Transcript of Robert Armin's
online chat with
KT Sullivan (August 25, 2003)

[RobertArmin] Good evening, KT.

[RobertArmin] Glad you could make it.

[RobertArmin] You had told me that you were seeing Philip Officer tonight. But you had a change of plans.

[KTSullivan] A last minute call from the Canadian consulate to see Louise Pitre front row center at Joe's Pub.

[KTSullivan] Lots of Piaf, some ABBA , "Waltzing Matilda," she did.

[KTSullivan] And "Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe," because her husband is named Joe, which she put into a medley with "As Long As He Needs Me."

[KTSullivan] I think "Joe" stands alone by itself.

[RobertArmin] I can agree with that.

[KTSullivan] I prefer to sing medleys by the same composer, rather than mixing styles like that.

[KTSullivan] She was very good on "As Long As He Needs Me," but that can stand alone.

[RobertArmin] Well, I can forgive you being a bit late, since you rushed from the Public Theatre -- instead of 47th Street.

[KTSullivan] Yes, Philip is at the King Kong Room on 47th Street where I'll be on September 29th.

[KTSullivan] With Barbara Brussell -- songs of Weimar, Berlin.

[RobertArmin] Weill, and all that.

[KTSullivan] And some Freidrich Hollander, he wrote a lot of songs for Marlene Dietrich...

[KTSullivan] some of which we will be doing in German.

[KTSullivan] We did that show earlier at the Neue Gallerie at 86th and 5th Avenue.

[KTSullivan] And I'll be back there in March of 2004.

[KTSullivan] There I called the show Vienna to Weimar.

[KTSullivan] Because it's a very elegant room where I could go off-mike for some very operetta-type songs -- Merry Widow, Fledermaus, etc.,

[KTSullivan] Which are not really right for the King Kong Room.

[KTSullivan] There are huge panels on the walls of King Kong and Fay Wray.

[KTSullivan] Very funky.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp ask: Piaf and ABBA? How was it?

[KTSullivan] She actually limited her ABBA to one song where she changed the words. It was really a parody of how she was leaving the show and how she would be without a job.

[KTSullivan] What was amazing is she did "I Dreamed A Dream" in French. Much better in French. Quite moving,

[RobertArmin] Yes, Sarah Brightman sang Memory in Italian (as "Piano") on one of her albums. I think Andrew Lloyd Webber sounds better in any language other than English.

[RobertArmin] dante asks: any tv work in your future??

[KTSullivan] I'd love to. In fact, my sister Heather has a great apartment in the Valley, in Los Angeles.

[KTSullivan] If I ever get enough time off -- my gigs in London, New York, Australia and Paris...

[KTSullivan] Debuting October 26 in Paris.

[KTSullivan] I'd like to go out to California and audition for some television. It's been a long time.

[KTSullivan] I've been lucky before, maybe I'll get lucky again. I'm a different type now.

[RobertArmin] Yes, I have a laser disc of your appearance in Police Squad!

[KTSullivan] I loved doing that show. Leslie Nielsen is brilliant.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp asks: What will you be performing at the next Cabaret Convention?

[KTSullivan] That's right before Mark and I leave for Paris.

[KTSullivan] And the night we are performing is a salute to Al Hirschfeld, so Mark and I will be performing together because we have a Hirschfeld together.

[KTSullivan] We also have a new Irving Berlin show together which we debuted in Los Angeles at the Gardenia the first week in August.

[KTSullivan] We did a week in East Hampton and will be performing at Mama Rose's new club on Second Avenue on September 15th and 16th.

[KTSullivan] So, at the convention, I will be performing Irving Berlin's "You'd Be Surprised."

[RobertArmin] Sorry, I don't have a Morris Chair.

[KTSullivan] Very good.

[RobertArmin] That’s an in-joke for those of you who don't know the lyric.

[KTSullivan] Someone I know just picked up a Morris chair at a thrift shop in the Berkshires... so now I know what one looks like.

[KTSullivan] The next time I sing it, it will be more meaningful.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp asks: Could you fill us in?

[RobertArmin] Yes, the lyric has a line that goes "but in a Morris chair, you'd be surprised."

[KTSullivan] Back to the convention. Mark Nadler is doing "Milord" to announce our Paris debut.

[KTSullivan] Then we're doing a big Harold Arlen medley which will hopefully bring down the house.

[KTSullivan] We did an Arlen show in the Berkshires and at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach.

[RobertArmin] You do get around.

