexpot." Someone told her that she was doing a great Joey Heatherton impersonation and she had to go to the Museum of Television and Radio to research who Heatherton was. We pick up the chat in mid-conversation.]

[RobertArmin] CynSin_23 wants to know who Joey Heatherton was!

[RobertArmin] lol

[RobertArmin] How quickly we forget

[NancyAnderson] yes - the 60s sexpot was a curious creature-

[RobertArmin] She was one of the major sexpot singers on TV during the 60s.

[NancyAnderson] she was known solely for being on variety shows

[RobertArmin] She was a somewhat minor talent.

[RobertArmin] FranklinShepardInc asks: I loved you in A Class Act as well - just out of mild curiosity, you were billed as Nancy Kathryn Anderson in ACA. Why the name shortening?

[NancyAnderson] and playing the "straight girl" while guys made lascivious comments about her breasts

[RobertArmin] Joey was on a lot of Bob Hope specials.

[NancyAnderson] well -it's a long story -suffice it to say that Nancy Kathryn Anderson is my legal name with Equity

[NancyAnderson] and I'll be using it from now on-

[RobertArmin] Who's the other Nancy?

[NancyAnderson] she's a dancer in LA-

[NancyAnderson] and I recently found out that on the IMDB database, Kiss Me Kate was listed as HER credit

[NancyAnderson] OOOPS!!

[RobertArmin] A friend of my, Susan Gordon, was a major child star in the late 50s and early 60s.

[NancyAnderson] really?

[RobertArmin] When she tried to make a comeback recently, she was told that she had to use her middle initial now.

[NancyAnderson] right! it's a bummer when you can't use your own name!

[RobertArmin] Because some actress once sat on a barstool in one movie and used the name Susan Gordon. That's her ONLY credit.

[NancyAnderson] it figures!

[RobertArmin] So Susan now calls herself Susan must use middle initial Gordon

[NancyAnderson] nice!!!

[RobertArmin] CynSin_23 asks: What has been the best role you've played?

[NancyAnderson] hmmmm- that's a tough question- I think Jolson & Co. ranks right up there-

[NancyAnderson] because I got to do imitations, and I really love doing them-

[RobertArmin] You got to play SO MANY roles in that one

[RobertArmin] Mae West, Ruby Keeler

[NancyAnderson] but I would also have to say that Polly in Crazy For You was also fantastic

[RobertArmin] Well, I'm going to make an effort to keep up with your work from now on.

[NancyAnderson] that's really the type of character I feel most comfortable in-

[RobertArmin] Of course, you will be involved in one show for quite a while, I think -- Wonderful Town

[NancyAnderson] yippee!!!

[NancyAnderson] It's gonna be a GREAT show-

[RobertArmin] How did that happen?

[RobertArmin] Did they call you or ---

[NancyAnderson] out of the blue, really

[NancyAnderson] they called me in to audition about a month before they planned to start rehearsals-

[NancyAnderson] it sort of all came together at the last minute-

[RobertArmin] You will be playing Helen Wade. She's the not quite wife of the Wreck

[NancyAnderson] anyway, I had 2 auditions, and then I waited a bit, and then they offered it to me-

[NancyAnderson] that's right- she's "shacking up"!

[NancyAnderson] but her mom doesn't know-

[RobertArmin] It sounds like a terrific cast. With Greg Edelman as Bob Baker.

[NancyAnderson] HE'S AMAZING-

[RobertArmin] Who's playing your Mom?

[NancyAnderson] the whole cast is SOOOOOO FUNNY

[NancyAnderson] Randy Danson- is that her name?

[RobertArmin] Don't know.

[NancyAnderson] yes- that's right

[RobertArmin] I directed the last production of My Sister Eileen in New York (1993).

[RobertArmin] And Ruth McKinney's daughter came to see it.

[NancyAnderson] Peter Benson, from Cabaret and Michael McGrath are both A SCREAM-

[NancyAnderson] YOU DID???

[NancyAnderson] that's cool!

[RobertArmin] She is actually a judge here in New York

[RobertArmin] Lives on the upper west side.

[NancyAnderson] what a kick!

[RobertArmin] I hope your producers are inviting her to the opening.

[NancyAnderson] I’ll let them know-

[RobertArmin] Jerome Chodorov is still alive, too, though he was pretty old even ten years ago.

