Marvin Hamlisch: They’re Singing His Songs!

Marvin Hamlisch remains one of the busiest men in show business, as composer, conductor, and performer, but the Tony, Oscar, and Grammy Award winner is taking time out of his schedule for Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch – An All Star Celebration, which will be presented on Monday, October 4 at 7:30pm at Symphony Space. The star-studded evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honor Hamlisch’s longtime friend and colleague, keyboardist Fran Liebergall, who is living with MS.

Hamlisch — who will appear on stage alongside such stars as Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, and Sammy Williams, all of whom appeared on Broadway in such Hamlisch-written shows as A Chorus Line and They’re Playing Our Song — spoke recently to TheaterMania about this special event, the upcoming Reprise production of Playing Our Song, his future projects, and his thoughts on his songs being performed on FOX’s hit series Glee.

THEATERMANIA: Why did you feel so strongly about putting together this concert for Fran?
MARVIN HAMLISCH: Because Fran was my assistant for many, many years. She cares about people, she cares about music and she is one of my dearest friends.

TM: What do you think it will it be like working again with so many people who originated your songs on Broadway?
MH: Fun! It is going to be a great evening playing with all of these wonderful, talented folks who have gone on to have some pretty amazing careers on the Broadway stage.

TM: They’re Playing Our Song is currently being done at Reprise, and it was just done as a one-night concert for The Actors Fund. Why do you think the show is so popular again after 30 years?
MH: That show has been popular for a long time. In fact, more people stop me on the street and tell me how much they love that show. It doesn’t hurt that it was written by Neil Simon, and it’s a show about relationships and it’s a happy message. As for the Reprise production, I think Jason Alexander is going to be terrific as Vernon.

TM: Would you like to see that show back on Broadway? If so, do you have any casting ideas?

MH: Broadway? Yes! Casting? George Clooney — because he’s the one person who’s more like me than anyone else.

TM: Will you ever write another Broadway musical?
MH: Of course — which is different than saying it will ever be produced.

TM: Did you hear Lea Michele sing “What I Did For Love” the other night on Glee? If so, what did you think of it?
MH: No. But I adore Lea Michele! I wish I had known that she was singing that. I know she must have done a spectacular job.

TM: Does it mean anything to you to have one of your songs exposed to so many young people on a show like Glee?
MH: Always! That’s the name of the game — longevity.

TM: You’re doing a special concert with Michael Feinstein in Philadelphia later this year. What should audiences expect to hear that evening?

MH: I think they should expect him doing his thing, me doing my thing, and then two pianos on stage. Sometimes I play for him, too. We’ve done it before and I am really looking forward to doing it again.

TM: You recently agreed to take on the role of conducting the Pasadena Pops next summer? What are your plans for those concerts?
MH: This first year there will be three concerts in Pasadena. One will be Broadway music, one will be movie music, and one will be my music. This is my introduction to the city and its music lovers, so the following year we will branch out a bit more.