Three-time Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie is winning rave reviews (like the kind that pretty much force you to go back) for returning to Broadway as British school teacher Anna Leonowens in LCT's Tony-winning revival of The King and I
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Since Marin gives a performance that will surely follow her for years to come, what better time to talk to her about the YouTube videos of hers that fans are truly obsessed with? Below, the B'way leading lady looks back and reacts to six beloved videos from her past.
"Losing My Mind", Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Concert, 2010
The Sondheim 80th Birthday Concert was such a fabulous time. An extraordinary lineup of people celebrating a man who we all love and are so grateful is on this planet. I got to sing a very fun “We’re Gonna Be Alright” with Jason, and then Lonny Price, who put this wonderful concert together and directed it so brilliantly, had the fabulous idea of putting Patti, Bernadette, Elaine, Audra, Donna and me on stage together in beautiful DVF red dresses to sing the songs he had picked for each of us. I was absolutely thrilled and honored to be up there, and I was ecstatic when he asked me to sing “Losing My Mind”, as it is not only one of my favorite Steve songs but truly one of my favorite songs of all time. I’ve known and worked with Paul Gemignani more than any other conductor in my career and I adore him, so having him behind me with the fabulous New York Philharmonic was a gift. An experience I will never forget!
Passion at the Tony Awards, 1994
This brings up so many things for me: my first Tony’s, originating a role in a Sondheim show, how brilliant Donna was, how fantastic Jere was and how happy I am that he is coming back to the business, my exquisite Jane Greenwood dress. I also see Tom Aldredge and Francis Ruivivar, two amazing men who are no longer with us. We pre-taped the first two segments and as I watch I remember being so conscious of having to keep the sheet up. In the show I was completely nude in the first scene and I didn’t even deal with the sheet but obviously for the Tony’s I had to cover up!
“Back to Before”, Ragtime Cast Album Recording, 1997
Ragtime is one of those shows that still lives with me. I think it is one of the most important musicals of our time, and it is one people talk to me about the most. I still sing “Back To Before” in concert, and I always tell Lynn that those lyrics are the gift that keep on giving as they always fit the time and place I am singing them. Watching the clip of “Good-Bye My Love” and hearing Stephen’s gorgeous music, Terrence’s deft dialogue, seeing Santo Loquasto’s beautiful dress, and my dear friend Mark Jacoby who played “Father” just washes me in memories of how powerful the show was. And our genius director, Frank Galati, teaching us about what was going on with women at the time and how it related to our show, well you can begin to understand why Ragtime means so much to me. The clip of me singing “Back To Before” is from the recording we did in Toronto before we had even done the show. We had just finished the workshop and we all flew back up for a two-day recording. The song moved me to tears back then as it still does today.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Love Trio, 1998
A brilliant David Loud arrangement, the incomparable Paul Gemignani conducting a fabulous orchestra, a Pamela Dennis dress covered in Swarovski crystals, singing with Audra and Judy...not much more to say except sublime!!
"I Hate Men," Kiss Me, Kate on The Early Show, 1999
Kiss Me, Kate is truly the most fun I have ever had on stage. I have never watched this, and it made me laugh at how silly it was on that morning show set but we made it work! It also reminds me of why I don’t like watching myself as my mouth is so big! That being said, I so loved doing the show and singing that brilliant Porter score eight-times-a-week, playing with Brian Stokes and the fantastic cast and I really loved singing “I Hate Men”! And I had the most brilliant costumes by the deeply missed and beautiful Marty Pakledinaz.
“I Miss the Mountains”, Next to Normal at Broadway on Broadway, 2010
Playing “Diana" in N2N opposite my husband, Jason Danieley, was one of the great gifts of my career. It was also one of the toughest shows emotionally I have ever done as I really coexisted day and night with “Diana” during the entire run, which is why I have not revisited it in my mind since we closed the show. Watching this reminds me of the extraordinary show that Tom and Brian wrote that is so important to so many people with mental illness and their families. It is done all over the world today and its impact is great in trying to remove the stigma from this disease. "I Miss The Mountains” is another crisis point in Diana’s journey as she struggles with the effects of her meds and as she says, missing her life. Singing it at the B’way on B’way venue was so fitting as I was just channeling her in that Time’s Square madness which fueled the song so perfectly.
Don't miss the stunning Marin Mazzie in 'The King and I' at LCT's Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