[RobertArmin] Marsala has the full quote: "At a party or at a ball / I've got to admit he's nothing at all...but in a Morris Chair..."

[RobertArmin] Thanks so much for that.

[KTSullivan] It's amazing how Irving Berlin, even with a Morris chair, doesn't age.

[RobertArmin] Well, you'd be surprise.

[KTSullivan] I also do a song called "I'm a Dumbbell" from the Music Box Revue of 1921, which hasn’t been done since 1921. And it works like gangbusters.

[RobertArmin] Well, if you ever meet Michael Crawford, you can sing the song to him.

[RobertArmin] His real name is Michael Dumbbell Smith.

[KTSullivan] I've heard tell.

[RobertArmin] Lots of laughter here.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp asks: Do you plan to visit the Piaf Museum while in Paris?

[KTSullivan] Oh, we've got to go. Give me the address.

[RobertArmin] Marsala writes: There was once an Arlen show called "For Harold Arlen fans who have Considered Suicide When Over the Rainbow is not Enough"

[KTSullivan] I love that title.

[KTSullivan] In fact, Louise Pitre tonight seemed almost ready for suicide.

[KTSullivan] Lots of depressing songs.

[KTSullivan] "Je m'acquitte pas."

[RobertArmin] Took me a moment to type that!!!!

[RobertArmin] Marsala adds: This evening brought to you by Prozac.

[RobertArmin] maydayblu writes: What a beautiful picture of KT Sullivan! However, I do think your sister is your best photographer.

[KTSullivan] LOL

[KTSullivan] Yes, my sister is also a photographer. She is also a singer and songwriter with four CDs and songs on The Sopranos and other tv shows and movies.

[RobertArmin] I might add that maydayblu is actually KT's sister.

[KTSullivan] Yes, she also photographs Andrea Marcovicci and Heather MacRae.

[RobertArmin] Two lovely ladies.

[RobertArmin] Lots of questions piling up.

[RobertArmin] Let me try and get to a few.

[RobertArmin] maydayblu says: Oh,...I'm blushing!

[RobertArmin] laFan writes: KT, I saw you new show with Mark Nadler, magnificent, when are you coming back to LA?

[KTSullivan] Well, I think the next time will be Sondheim. Because we're doing Sondheim in Palm Beach in January at the Colony Hotel and at the Algonquin in June.

[KTSullivan] So, somewhere in between, L.A., don't you think?

[RobertArmin] maydayblu writes: I just saw her new Berlin show in Los Angeles. It's really amazing.

[KTSullivan] We rehearsed in her apartment! While she took my parents to the beach! LOL

[KTSullivan] She came back, we were still rehearsing. Gretchen Wyler was listening because her dinner with Mark was cancelled because of our eight hour rehearsal!

[RobertArmin] Phillidp writes: Found the address of Le Musee Edith Piaf. It is 5, rue Crespin du Gast, 11e (tel. 43 55 52 72) and, as of the last time we checked, was open Mondays through Thursdays, 1-6 pm.

[KTSullivan] Thank you so much. Mark and I are both fans of Piaf.

[RobertArmin] maydayblu adds: by the way... Mark Broke my piano bench! He's a wild one... even when he's rehearsing!

[RobertArmin] She’s laughing.

[KTSullivan] She should be glad that the piano still works.

[KTSullivan] He's broken a lot of pianos.

[KTSullivan] And strings!

[KTSullivan] I remember one time we were singing at Michael's Pub -- a Gay 90s show -- and the owner, Gil Weist, was known for being really cruel -- he even scared Mark. Mark broke one of the strings and Gil said he "wanted a hundred dollars now."

[KTSullivan] Mark gave him a hundred dollars. He was scared to death of him!

[RobertArmin] maydayblu writes: What I need is Mark's address in New York. So I can send him a bill! LOL

[RobertArmin] Still more LOL here.

[RobertArmin] A lot of laughs tonight.

[RobertArmin] I want to calm down a moment and chat a bit about your background.

[RobertArmin] Since your sister is in the room, we can talk about your childhood.

[RobertArmin] You certainly don't exude an aura of Oklahoma about you. At least not most people's view.

[RobertArmin] What was it like growing up?

[KTSullivan] Actually, you're right. When I lived in Oklahoma, people would ask me where I was from.

[KTSullivan] Then when I came to New York, I finally found people who talked as fast as I did.

[KTSullivan] And I knew I was home.