[NancyAnderson] I actually haven't read the original script yet, I'm embarrassed to say- I gotta get my hands on a copy

[RobertArmin] Really?

[RobertArmin] Oh, you mean of the play.

[NancyAnderson] yes- they have a few copies floating around the cast-

[NancyAnderson] yes-

[RobertArmin] I have two hardbound copies.

[NancyAnderson] well, I'll be over tomorrow!

[RobertArmin] Anytime. :-)

[RobertArmin] I love Wonderful Town.

[NancyAnderson] I love that someone has the screen name "franklinshepardinc"

[RobertArmin] How much are they staging it and how much is concert?

[RobertArmin] He's here every week!

[NancyAnderson] I did that show in college!

[NancyAnderson] I played Mary

[RobertArmin] Birdman, Deborah Gibson will be here next week!

[RobertArmin] Birdman has asked several questions about Deborah Gibson.

[RobertArmin] They didn't seem relative to the present conversation!

[NancyAnderson] Wonderful Town is being done with the band onstage partially hidden by set pieces

[NancyAnderson] but otherwise, it's fully staged and costumed-

[NancyAnderson] the set is really cool- all done in deep reds

[RobertArmin] Good, Wonderful Town really needs that basement apartment set to work properly.

[NancyAnderson] yes, it's gonna be great-

[NancyAnderson] such a strong cast- it's unbelievable-

[RobertArmin] I always felt that there was one major flaw in the original production of Wonderful Town.

[NancyAnderson] what's that?

[RobertArmin] And in the revival at Lincoln Center.

[RobertArmin] The Conga number was moved out into the alley.

[RobertArmin] It doesn't make any sense, storywise.

[NancyAnderson] as opposed to where?

[NancyAnderson] in Brooklyn

[NancyAnderson] ?

[NancyAnderson] on the boat

[RobertArmin] The whole point of the scene is that the Sailors are dancing inside the apartment and the girls are trying to get them out.

[RobertArmin] If they're in the alley, the girls can just go into their apartment to get away from them.

[NancyAnderson] wait- doesn't Ruth go to Brooklyn to get their story,

[RobertArmin] That's where she meets them.

[NancyAnderson] and then through the number they follow her home

[RobertArmin] But they follow her home.

[RobertArmin] Yes

[NancyAnderson] and then they're outside making eyes at Eileen-

[NancyAnderson] at least that's how our script goes-

[RobertArmin] Anyway, I think the scene works better if the dance is staged inside the basement apartment.

[RobertArmin] More claustrophobic.

[NancyAnderson] that WOULD be funny!

[NancyAnderson] I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know what Kathleen is doing with it!

[RobertArmin] Of course, in the original play, there was only the one set.

[NancyAnderson] of course-

[RobertArmin] But, back to Nancy Anderson!

[RobertArmin] CynSin_23 writes: I think the work of Oscar Hammerstein and Nancy are a perfect match... have you ever performed any of his work?

[NancyAnderson] well, in college I played Maria and Anna in the King and I

[RobertArmin] OldManRiver asks: Ever sung Old Man River?

[NancyAnderson] but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to do the old classics during my career so far-

[NancyAnderson] I've tended to do new works

[RobertArmin] You were terrific in the Noel Coward show, Pacific 1860

[RobertArmin] A "lost

[NancyAnderson] not by choice, just by coincidence

[RobertArmin] gem of a show"

[NancyAnderson] that show was a joy to do-

[RobertArmin] Simon Jones is directing another Mufti show this week -- Oh Boy!

[NancyAnderson] I was raised on all the old musicals, so that old time style is what I really know how to do

[RobertArmin] When did you start performing in musicals?

[NancyAnderson] don't ask me to do a modern musical- I'm useless!

[NancyAnderson] well, I went to a summer camp run by hippies called "The Charles River Creative Arts Program"

[NancyAnderson] and we would do full length original musicals there-

[RobertArmin] Hippies? And you did Hair?

[NancyAnderson] often written by campers and counselors-

[NancyAnderson] they were actually really good

[RobertArmin] patiran says: Groovy.

[NancyAnderson] you said it-

[RobertArmin] So what was your first major role in a musical?

[NancyAnderson] so I did 2 musicals per summer from the age 7 to 15

[NancyAnderson] in one that you've heard of?

[NancyAnderson] I would say the show that changed my life was Peter Pan

[RobertArmin] Melissa Errico was involved at a young age too. She starred as Evita at 14 opposite Robert Jason Brown!

