Tony Award Winner Andrea Martin set to perform in Fort Lauderdale
The Parker Playhouse welcomes the Broadway and TV legend on April 1
The “Broadway Concert Series” Hosted by Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky whom the New York Times dubbed “The Mayor of Broadway,” is returning to Fort Lauderdale. This popular concert series produced by Mark Cortale, returns to The Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Parker Playhouse on April 1 with comedy legend Andrea Martin, star of TV’s SCTV and two-time Tony Award winner for the Broadway revival of “Pippin” and “My Favorite Year.” The show starts at 8 p.m.
What differentiates this concert series from any other, is the seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway’s biggest stars – prompted by the encyclopedic minded Rudetsky’s probing, funny, revealing questions – and their stellar singing of musical theatre repertoire.
Andrea Martin is the legendary comedy star of SCTV and the film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” She won her second and most recent Tony Award in 2013 for her performance as Berthe in the Broadway revival of “Pippin” and was nominated for another Tony Award last season for the 2016 production “Noises Off.” Her new series “Great News,” executive produced by Tina Fey, premieres April 25 on NBC, and Andrea can currently be seen on the Hulu hit series “Difficult People” created by Julie Klausner.
Martin’s big break came when she got cast in the original Toronto production of “Godspell,” in what is now considered the legendary cast of Victor Garber, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Jayne Eastwood and Paul Shaffer, their musical director. She went on to join the famous “SCTV” (Second City TV) troupe winning two Emmy awards for writing, winning her first Tony award for Featured Actress in a Musical for “My Favorite Year,” and also garnering Tony nominations for her roles in “Young Frankenstein,” “Oklahoma” and “Candide.” Her film credits include “Breaking Upwards,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “All Over the Guy,” “Young Triffie’s Been Made Away With,” “Stepping Out,” “Bogus,” “Wag the Dog,” “New York Minute,” “Black Christmas,” and “Cannibal Girls.” In addition to her legendary work on “SCTV,” her television credits include “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “Ed,” and “Nurse Jackie.”
Seth Rudetsky, has hosted the “Broadway Series” at The Nourse Theatre in San Francisco for its three seasons, as well as in Provincetown for the six seasons since its inception, and nation-wide in many other major cities. He is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “On Broadway” as well as the host of “Seth Speaks” on SiriusXM Stars. As a pianist, he has played piano for over a dozen Broadway shows including “Ragtime,” “Les Miserables.” and “Phantom of the Opera” among many others. As a comic, Rudetsky was awarded “Funniest Gay Male in NY” at Stand-Up NY and is a three-time Emmy nominee as a writer for “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” His newest book, “The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek” was published by Random House and is available on Amazon.com. He co-wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed new musical “Disaster!” this past season on Broadway.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Andrea Martin for this Exclusive Hotspot interview.
Were you always a comedienne/actor as a kid or when did it start?
I wasn’t always a comedienne. Shockingly I don’t think it started until I was 27 and joined SCTV in Toronto. Before that I was doing musicals and plays. At SCTV I was forced to hone my comedic abilities.
What was your first professional/paid gig?
When I was 13, I performed Liat in South Pacific at the Kennebunkport playhouse, and I think I got paid for that. Penny Fuller played the lead.
I definitely got paid for being a chicken on Captain Kangaroo.
When did you realize entertainment was going to be your career?
I have to say by process of elimination from Children’s Theater in Portland, Maine. I never considered anything else. I just thought I love this, and I continued doing it. I was lucky enough to work constantly.
You have done TV, Broadway and Movies, what is your favorite and why?
My favorite thing is theater. It’s what I am most used to as I started at nine years old. It’s a comfortable process for me and its great muscle memory. In TV and Film I have to be very conscious on how I am performing. I also love the schedule and comradery of doing theater and knowing I have the opportunity the next night to get something right.
Do you have a favorite role or roles?
I have two favorite roles. The first is Serafina Delle Rose in “The Rose Tattoo” and the other is Berthe in “Pippin.” Both challenged me in many ways and I love these women. Serafina Delle Rose proved to me that I could be a serious actress. And Berthe showed me and the audience that no matter what your age you can still have vitality and enthusiasm for life.
What is your fantasy role?
I would like to be the wife in “Death of a Salesman.” I would also love a dramatic role in a TV Series.
You have won two Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards, when are you winning your Oscar?
I don’t think it’s an impossibility… I hope before I’m 90.
Have you worked with Seth Before?
I met him in 1991, when he was my musical director and we have been really good friends ever since. We have travelled throughout North America together, and it’s always fun to be with him.
What should the south Florida audiences expect from your performance with Seth in the Broadway Series?
They should expect frivolity, laughter, an intimate evening, collaboration, an escape, and a whole lot of fun. This show is very informal and I love to talk with the audience.
What’s ahead for Andrea Martin?
Currently, I am shooting “Difficult People” for Hulu, and on April 25, my series, “Great News” for NBC premieres at 9 p.m. I really hope everyone watches as I love this character and this show and I really want it to be picked up. In a couple months I will be shooting a film in Toronto called “Little Italy.”
For tickets to this spontaneous evening of hilarity and show-stopping songs, please visit BrowardCenter.org or call 954-468-3280.
For more information on Andrea go to: IamAndreaMartin.com
