Singer-Actress and Firecracker Cabaret and Theater Star, Andrea Bell Wolff, Answers Six Questions

NLE: Your show Adventures in Vegas is quite an exposé of your time in a swinging era in Vegas. What was the biggest “lesson” you came away with?

ABW: Being so young and going to work in Las Vegas was a chance of a lifetime. I was young but not naive .I had been around the block after being on tour and working on Broadway. However I was mainly used to being around East Coast people. I was thrown into a large group of people from states with very different ideas about life then I had. A big lesson I had to learn right away was to navigate myself amongst these folks. There was an immediate sense of jealousy I encountered as I soon became my bosses new protege. On top of that (and this MAY NOT SIT WELL WITH MOST} I encountered a huge amount of anti-semitism as some never worked with a Jewish person before. This was a huge learning lesson for me. I suppose for them also. I never did get close to anyone in the cast but we eventually all got along.

NLE: Adventures in Vegas began as a cabaret show; what decided you to take it into a theatrical setting?

ABW: Adventures in Vegas actually was the brain child of my musical director Jude Obermuller.We were contemplating doing another show. We were stuck on what the premise would be. We would chat alot about our lives and past experiences. I told him many stories about my time working in Vegas. I also had a diary chucked away  After The death of Barry Levitt I felt lost . I realized I wanted to do more contemporary music. My dear friend and cabaret PR gal Betysann Faeillo suggested I go see Frances Ruffells show at the Greenroom 42. There behind the piano was an adorable ,highly energetic ,extremely talented pianist. After her show I nearly tackled him to the floor exclaiming thats he was just what I was looking for.Poor guy was like who is this nut case.? Anyhow, we set up a sort of lets see how this goes rehearsal. It went great and Iv’e been so fortunate to have Jude Obermuller as my MD. Wev’e done  three different shows together  and a few videos with the help of the talented Dan Ruth and two beautiful CD’s. Putting together Adventures in Vegas I knew I needed a young ,vivacious open minded director. Jimmy Larkin fit the bill. We knew we were a match from our first lunch meeting. Jude and Jimmy took all my stories from my diary in Vegas and wrote a awesome script. Then Jimmy brought in Elliott Litherland as my co star. So fabulous these three guys are!!!!!!Im hoping to get representation and do some film and tv.  Im not the easiest to cast as i am what you would call unique. I am cast in a wonderful play A Tomato Can’t Grow in the Bronx. This will be at the Chain theater in December. I play a unattractive grandma in a very dysfunctional household in the 1960’s. Im thrilled to be part of this play.So here I sm. Not a youngster anymore but still feel the need to do what I do best. I want to go out with a bang not a fizzle!`in my basement. He thought this would make a interesting show. Well it turned out to be a hit and comments to me were that this show belonged in a theater as it’s more like a mini musical comedy then a cabaret.

NLE: When did you come into the cabaret world? What was the deciding factor is making that decision.

ABW:  I had taken a break from show business. Not sure how to navigate back. I had no manager and no agent. I was older, have a husband, family with an older mother at the time I was responsible for. Two children. One with special needs and three dogs. I knew I couldn’t go on tour or leave the tri- state area to perform. I had recently re-connected with an old schoolmate from Professional Children’s school . Her name is Magda Katz. She has a very close connection with Marilyn Maye. At a lunch we were having she recommended I get into cabaret. I knew nothing of this venue. She suggested I take a masterclass with Marilyn .I did. Behind the piano that day was The late Barry Levitt. I took his card and called him. I remember our first meeting. He sat me down and asked why do I want to do cabaret. I explained my situation telling him that I wanted to perform but, on my own terms. We put on three different cabaret shows. They were all very different. He always loved my pop voice and said I reminded of Ronnie Spector when I sang . We did a 1960s show, which the general public went wild for. He unfortunately passed away right before my second performance of Prisoner of Love. Mathew Ward beautifully took over for Barry.

NLE: Looking back on your career—you began as an ingenue on Broadway—what are some highlights—favorite moments that you remember?

ABW: Opening nights were always a surreal experience. Being backstage with all those talented, beautiful people was beyond anything I ever experienced. When I took over the role of Minnie Fay towards the end of Broadway run as Pearl Bailey was  coming in with her cast everything just accelerated. People waiting outside for my autograph. I especially loved when bus loads of audience members were waiting to leave. They would hang out the windows and yell There she is!

NLE: Who have been your mentors? Who most guided you through your career as an actor and singer? 

ABW: I started working with musical directors as a teenager. Each one of the them made an impact on my life. My first dance teacher was someone I’ll never forget.  Peter Napolitano when we did Prison of Love was a wonderful director. Dan Ruth spent lots of time getting my shows together. What a talent he is. I suppose I really didn’t have anyone directly taking me under their wing. My dearly departed friend Marcia Lewis  took me in to her home in California after a messy divorce. She was also responsible for setting up my audition for Bottoms Up. She was one in a million and I will forever be grateful to have had her in my life.

NLE: What does the future hold—have you thought about your next show? 

ABW: After The death of Barry Levitt I felt lost. I realized I wanted to do more contemporary music. My dear friend and cabaret PR gal Betsyann Faiella suggested I go see Frances Ruffell’s show at the Greenroom 42. There behind the piano was an adorable, highly energetic, extremely talented pianist. After her show I nearly tackled him to the floor exclaiming thats he was just what I was looking for. Poor guy was like who is this nut case? Anyhow, we set up a sort of let’s see how this goes rehearsal. It went great and I’ve been so fortunate to have Jude Obermuller as my MD. Wev’e done three different shows together and a few videos with the help of the talented Dan Ruth, as well as two beautiful CDs. Putting together Adventures in Vegas I knew I needed a young, vivacious open-minded director. Jimmy Larkin fit the bill. We knew we were a match from our first lunch meeting. Jude and Jimmy took all my stories from my diary in Vegas and wrote a awesome script. Then Jimmy brought in Elliott Litherland as my co-star. So fabulous these three guys are! I’m hoping to get representation and do some film and TV. I’m not the easiest to cast as i am what you would call unique. I am cast in a wonderful play A Tomato Can’t Grow in the Bronx. This will be at the Chain theater in December. I play a unattractive grandma in a very dysfunctional household in the 1960 s. Im thrilled to be part of this play. So here I am. Not a youngster anymore but still feel the need to do what I do best. I want to go out with a bang not a fizzle!