[NancyAnderson] I played Peter Pan in High School

[RobertArmin] Peter Pan? Great.

[RobertArmin] Did you get to fly in high school?

[NancyAnderson] and it was the first time that I ever applied myself to creating a role-

[NancyAnderson] yes - we brought in Flying By Foy and everything

[NancyAnderson] it was fantastic-

[RobertArmin] That's still a great role for you.

[NancyAnderson] I'd love to do it again!

[NancyAnderson] I love those Mary Martin roles- they're written so low- such a warm sound

[NancyAnderson] except for Pacific 1860!

[RobertArmin] We were supposed to do it when I was about 15. But they couldn't get Flying by Foy, so they did The Wizard of Oz instead. I got to fly in the balloon as the Wizard!

[NancyAnderson] awesome!

[RobertArmin] FranklinShepardInc says: You can fight Melissa Errico for Venus in One Touch of Venus

[RobertArmin] That is a good role for you, too. Talk about sexpots.

[NancyAnderson] oh, I don't think I should take on Melissa! she's a tough broad!

[RobertArmin] Your voices would blend beautifully together!

[NancyAnderson] yes- I don't know that show well- did Melissa record it?

[RobertArmin] She did, but we're all still waiting for the album to be released!

[NancyAnderson] she has such a beautiful voice, doesn't she?

[NancyAnderson] I can't wait to hear it!

[RobertArmin] NannersDinkumDoo says: She's not so tough (about Melissa)

[RobertArmin] What roles are you most looking forward to playing someday?

[NancyAnderson] Dot in Sunday in the Park With George

[RobertArmin] Another Melissa role!

[NancyAnderson] Guinevere

[NancyAnderson] My Fair Lady

[RobertArmin] Gwinevere with Brent Barrett!

[NancyAnderson] the old lady in Pippin

[RobertArmin] !

[NancyAnderson] that would be incredible

[RobertArmin] In a few years.

[NancyAnderson] with Brent! I missed him at Paper Mill

[RobertArmin] Me too!

[RobertArmin] Darn it.

[RobertArmin] Goggy says: I'd LOVE to see you in My Fair Lady - you'd be perfect in that!

[RobertArmin] I agree.

[NancyAnderson] I've always dreamed of doing that part- hopefully someday

[RobertArmin] NannersDinkumDoo adds: me too, shucks

[RobertArmin] You have already played some interest roles!

[RobertArmin] Where did you do Polly in Crazy For You?

[NancyAnderson] I’ve had a lucky time!

[NancyAnderson] At the Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake City

[NancyAnderson] with Stacey Todd Holt, who covered Bobby on Bway

[NancyAnderson] it was amazing- that show is written so well, that you just climb aboard at the beginning and ride the show to the end!

[RobertArmin] I think that's where Liz Callaway did Evita.

[NancyAnderson] that's possible-

[RobertArmin] OldManRiver asks if you've ever done Show Boat. [He has a one show mind!]

[NancyAnderson] no! but I'd love to!!!! I was obsessed with that video when I was young!

[RobertArmin] CynSin_23 asks: Have you been to the Museum of the Dog in Salt Lake?

[NancyAnderson] I do a great Kathryn Grayson imitation!

[NancyAnderson] you mean in St Louis-

[NancyAnderson] and yes I have- how did you know?

[NancyAnderson] is CynSin someone I know?

[RobertArmin] CynSin_23 says: probably not.

[RobertArmin] But what else can you do on an off-night in Salt Lake?

[NancyAnderson] yes- I made a pilgrimage to the museum of the dog in St Louis

[RobertArmin] That was MY comment.

[RobertArmin] OldManRiver has been there, too!

[NancyAnderson] eat pizza and look at the stars that you won't see in NY!

[RobertArmin] what a small town it must be

[RobertArmin] patiran asks: when is Nancy releasing an album??

[RobertArmin] Yes, let's talk about that!

[NancyAnderson] can you believe that the museum of the dog EXISTS??

[NancyAnderson] AH! YES-

[NancyAnderson] since being cast in Wonderful Town, it gives me the means to do an album-

[NancyAnderson] I met a wonderful pianist in London-

[RobertArmin] I would love to work with you on it.

[NancyAnderson] Danny Whitby

[RobertArmin] And maybe we can talk Fynsworth into releasing it!

