| Question-and-Answer accurate as of MAY 2002 Deidre Goodwin with Kevin Korczynski Where did you grow up? I grew up in Oklahoma City and St. Louis. What college did you attend? Your major? I graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO and majored in Dance and Electronic Media. When did you start performing? Dancing? I didn't start performing really until college which is when I started taking class. In high school I did the drill team thing but no formal training until 17. Tell us about your college experience with CHICAGO? It was actually petty well done considering it was in Springfield, MO. I played 'Roxie' and the show used extra women to act out "Cell Block" (we had a lot of amazing dancers and they found a way to use everybody.) The funny thing is everyone said I should have played 'Velma' and Michelle Potterf ('Annie') should be 'Roxie.' Later in life that all worked out. Sidenote, the city is so hick that for extra credit, people that took humanities or theatre classes, for their general requirements, could write about the show. More than a few actually said that the reason Roxie went to jail and got into trouble was because I was married to a white man ('Amos.') Is that scary or what? Oh well, whatcha gonna do? Was APPLAUSE your first experience working with Annie Reinking? Yes, and that show actually used seven of us for the first national tour (of CHICAGO.) How did the revival of CHICAGO come along for you? APPLAUSE led to CHICAGO since we had just worked with Annie, and the Weisslers also produced both. Prior to assuming 'Velma' on tour, had you performed 'Velma' or 'Mama' as an understudy before, on Broadway or First National Tour? Yes, on the first national, but I have never gone on as 'Mama.' What was it like performing 'Velma' for the first time? Completely crazy. I found out at about 5:30. It was in Chicago. Jasmine Guy had flown to Florida and Janine LaManna, who was the first understudy, had flown to NYC. There was a storm and both were stuck. When they called I had literally had one dance rehearsal three weeks before but never a vocal, or even an understudy rehearsal, nothing. I think because I had done the show before and you basically sit there and watch the show I knew it even if I didn't realize it at the time. The stage manager said before the show, "If Jasmine shows up, we will put her on for the second act." I think it was just to cover his butt. Jasmine came to the theatre in the middle of the first act. Before she had gotten there, right after "Jazz," the stage manager had decided to let me do the whole show. I guess I passed his audition. Crazy but fun. Have you had a favorite 'Roxie' to perform opposite of? I do have two favorites. Congratulations on the film. Will you be in any scenes besides the "Cell Black Tango?" Yeah, we are in prison scenes and also in "Billy." Since the film goes in and out of reality, we don't really show up in numbers like "Jazz" or "Razzle Dazzle," it just wouldn't make sense. Double congrats on THE PAJAMA GAME. How was the experience at ENCORES? PAJAMA GAME was awesome. It is a really fast gig and you have to be on your toes because there is no time to think. You have to really trust your instincts. Everyone at City Center really loves what they do and appreciate how it all comes together. Finally, what does the future hold for you, after Stephanie Pope succeeds you as 'Velma?' The future holds the future. I am going to do BOYS FROM SYRACUSE for the summer and then we will see. As many times as I have left and come back into CHICAGO, who knows? They keep people for three to four months and always wait until the last minute. Stephanie is great in the role, and it is great to see as many black women on Broadway especially in parts that don't have a 'color.' I am happy with the things that the show has allowed me to do though so my experience is already great. I am just happy to live life in the most amazing city in the world and be a working actor. Anything else is just icing. Thank you, Deidre! |
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