[KTSullivan] But I grew up on a farm in Boggy Depot.

[KTSullivan] And I had an imagination. I would go out in the woods and play.

[KTSullivan] I had a fantasy that I would be discovered.

[KTSullivan] And brought to Hollywood.

[RobertArmin] And it came true.

[KTSullivan] Well, before that, I used to play on what I called my "magic carpet." There's a picture of me with my sister, I had her join me on the carpet one time, with her arms around my waist.

[KTSullivan] And I took her on a magic carpet ride.

[KTSullivan] She later wrote a song called "Carpet Ride." About following your dreams wherever they take you.

[RobertArmin] How did you get interested in popular standards? Could you buy the records there or radio, or what?

[KTSullivan] I loved old movies.

[KTSullivan] And my mother's old sheet music. She had Cole Porter songs and even an old song called "Tico Tico."

[KTSullivan] Which is on my Ladies of the Silver Screen album. I talk all about these influences. I talk about Alice Faye, Bette Davis...

[RobertArmin] A great singer.

[KTSullivan] "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" was the song she sang.

[RobertArmin] From Thank Your Lucky Stars, yes.

[RobertArmin] Yes, I should mention in reference to "Tico Tico," that was one of Ervin Drake's first big hits.

[KTSullivan] He wrote the translation, which moves me deeply.

[RobertArmin] Of course, those who follow my many discussions here know that Ervin and I have rewritten his 1964 musical, What Makes Sammy Run?

[KTSullivan] Oh, I heard that was fabulous. You had a performance in Long Island.

[RobertArmin] Wow, thank you. Yes, we did it at Hofstra University in March.

[KTSullivan] Yes, my manager Arthur Shafman saw it and loved it.

[KTSullivan] I know some songs from it and their excellent.

[RobertArmin] Well, we have several theatres looking at it and it's just a matter of time, I hope.

[RobertArmin] laFan asks: KT, do you have an official website?

[KTSullivan] Yes, it just changes over from citycabaret.com to KTSullivan.com. My sister Heather advised me to do that because she's internet savvy and I'm not.

[KTSullivan] She said it would be much easier to find me this way.

[RobertArmin] Absolutely. I just found the site this afternoon!

[RobertArmin] druhawn writes: I saw you about 10 years ago at Danny's Skylight Room and you sang a great song about a Georgia girl in Hollywood. What was its name and have you recorded that song?

[KTSullivan] Oh my gosh. That's by Paul Horner. It's called "Delta, Fly Me Non-Stop To Atlanta." I have not recorded that, but on my first album, Crazy World, is a Paul Horner song called "He'll Make Me Believe He's Mine" with lyrics by Peggy Lee.

[RobertArmin] That's from their show, Peg.

[KTSullivan] Mike Renzi was music director on Peg and music director for my first two albums.

[KTSullivan] All albums on DRG.

[RobertArmin] I don't mind plugging DRG at all, since KT is primarily on their label.

[RobertArmin] But, fortunately, KT has done some concerts which were released by Fynsworth Alley -- a Cole Porter Tribute and Wall To Wall Richard Rodgers.

[RobertArmin] She sings "Always True To You In My Fashion" on the first and "Ten Cents A Dance" on the latter.

[RobertArmin] While we're thinking about them... why don't we give away a CD?

[RobertArmin] KT, do you have a question we can ask?

[KTSullivan] Sure, how about What year was Richard Rodgers born?

[RobertArmin] Okay, anyone have an answer to that one?

[RobertArmin] We're waiting?

[RobertArmin] KT is singing the theme from Jeopardy...

[RobertArmin] Ah ha, we have a winner.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp says: 1902.

[RobertArmin] That's right. Last year was the Centennial Celebration.

[KTSullivan] That's why we had Wall-To-Wall Rodgers at Symphony Space.

[KTSullivan] 1905 is Harold Arlen and Jule Styne.

[RobertArmin] Yes, and 1903 is Vernon Duke.

[RobertArmin] I know that Bruno Walter auditorium will be featuring Vernon Duke songs in October.

[RobertArmin] You're not involved in that?

[KTSullivan] Not so far. I do a great "Honey In The Honeycomb" from Cabin In The Sky.

[RobertArmin] Yes, I wrote the "new" Vernon Duke musical, Madly In Love. We did a reading of it at the York Theatre last May.

[RobertArmin] With Sally Mayes.

[KTSullivan] Oh, really?