[NancyAnderson] and we did several cabarets together-

[NancyAnderson] I WAS HOPING YOU'D SAY THAT, ROBERT!!!

[RobertArmin] :-)

[RobertArmin] What sort of music are you looking at. Period songs, I'm sure

[NancyAnderson] ANYWAY- Danny and I love singing and playing together, and we realized that we really needed to record our arrangements

[NancyAnderson] yes- I'd like to focus on the 20s and 30s

[NancyAnderson] that's the era in which I belong!

[RobertArmin] How many instruments do you and Danny see for the album?

[NancyAnderson] and there are so many songs from that era yet to be unearthed!

[NancyAnderson] well, I think just piano and voice and then the odd bass or string instrument where needed!

[RobertArmin] Well, that makes it much easier to producer an album, that's for sure.

[NancyAnderson] I'd like to keep it simple, but add color

[RobertArmin] I think you can do great things with a small combo and a fabulous voice.

[RobertArmin] And you certainly have that.

[RobertArmin] Hopey, a late comer, wants to know what it was like to work with Rachel York?

[NancyAnderson] Danny and I are such a great team, and that's what I'd like to preserve

[NancyAnderson] Rachel is a doll- we were great friends in London-

[RobertArmin] I think you should record one of Kate's songs! Your choice.

[NancyAnderson] she is wonderful because she's never worried or self conscious on stage-

[NancyAnderson] she is out there having a blast 100% of the time!

[NancyAnderson] and it shows-

[NancyAnderson] she's also great at imitations-

[RobertArmin] NannersDinkumDoo asks if you play any instruments? Maybe you could also play on the album?

[NancyAnderson] no- I leave the instrumentals to the professionals!

[RobertArmin] Franklin has an idea: I think you ought to record a Kate song using your Kathryn Grayson imitation

[NancyAnderson] that's A GREAT idea-

[NancyAnderson] actually-

[RobertArmin] I actually saw Katherine Grayson play Guinevere when I was about 11 years old!

[NancyAnderson] there is a recording that shows a bit of my Kathryn Grayson-

[RobertArmin] She was the star of the National Company.

[RobertArmin] Which recording?

[NancyAnderson] I did a recording called Sidewalks Of New York-

[NancyAnderson] it was an album of all Tin Pan Alley songs-

[NancyAnderson] with atmospheric sound effects behind it- meaning-

[RobertArmin] Oh my God! You did. I have it right here!

[RobertArmin] I bought it in Germany!

[NancyAnderson] it sounded like you were walking in and out of music halls in the Bowery

[NancyAnderson] YES!!! THAT'S ME on 4 tracks-

[RobertArmin] My wife was doing 42nd Street there.

[NancyAnderson] I sing "They didn't believe me" sort of like Kathryn Grayson, only whispering-

[RobertArmin] And I found it in an old castle with a record shop on the first floor.

[RobertArmin] I saw that my friend Stuart Zagnit was on it, so I bought it!

[RobertArmin] Now I have a Nancy Anderson album, too!!!!

[NancyAnderson] I also sing a drunken version of After the Ball Is Over

[NancyAnderson] I hate to tell people it exists, cuz it's rather embarrassing-

[RobertArmin] Brian D'Arcy Jones and Nancy Opel are also on it.

[RobertArmin] I'll have to play it tonight!

[NancyAnderson] there's also some 20s stuff on the Broadway Musicals Of 1925-

[NancyAnderson] I did that Town Hall Concert in June-

[RobertArmin] Yes, I've been meaning to pick that one up.

[RobertArmin] I directed 1964. I would have loved to work with you on it.

[NancyAnderson] actually, we recorded it in February- during the blizzard!

[NancyAnderson] I want to do them all!!!!

[NancyAnderson] I love those concerts!

[RobertArmin] I couldn't go to Town Hall that night because I had a chat with Charles Strouse.

[NancyAnderson] He wrote one of my favorite songs!

[RobertArmin] He had to "phone it in."

[RobertArmin] Which one?

[NancyAnderson] "Once upon a time, a girl with ribbons in her hair" or something like that?

[NancyAnderson] what a gorgeous melody!

[RobertArmin] I love that song. I remember Stuart Zagnit sang it at Rainbow & Stars in a Strouse show.

[RobertArmin] Hopey asks: I really want to act on a Broadway stage, so do you have any tips you could give people who are aspiring actors and actresses?

