By popular demand following a hugely well-received show in May, Ann Kittredge brings Fancy Meeting You Here: An Evening of Ahrens & Flaherty back to Feinstein’s/54 Below on Tuesday, September 24th at 7:00pm. Not merely a fan of the great collaboration between Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, which led to Tony-winning shows like Ragtime, Once On This Island Anastasia, Rocky: The Musical and My Favorite Year, Kittredge goes beyond to explore what makes this particular partnership an enduring success.
NiteLife Exchange (NLE) celebrates Ann Kittredge (AK) with Six Questions plus one more!
NiteLife Exchange (NLE): You’re a lifelong performing artist who has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and at major venues across the country; how did you eventually get into cabaret?
Ann Kittredge (AK): They let me! O.K, the long story is, it was an artform I never tried but always wanted to. When I decided to return to performing, there was an urgency to get back up on stage and have fun with an audience (O.K, I’m not the most patient person in the world). Cabaret satisfied that urgency. I knew there’d be a huge learning curve and I love the challenge. When I think back to my first show, all I can say is YIKES! Thank goodness it was a small audience. I mean, I was doing Irish limericks up there. LOL.
NLE: You’re back at Feinstein’s/54 Below by popular demand with your show Fancy Meeting You Here: An Evening of Ahrens & Flaherty. What are the ways you sourced material for this show?
AK: We went straight to the horses’ mouthes—or shall I say, Lynn and Stephen. They provided some of their unpublished music and insight and opinions about our choices, and Lynn rewrote lyrics for me. I’m a research fanatic so I read and watched source material—whatever I could find. (Is anyone else shocked that there is no biography of them yet.) Ronni Krasnow, who is a huge fan of theirs, has been an incredible source of information and such a fun, smart and kind person to get to know. Also, while we were creating the show, Anastasia closed on Broadway, so I went to my first Broadway closing. And their new show, Marie, was running in Seattle, so I ventured out there to experience their process. Lynn and Stephen really helped to steer us in the best direction.
NLE: What makes Fancy Meeting You Here: An Evening of Ahrens & Flaherty so special to you?
AK: So Much — lotta special! First, getting to bring great contemporary artists to cabaret-loving audiences and captivating them with Stephen and Lynn’s eclectic, heart-full, humorous and entirely accessible music. Then being directed by Andrea Marcovicci, which was magical, inspirational and completely creatively rewarding. Reconnecting with the masterful Alex Rybeck—by a fluke we were matched up last year for a Vocal Ease performance; it had been years since I had seen him, when I took his and Sara Lazarus’ audition class in the 1990s.
And… I won’t tell you the song, but there’s a moment in the show, when the bass comes in (thanks to Alex’s arrangements and Mary Ann McSweeney’s gorgeous talent) that literally takes my breath away; I realize how deeply meaningful and layered Lynn and Stephen’s writing is and how lucky I am, in that moment, to be singing their story.
NLE: With regard to future shows, do you have anything in mind?
AK: OH YES! Alex and I are working on an idea’ the title will be, Shirley, You Jest! about a few famous Shirleys that have entertained us over the past 100 years. We have another show that is in its infancy stages, no title yet, but Alex is a terrific person with whom to sculpt an evening.
NLE: You have been a great supporter of other cabaret artists over the years. What has that experience been like for you?
AK: It’s all a blast! There is no shortage of unique, unusual, wacky, over-the-top, quiet, boisterous, talented, insane people in the cabaret community—sometimes all in one person! LOL. I am better for meeting them, learning from them and getting to know their humanity on and off stage. I love being entertained and surrounded by talent, but I also enjoy being surrounded by just good, supportive, interesting people.
NLE: After such a full and rewarding career, is there anything on your bucket list you’d like to accomplish?
AK: Ohhh yeah! I stepped back in almost 3 years ago and feel I have much more to accomplish and share—just in cabaret. And yes, I have a goal that I’m working towards, but for now it’s my little secret. I certainly don’t mind sharing that it would be great to expand my career to bring in some bucks to help pay for my kids’ college (woohoo!). So, offers welcomed!
NLE: What do you do in your spare time?
AK: Other than being a “potted plant” for my children (that’s a subject for another column), I am a member of Soka Gakkai International, an NGO of the United Nations. We espouse pro-active efforts for world peace and the value and power potential of each individual. I also love watching golf (please don’t judge me) and murder-anything and singing for Vocal Ease, a volunteer singing organization that provides live entertainment for senior citizens. Sleep is nice, too.
For more information and tickets click here
54 Below is located at 254 W 54th St. Cellar, NYC, 646-476-3551
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