[KTSullivan] I saw Sally in Urban Cowboy. We just did the East Hampton Cabaret Festival together.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp, send your name and address to Fynsworth@showmusic.com and I'll send you a copy of Wall-To-Wall Rodgers featuring many great recording stars.

[KTSullivan] James Naughton, Debbie Gravitte, Richard White

[RobertArmin] Lots of goodies.

[RobertArmin] druhawn asks: Who are your favorite composers who write today?

[KTSullivan] Louise Pitre did something tonight by Flaherty and Ahrens -- something about a dog.

[KTSullivan] I loved Ragtime and Once On This Island.

[KTSullivan] The song was "Sometimes You Need a Dog." Not sure if that's the right title.

[KTSullivan] I love Francesca Blumenthal. She wrote "The Lies of Handsome Men," a great song.

[KTSullivan] Amanda McBroom. I do a song of hers called "Dreamin'" on my first album, Crazy World.

[KTSullivan] And there's Hal Hackady, with Byron Janis, called "Let Me Make Love To You." It was from their version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, before the movie came out.

[KTSullivan] And, of course, my sister writes great songs.

[KTSullivan] I do one of hers called "Breakfast in Dublin."

[KTSullivan] It's in my Irish show which I did at the Algonquin and I will be doing again this year at the Algonquin and at Fordham University.

[KTSullivan] I hope to record an Irish album someday.

[KTSullivan] Richard Evans has put some great Yeats poems to music and I have to record them also.

[RobertArmin] laFan writes: KT, I heard you performed in Carnegie hall with your family, is there going to be a repeat performance? How about a solo performance?

[KTSullivan] Carnegie Hall this year was for Mother's Day. Next year, Father's Day -- June 20, 2004.

[KTSullivan] A lot of great songs, too, written by my mother.

[KTSullivan] My brother, Tim, a country writer who lives in Colorado.

[KTSullivan] And joining us in the concert will be my brother, Pat, who's a doctor in Oklahoma.

[KTSullivan] And my sister Stacy, who just had an album released, which is somewhere between rock and country and folk.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp writes: Is that the pianist Byron Janis?

[KTSullivan] Yes, the only student of Horowitz and husband of Gary Cooper's daughter, Maria.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp writes: Robert, did you hand on to KT our personal greeting from the beginning of the "broadcast"? We would love to send her a copy of the pictures we took of her with Blossom Dearie.

[KTSullivan] I'd love to have those pictures. I adore Blossom Dearie.

[KTSullivan] I still adore the frame you sent me for my wedding. It's in a prominent place on my piano.

[RobertArmin] laFan writes: I would love to see this performance. Will there be a repeat performance?

[RobertArmin] I assume you're talking about the Carnegie Hall show.

[KTSullivan] It's June 20, 2004 at 8:30.

[RobertArmin] But not in L.A.

[KTSullivan] Not in L.A., but we have Brownville, Nebraska on December 19, 20 and 21, and Norman, Oklahoma on December 23.

[RobertArmin] You haven't forgotten your friends and neighbors!

[KTSullivan] Don't ever forget where you came from.

[RobertArmin] Me, I came from Los Angeles. That's worth forgetting.

[RobertArmin] I call myself a New Yawker.

[KTSullivan] Oh, yes. Once we find this place. You seem like a New Yorker, too.

[RobertArmin] Yes, some of us were just born New Yorkers.

[RobertArmin] What did others think of you as a child. Were you an odd duck then?

[RobertArmin] Surely, your taste in music separated you from the crowd. I know it did me, even in L.A.

[KTSullivan] I remember peer pressure -- who was your favorite Beatle people would ask me -- and I was always stuck for an answer.

[RobertArmin] We've really gone through ninety minutes fast!

[RobertArmin] But I wanted to ask you a bit about your theatre work.

[RobertArmin] Are there other roles you're hoping to play in the future?

[KTSullivan] Well, Jo Sullivan Loesser saw me recently in a benefit and said I'd be perfect for Adelaide.

[KTSullivan] But I really want to play a new role.

[KTSullivan] Hopefully, a new role will be written, so people won't compare me to the original.

[KTSullivan] People will compare the next person to me!

[KTSullivan] You know, your wife and I used to do new musicals together at Musical Theatre Works.

[KTSullivan] We were the queens of the readings.

[KTSullivan] They were never produced.

[KTSullivan] Brian Leys wrote a musical version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

[RobertArmin] Yes, Kris and you did that together. I remember!

