Maureen McGovern is putting the final touches on her new show, "Sing, My Sisters, Sing!" which celebrates women singer/songwriters. On a recent snowy morning, this star of musical theatre, performance, and cabaret talked about her new recordings, her tour, her cabaret appearances, and a whole lot more.
RM: "We know about your appearance in New Hope at the Rrazz Room on March 7. What else will you be doing?
MM: "Jeff Harris, my Musical Director /Pianist, and I love to perform in New Hope. We've always had a great time and wonderfully responsive audiences there. I worked the Rrazz Room in San Francisco for Robert and Rory and can't wait to perform at their new Rrazz Room in New Hope. Jeff has done all the arrangements for this show. He is an incredible composer and arranges with the heart of a songwriter. "Sing, My Sisters, Sing!" features 'rearrangements' of songs by contemporary women singer/songwriters such as Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Janis Ian, Phoebe Snow, Laura Nyro, Annie Lennox, Melissa Manchester and many more. Also included are signature songs written (in part) by my early 'singing sisters,' Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and Annie Ross. The Rrazz Room is our final break-in show before it premieres on March 10 at 54 Below in New York City."
RM: "After the Rrazz Room and New York City shows, what's next?"
MM: "I have to check my iPad to see where I'm going to be. March 20, I'll be in Richmond, TX, doing an incredibly fun show, '4 Girls 4.' It's an updated version of the original show from years ago with Rosemary Clooney, Kaye Ballad and a host of other great singers. This time around, we '4' will include Andrea McArdle, Christine Andreas, Donna McKechnie and myself at the Eiseman Center. We all respect and admire each other. It's a musical love- fest. Before that, I'm appearing in New York at "Broadway Backwards," which is a benefit performance for Broadway Cares-Equity Fights Aids (BC/EFA) on Monday, March 9th. I've been asked to sing "This Nearly Was Mine," from 'South Pacific.'
RM: "That's the song sung by Emile de Becque. So you'll be following in the footsteps of Brian Stokes Mitchell, Giorgio Tozzi and Howard Keel. That should be interesting. They present the show on a Monday, so that people in the theatre can perform for charity. I'm not so sure about the name 'Broadway Backwards.' To me, it sounds right when men sing love songs to men and women to women. While we're on the subject, you do perform many benefits for the LGBT community. Do you consider yourself to be an ally, or do you do it for friends or family members who are gay or lesbian?"
MM: "I have a very loyal and supportive gay and lesbian following, of which I am very grateful. I also happen to believe that gay rights are human rights. I've sung at many a benefit during my life for gay rights and also weddings and funerals of very dear gay friends. I'm happy to see that marriage equality is finally becoming an accepted reality, although still too slowly. As a feminist, I believe in equal rights for every living being. I also fight for women's rights, patient's rights, children's rights and animal rights. I believe we all have to do our part to better the human condition. "
RM: "Your schedule sounds exhausting. Do you have any plans for the rest of the year?"
MM: Yes, In April, I'm doing a 20-day, 12-city tour from Minnesota to Colorado and will be finishing two new CDs (for fall release.) 'Sing, My Sisters, Sing' is a companion CD for my show and the other recording is a spiritual CD called 'How Can I Keep From Singing?'" I am also slowly writing my memoir, "Surviving The Morning After." Maureen's parting words were, "I love singing these iconic Baby-Boomer coming- of-age hits by our finest woman singer/songwriters who tell the story of our lives!"
Maureen McGovern will appear at the Rrazz Room in New Hope, PA, on March 7. Visit http://www.therrazzroom.com/events "Broadway Backwards" will be Monday, March 9, at the Al Herschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, in New York City. Visit www.BroadwayCares.org