[NancyAnderson] Stuart taught me a Yiddish accent for Jolson and Co.

[RobertArmin] Stuart is an expert!

[NancyAnderson] tips for aspiring actresses-

[NancyAnderson] well, I would say don't worry about how much training you have or haven't had- the best training is doing-

[NancyAnderson] do as many shows as possible- and watch EVERYONE ELSE'S PEFORMANCES FROM THE WINGS

[NancyAnderson] you can learn a lot by watching other actors like a hawk from the wings

[RobertArmin] Have you understudied any roles?

[NancyAnderson] you start to develop your own style by editing others

[NancyAnderson] no- I've never understudied- but there's a chance I'll be covering the role of Eileen in Wonderful Town

[RobertArmin] That's great.

[NancyAnderson] Hopey- are you in school, or out of school??

[RobertArmin] I thought of you immediately when they said they were going to Broadway.

[RobertArmin] She says in school.

[NancyAnderson] college??

[RobertArmin] No

[RobertArmin] A bit younger

[NancyAnderson] High School?? well, I'd say, make sure you're in your high school choir,

[RobertArmin] Quite a bit younger. Hopey says: 6th grade at st. paul academy and summit school in minnesota and i'm really into broadway

[NancyAnderson] don't give up your dance and piano lessons

[RobertArmin] She says she won't

[NancyAnderson] and watch videos of OLD MUSICALS

[NancyAnderson] MGM

[RobertArmin] Warner Bros

[RobertArmin] But not Fox!

[RobertArmin] lol

[NancyAnderson] all the old stuff- study it!!!

[NancyAnderson] watch judy garland and fred astaire till you're blue in the face

[NancyAnderson] AND!!!

[RobertArmin] Hopey says: i'm in choir, i dance competitively and i watch musicals on dvd that my dad has a lot

[NancyAnderson] get any and all videos of Barbara Cook that you can get your hands on

[RobertArmin] Well, keep it up. And appear in as many local shows as you can.

[RobertArmin] Franklin asks: What's your favorite Fred Astaire movie?

[NancyAnderson] Barbara Cook is the finest interpreter of lyrics in the business

[RobertArmin] Funny, just as you posted that, Nancy, hopey said that her dad has Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim!

[RobertArmin] What a co-inky-dink.

[NancyAnderson] i never remember which is which- the one where they're dancing in that ring in the dancing school I think??

[RobertArmin] Swing Time

[RobertArmin] That's coming to Broadway as Never Gonna Dance

[NancyAnderson] yes- Ms. Cook singing In Buddy's Eyes and Losing My Mind-

[NancyAnderson] I watched her every day over and over for a whole summer-

[NancyAnderson] she's a genius

[RobertArmin] I also recommend early Doris Day recording and Ella Fitzgerald.

[RobertArmin] Doris Day before about 1960

[RobertArmin] Ella anytime.

[RobertArmin] I think we should stop a moment and give away a CD.

[NancyAnderson] and gene kelly- you really want to absorb that old time style- and make sure that you don't just belt

[NancyAnderson] fantastic!

[RobertArmin] Would you like to think up a trivia question, Nancy. Something not too hard. I'm told I'm too tough

[NancyAnderson] a broadway trivia question?

[RobertArmin] Sure -- or movie musicals is okay.

[NancyAnderson] what do the broadway shows Noises Off, Kiss Me Kate, City Of Angels and Copenhagen all have in common?

[RobertArmin] Interesting.

[RobertArmin] I know.

[NancyAnderson] is that too hard?

[RobertArmin] But I won't guess.

[RobertArmin] Probably too hard.

[NancyAnderson] ok- let me think of another-

[RobertArmin] No, we have a winner.

[NancyAnderson] you're kidding??

[RobertArmin] As always, FranklinShepardInc knows the answer. Michael Blakemore.

[NancyAnderson] brilliant!!!!

[RobertArmin] He's a smart cookie.

[RobertArmin] He says: "smiles widely"

[NancyAnderson] he's a fantastic director, that Michael Blakemore-

[RobertArmin] Of course, I got the answer, too.

[RobertArmin] But then, I'm a genius.

[NancyAnderson] you guys are so smart!

[RobertArmin] smiling broadly

[NancyAnderson] or course you are, dahling

[NancyAnderson] what do they win?

[RobertArmin] Okay, Franklin, send me an email and let me know which CD you want THIS time!

