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Producer Married To 'Brand New' 'Lady'

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By SARAH HOYE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2007

TAMPA - From Great Britain to Tampa comes the revival of the classic musical 'My Fair Lady,' produced by the legendary Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

The show, about a Cockney flower girl who blossoms under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins, launched its U.S. tour Wednesday at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. It stars Lisa O'Hare as Eliza Doolittle and Christopher Cazenove, of television's 'Dynasty,' as Higgins.

Mackintosh, the man behind some of Broadway's most memorable theatrical productions, including 'Oliver!' 'Oklahoma!' 'Miss Saigon' and 'Les Miserables,' says he has been enthralled with the stage and this show since he was a child.

He becomes remarkably excited, his eyebrows dancing as he gesticulates feverishly, talking with an English accent about his life's work to bring scripts and scores to life - and more specifically about 'My Fair Lady.'

Why revive 'My Fair Lady'?

It's one of the greatest musicals. I saw the original production with my aunt when I was 12, and I went back to see it several times. I even went to the last show of the run when I was 16 ... and finally it all came together. We put our dream team together and here we are.

I am turned on by the material, and to see it come to life like it's never been seen before is my joy and challenge.

What makes this production different?

It's staged differently. 'Little Bit of Luck' was a trio; now it's a big production. 'Get Me to the Church' starts in the flower market and turns into a pub crawl. (Laughs). If you know the show, you'll be thrilled. ... We're treating it like a brand new show; this is entirely different.

Why kick off the U.S. tour in Tampa?

Morsani Hall is a great theater with lots of room backstage for a production of this size. And I was here when 'Les Miserables' opened in Tampa years ago. That helped reinvent the road tour.

What's your idea of a good show tour?

I refuse to bus and truck tour unless it has the same quality of a performance on Broadway. ... I'm only interested in doing the best. I'm still going back to my old shows and reworking things. I want the best out of them.

What do you want out of your time in Tampa?

I arrived Saturday, and Sunday was the first time the actors and musicians got together. Especially with this show, you want the music and the words to play with each other. My role is to get the departments up and running, then I go 'this isn't right' or 'that works' or 'let's try this.'

How hands-on do you like to be?

I know the shows better than most directors. I'm there all the time. I've been working on 'My Fair Lady' for 25 years. With original shows, I work with the authors; I'm like a midwife. It's a gift, I guess, but I'm only as good as who I hire. I'm sure I can be irritating and I'm not always right, but it's about making it work.

Plays dominate Broadway this fall. What is the state of musical theater?

In a way it's incredibly healthy. People want to be stars, and there is a resurgence of young people interested in theater thanks to productions like 'High School Musical.'

With the exception of 'Wicked,' what we have not seen is that no one has stepped into the shoes of writing great musicals.

What role does a producer play in the future of theater?

No one can invent this; they happen spontaneously. A producer can find talent and fan the flame. What they can't do is strike the flame. I have to react to the talent.

Are they any shows you're excited about this season?

I'm looking forward to seeing 'Young Frankenstein,' and I've heard that 'Desperately Seeking Susan' is wonderful.

You've been knighted by the Queen of England. What is that like?

It pleased my mother and father to no end. (Laughs) And it does occasionally get me a table at a restaurant ... but it is a title I rarely use. Actually, it makes me a little embarrassed really. I'm just Cameron.

ON STAGE
My Fair Lady
WHEN: 7:30 tonight, 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Morsani Hall, 1010 N. MacInnes Place

TICKETS: $32.50 to $67.50; (813) 229-7827

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