Six Questions with “Gold Dust Woman” Andrea Bell Wolff

The Cutting Room presents Gold Dust Woman starring stage and screen performer, Andrea Bell Wolff, on November 3rd at 5 pm. Gold Dust Woman is an exploration of the music of iconic composer and performer, Stevie Nicks, and is a mini-theatrical experience with a full rock band. 

NiteLife Exchange (NLE) celebrates Andrea Bell Wolff (ABW) with Six Questions.

NiteLife Exchange: You starred as both Ermengarde and Minnie Fay in five productions of Hello, Dolly! on Broadway and the First National Tour with Carol Channing, how did you eventually get your start in Cabaret? 

Andrea Bell Wolff: My entire career starting from age 16 was mostly musical theater; however I’ve done television, recording and have sung with numerous bands. My life took me away from performing to raise two children, one whom is handicapped. That became my priority. I performed in a few shows through the years, working at Goodspeed and theaters in Florida. Eight years ago I looked death in the face when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I was hit with the realization that I hadn’t accomplished all I needed to do. I promised myself if I survived I would go back to my passion, performing. I met up with Barry Levitt. He was so special and he put me on the road in cabaret. We put together three shows. He died in the midst of that third show. But I continued on.

NLE: Gold Dust Woman is an exploration of the music of iconic composer and performer Stevie Nicks; what made you decide Stevie Nicks was for you?

ABW: Well I’ve always loved Stevie Nicks. She is of my generation—actually, one year older then me! People through the years always said I not only resembled her, but sounded like her. We’re both petite. In my last show, I Can’t Trace Time, David Sabella mentioned in his review that perhaps I should do an entire Stevie Nicks show. I thought, “Wow, I love her music and I’m going to do it.”

NLE: What similarities do you share in common?

ABW: Stevie Nicks and I were both wild teens, although I never got caught up in the drug scene. And just like her, I also was always falling in love and had numerous love affairs. No apologizes! We differ in the fact she never wanted to be a wife and raise children. That was always a priority for me.

NLE: How did your collaboration with MAC Award winning director Dan Ruth and musical director Jude Obermuller come to be?

ABW: After Barry’s passing I realized that I wanted to do a show with contemporary music. I needed someone who was expert at that. My PR gal and good friend, Betsyann Faiella, called me and said “I want you to see a performer at the Green Room 42 because it’s something on the same idea that I feel you should do. That show was Frances Ruffele Lives in New York. Of course I knew her from Tony Award fame and Les Miserables. She was awesome. At the piano as her musical director was a very young man, Jude Obermueller. He was amazing and I felt I just needed to work with him. After her show, like a star struck fan, I ran up to him. I think I may have scared him as he must have thought “who is this crazy woman?” I got his number and he told me “let’s see if this works or not.” Well, it was a musical match. We did my previous show and putting Gold Dust Woman together has been a dream.

Jude is brilliant and professional. He has tremendous energy. When I was looking for a director so many wonderful people in the Cabaret community were on my list. So much talent—but I felt I wanted to perhaps go outside the box with a director, with someone who loved rock and roll as much as I do. I chose Dan Ruth. He is an actor who has won numerous awards for his one man play, A Life Behind Bars. He is not a musical performer, but lordy lordy he knows his stuff inside and out. Jude, Dan and I have a blast together. Always fun.

NLE: What can audiences expect to see in Gold Dust Woman? How does it differ from your previous NYC shows, Prisoner of Love and I Can’t Trace Time?

ABW: Gold Dust Woman Is a big production—bigger and more elaborate than any of my prior shows. It’s a theatrical piece with cabaret components. It’s highly commercial and I have big plans for this show. I am not a Stevie Nicks impersonator; however I embody her in a way that there will be times the audience may believe it’s her. I have a marvelous band of five musicians and two beautiful back-up songbirds. I’ll be telling stories of Stevie’s life in the first person.

NLE: You have been a great supporter of other cabaret artists over the years; what has that experience been like for you?

ABW: The Cabaret community is a very close knit family. When I first started I felt much like an outsider as some of these singers have known and supported each other for years and years. I would go see shows and didn’t know people and no one would even acknowledge me. I thought “what a bunch of snobs,” but I was wrong. It just takes a while. Most everyone is warm and accepting—you certainly can’t make everyone happy! I’ve come to love and respect many of my fellow performers, because it is NOT easy putting it all out there and to be judged. I live an hour and fifteen minutes outside of NYC so I find it hard to get to see everyone’s show—who doesn’t! But I try my best to get around and support people. It’s not fun to do a show and have no one in the audience. I’ve been there.

NLE: What do you do in your spare time?

ABW: I recently became a new grandmother, so I spend lots of time with my son, his wife and the baby. I try to go see my handicapped daughter and her boyfriend in Connecticut when I can. I have three dogs—two that are rescues and over 65 lbs., and they need grooming and attention. I love to garden and oil paint. I actually painted a picture of Barry Levitt that hangs in Studio 244 next to Marilyn Maye’s portrait. I also like to go out on those big party fishing boats and fish for fluke. Best of all is spending time with Robert, my husband of 36 years.