[RobertArmin] We'll ask one more question before we go.

[RobertArmin] Meanwhile,

[RobertArmin] back to Nancy

[RobertArmin] They win a Fynsworth Alley CD, of course.

[RobertArmin] So, Nancy, what other recordings are you on other than A Class Act, Sidewalks of New York and Musicals of 1925. Jolson & Co, I know, just came out, but I haven't heard it yet.

[RobertArmin] You're on the Kiss Me, Kate DVD, fortunately.

[NancyAnderson] yes- though I sing one song as Ruby Keeler and another as Mae West-

[RobertArmin] You must sound terrible as Ruby!

[NancyAnderson] yes- that was a joy- I think those are the only CDs I'm on!

[RobertArmin] No, I loved Ruby Keeler in films but she wasn't the greatest of singers.

[NancyAnderson] yes- ruby was a bad singer

[RobertArmin] She was actually dubbed in one or two of them.

[NancyAnderson] and I sound appropriately bad- actually-

[NancyAnderson] there was a review when we did it at the York in 1999-

[RobertArmin] That's one reason The Jolson Story was so unauthentic!

[RobertArmin] patiran asks: How can I get a Jolson & Co CD?

[NancyAnderson] that said "Nancy did well by Ruby Keeler, although she danced better than she sang-"

[RobertArmin] Unfortunately, it's not a Fynsworth album. Go to Amazon.com.

[NancyAnderson] and I thought, "well, I did my job!"

[RobertArmin] That critic obviously didn't know that much about Ruby!

[NancyAnderson] and the imitations suffer a bit without the visual-

[NancyAnderson] isn't that funny?

[RobertArmin] Probably so.

[RobertArmin] hopey wanted to know who you played in A Class Act?

[NancyAnderson] I played Go-Go girl Mona

[NancyAnderson] complete with white gogo boots and platinum blonde wig

[RobertArmin] And you sang on top of a piano.

[RobertArmin] Very sexy

[NancyAnderson] actually, that song was a trio in the workshop and during previews of MTC-

[NancyAnderson] it didn't become my solo until previews of the off-bway production

[NancyAnderson] Carolee Carmello, Julia Murney and I came on as 3 different seductresses tempting Lonnie

[RobertArmin] Hmmm

[RobertArmin] Was Lonny tempted?

[NancyAnderson] HOW COULD HE NOT BE??

[RobertArmin] :-)

[NancyAnderson] I was very lucky to get a number like that in my first broadway show-

[RobertArmin] I'm so glad you were available for the Broadway transfer, too.

[RobertArmin] So many other people weren't

[RobertArmin] But the cast album is from the off-Broadway production, not the Broadway one.

[NancyAnderson] yes- I actually turned down By Jeeves in Pittsburgh BEFORE I even knew that ACA was transferring

[RobertArmin] Yes, how come you weren't used in the Broadway version?

[RobertArmin] You turned it down?

[NancyAnderson] I was in London doing Kiss Me Kate!

[RobertArmin] Oh, of course.

[RobertArmin] Good choise.

[RobertArmin] choice

[NancyAnderson] I turned down a production in Pittsburgh- they were saying they MIGHT go to bway, but nothing was definite

[RobertArmin] Well, this 90 minutes has flown by. You're a good typist.

[NancyAnderson] so I turned it down, hoping for something new, and then came broadway, tour and west end!

[NancyAnderson] I love instant messaging!

[RobertArmin] And now Wonderful Town!

[RobertArmin] The lines outside the theatre were huge this morning.

[RobertArmin] I think you will be a big hit!

[NancyAnderson] Wonderful Town! I heard about the lines!

[NancyAnderson] I hope so!

[NancyAnderson] Thank you for having me!

[RobertArmin] But you don't have a solo in the show, do you?

[NancyAnderson] no- I don't sing or dance

[NancyAnderson] at all!

[RobertArmin] Well, they better let you understudy Eileen!

[NancyAnderson] let's hope!

[RobertArmin] I'd cross the street to see that understudy!

[NancyAnderson] thanks, baby!

[RobertArmin] Seriously, I can see the marquee from my living room window.

[NancyAnderson] how funny- it's a nice marquee, huh?

[RobertArmin] Actually, the back of the marquee. Can't see the Hirschfeld drawing. :-(

[NancyAnderson] did you know I have my own Hirschfeld?

