spotlight kristin chenoweth
is Jennifer Lopez. I know her a bit and I see how focused she is and how she does it. One of the things she mentions in her book, is that show business will always be there. People tell you that you can’t take a week off, because who knows what will happen in that week. Her point is that it will still be there when you get back and if it isn’t, then it wasn’t meant to be. I’m getting better at letting that sink in, but it’s hard. I have a similar personality, I have ideas and creative energy and I like to use it. I feel like when we are given certain gifts, it’s wrong not to utilize them. My voice, or my jewelry, or the roles I pick aren’t for everyone, but it’s certainly the best creative outlet [for me] and I’m so lucky that I get to do it. Do you have a favorite venue at which you enjoy performing? The Sydney Opera House, the Hollywood Bowl,
Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall... I haven’t been to Symphony Hall in San Francisco in a while, but I sure would like to return there. I remember and recall it fondly. I also love Walt Disney Hall; it’s engineered well and architecturally beautiful. Any place that has a proscenium, I just love! Your vocal range (among many other things) is amazing and you’ve managed to maintain your instrument incredibly well. Do you have a regiment for taking care of your voice? I sleep, I don’t smoke and I don’t drink a lot of alcohol. People think they get nodes and have vocal problems because they are misusing their tech- nique. It’s usually because they’re singing tired and are smoking and drinking on tired cords. They’re not resting and then getting up and doing it again. Bad habits are how throat problems develop. I try to take as good care of my body as one can and I try to sing every day, even when I’m doing other things. I still see my voice teacher when I can in New
York and check in a lot with my music director, Mary Mitchell. We talk a lot about my voice and how it’s changing and how I want to keep develop- ing it. I look to people who have come before me and how they have succeeded. The best example I can give is Barbara Cook—she may not be singing “Glitter and Be Gay” anymore—but she can still sing a song like nobody’s business. One of the many things that I enjoy about you, is your humor and the ability to laugh at yourself and situations. How have you manage to find a balance? I come from a family that won’t let me get away
with
anything...They are the first to point out when I do something stupid. (Laughs) Secondly, I have a bunch of friends who will do the same thing. They keep it real and I think that’s really helpful. It becomes very self-oriented in this business and I guess it has to. Sometimes, I get sick of myself and I’m on my own nerves! It’s nice to have people who remind you that you’re not quite 5’ tall, you don’t look good in hip-huggers and will continue to take you to Red Lobster, even though you hate fish. I also have a dog and pick up her poop...What can I say? Just a quick “thank you” for all of your support for the LGBT community; I admire how you’ve always embraced it and your faith together. For me, that’s what true faith is all about, embracing our common humanity. We don’t have to like everything about each other, but love and compassion should be the precedence. Thank you for your comment about the LGBT support. I will continue to do it until the day I die. I did it when no one wanted me to and I did it when everyone wanted me to. I guess the good thing is that my story has never changed about the way I feel
20 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2016
about this community. Hopefully, everyone can see that by my actions. Please tell us a bit about what to expect during your show at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.
First of all, you can expect that I will have been
at the mall across the street all day, so I’ll be talking about that. (Laughs) Second of all, you’re going to hear everything from Jerome Kern to a song from Wicked and my performance with some local talent...Everything from Sandi Patty to Judy Garland and classic Kristin Chenoweth. What I really hope is that people leave with a
lighter heart and a little bit more hope. Because, the truth is, we live in a very tough world. When we can stop time, let ourselves be entertained and enjoy an experience... That’s worth the price of any ticket.
I couldn’t agree more.
Kristin Chenoweth will be at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 12. For tickets and more information, call 714.556.2787 or go to
scfta.org.
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