[KTSullivan] He wrote another one called Nervous Splendor, based on a wonderful book by Fredrick Morton.

[KTSullivan] Hey, Mr. Producer, that's what we need, instead of more revivals.

[RobertArmin] Your sister adds: NO ONE compares to you.

[KTSullivan] Oh, isn't that nice.

[RobertArmin] Well, I hope to see much more of you in the future. You certainly keep active.

[KTSullivan] We didn't even talk about Australia...

[RobertArmin] LOL. Where will you be performing there?

[KTSullivan] We were there in June. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival. They loved Carmen Miranda there. They love old American movies and music. All kinds of music.

[KTSullivan] Fabulous, gracious, hospitable people... and the kangaroos are great, too.

[RobertArmin] I'd loved to get to Australia one of these years.

[KTSullivan] Well, you can put together a show on the plane. Mark and I put the Irving Berlin show together on the plane. There's enough time to do that.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp adds: Do you plan to hobnob with a great many marsupials while on tour in Australia?

[KTSullivan] LOL

[KTSullivan] Well, you know the only marsupial in this country is a possum!

[KTSullivan] Which is why Dame Edna always says, "Hello, Possums."

[KTSullivan] Mark Nadler played for her/him on Broadway.

[KTSullivan] They're very cozy.

[RobertArmin] Now don't get jealous.

[KTSullivan] A Womb With A View -- that's a marsupial.

[RobertArmin] LOL. Yes, a classic Noel Coward song.

[RobertArmin] Let's give away one more CD before we close this evening.

[RobertArmin] The other album is Cole Porter, so what should we ask?

[KTSullivan] What was his wife's name?

[RobertArmin] Alexis Smith?

[RobertArmin] No, I'll wait for the correct answer -- as KT sings again.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp did it again!

[RobertArmin] He writes: Wasn't she a wealthy divorcee by the name of Linda?

[RobertArmin] She was indeed named Linda.

[RobertArmin] So we'll send you both albums!

[RobertArmin] Well, I would guess that maydayblu probably has ALL of your albums.

[RobertArmin] Or, she'd better.

[KTSullivan] By the way, I don't have Heather's new CD, Butterfly, so please send me one!

[RobertArmin] Phillidp adds: Glad watching those old AMC movies finally paid off. Thank you!!!!! And thanks to KT.

[RobertArmin] Well, this 90 minutes flew by fast -- contrary to Noel Coward's lyric "Ninety Minutes is a Long, Long Time!"

[KTSullivan] He also wrote a song called "I've Been To A Marvelous Party," which this has been.

[RobertArmin] Thank you so much. It was a bit scary starting out -- wondering if you would get here.

[RobertArmin] But it was definitely worth a bit of panic.

[RobertArmin] Phillidp adds: Truly! Good luck in womb land.

[KTSullivan] Womb land. Very cute. Thanks.

[KTSullivan] I know Danny!

[KTSullivan] We did a show together called Time And Again at the Old Globe Theatre with Rebecca Luker who's now married to him.

[RobertArmin] I posted KT's response before I even posted the statement -- next week, my guest will be Danny Burstein.

[RobertArmin] Either that or she's psychic!

[RobertArmin] Yes, Rebecca and Danny did meet then. They make such a cute couple.

[KTSullivan] She's going into Nine in September.

[RobertArmin] Yes, make sure you see it soon, before Antonio leaves.

[RobertArmin] Any last words?

[KTSullivan] "Ill See You Again, Whenever Spring Breaks Through Again."

[RobertArmin] I meant your own words, not Noel's!

[KTSullivan] I'm going to San Francisco on September 7th. And I'm singing Rodger's "I've Gotta Get Back To New York."

[RobertArmin] It must be so confusing for you.

[RobertArmin] LOL

[KTSullivan] It's not, because I prefer New York to any place else in the world. Marsupials or not.

[RobertArmin] KT, thanks so much for rushing up from Joe's Pub to join me this evening.

[RobertArmin] I've been waiting months to fit you into the schedule. Or I should say, for you to fit me into your schedule.

[KTSullivan] Why don't you fit me into one of your new musicals.

[RobertArmin] By all means. Find me a theatre or a producer... and I'll put you to work.

[KTSullivan] Okay, we'll find a magic carpet.

[RobertArmin] A lovely way to end it. Thanks again. Good night.

[KTSullivan] Bon soir. Next stop, Paris.

FYNSWORTH ALLEY        ROBERT ARMIN