[NancyAnderson] he did one of all of us in A Class Act

[RobertArmin] Oh, don't make me cry

[NancyAnderson] mine is REALLY sassy- thanks Al!!!!!

[RobertArmin] So many of my friends have a Hirschfeld. That was my one biggest dream in life.

[RobertArmin] I got his autograph -- but that's as close as I came!!!!

[NancyAnderson] really? mine was to appear on the Tonys-

[NancyAnderson] and we did that in

[NancyAnderson] ACA too!

[RobertArmin] The Tony's was my second biggest dream.

[RobertArmin] Now it is my first. I want my show to open in the Hirschfeld Theatre and win a Tony.

[NancyAnderson] IT WILL HAPPEN!!!

[RobertArmin] And maybe you'll be in it!

[NancyAnderson] PERFECT- I LIKE THE SOUND OF IT.

[RobertArmin] Think up another question for our final quiz.

[NancyAnderson] hmmmm-

[RobertArmin] Not so hard. And Franklin is ineligible this time.

[RobertArmin] We're waiting with baited breath!

[NancyAnderson] i'm blanking-

[NancyAnderson] name 3 movie musicals starring Judy Garland

[RobertArmin] Oh, that's a hard one.

[NancyAnderson] ok- you think of an easy one-

[RobertArmin] But they've already started typing I'm sure.

[RobertArmin] Okay, here's a real question.

[RobertArmin] Who was the original star of Wonderful Town? And who played her role in the first movie version of My Sister Eileen?

[RobertArmin] Goggy has it.

[RobertArmin] The answer is the same for both questions.

[RobertArmin] It was Rosalind Russell.

[NancyAnderson] yippeeee!!!!1

[RobertArmin] I should ask them who played YOUR part, but that would be really sadistic.

[NancyAnderson] I don't even know the answer to that!

[RobertArmin] Goggy, send your name and address to fynsworth@showmusic.com and select any of the Fynsworth albums other than the "New" ones.

[RobertArmin] Actually, it doesn't surprise me that FranklinShepardInc knows the answer.

[RobertArmin] He said Jeff Donnell.

[RobertArmin] Who was a woman.

[RobertArmin] Smart guy

[RobertArmin] and smart alec.

[NancyAnderson] really?

[RobertArmin] If he says it, it must be true.

[RobertArmin] Nancy, thank you so much for joining us tonight.

[RobertArmin] It was a lively crowd.

[NancyAnderson] Thanks for inviting me!

[RobertArmin] I am so looking forward to seeing you in Wonderful Town!

[NancyAnderson] and thanks for all the questions!

[NancyAnderson] I can't wait to see Wonderful Town myself!

[RobertArmin] You must call us if you go on in the role of Eileen!!!!!!!

[NancyAnderson] will do-

[RobertArmin] I think you have a fabulous career ahead of you and I am delighted to be able to say "I knew her when."

[NancyAnderson] aw, shucks!

[RobertArmin] Next week, my guest will be Broadway actress Deborah Gibson. I'm told that she had some successful recordings before she started on Broadway, too.

[NancyAnderson] that's what I hear too-

[RobertArmin] Nancy, get some rest and when you go out there just remember this --

[RobertArmin] you're going out there a youngster.... but you've got to come back a star!

[NancyAnderson] hee hee!!!1

[RobertArmin] Goodnight. And thanks again.

[NancyAnderson] thank you!

[RobertArmin] Oh no,

[NancyAnderson] what?

[RobertArmin] I just discovered that you typed so fast that this chat exceeded the usual length.

[NancyAnderson] sorry-

[RobertArmin] The early part of the chat scrolled off before I could save it. Does anyone have the beginning of the chat on their screen?

[RobertArmin] Franklin, save everything and email it to me, will you?

[RobertArmin] heeth, a new comer, is asking if you'll marry him.

[NancyAnderson] yay franklin!

[RobertArmin] We'll save that one for another day.

[NancyAnderson] nice-

[RobertArmin] Franklin to the rescue.

[NancyAnderson] stop it heeth-

[NancyAnderson] i told my friends not to torture me-

[RobertArmin] NeighborhoodPlay wants to know if you have any recordings. We listed all of them and this chat will be posted in the archives within a day or two.

[NancyAnderson] yes- and a cd coming out in the spring, hopefully!

[RobertArmin] Good night everyone. Next week, Deborah Gibson. Two weeks Janine LaManna.