Christine Pedi … recently seen in BROADWAY BY THE YEAR at Town Hall and off -broadway in THE 24 HOUR PLAYS & THE A TRAIN PLAYS. Well known in New York for her long association with FORBIDDEN BROADWAY she's earned a Drama Desk nomination and an LA Ovation award and has appeared in companies all over the world including L.A., Tokyo ,Singapore ,Australia & Londons West End (Albery Theatre). She made her Broadway debut in the revival of LITTLE ME directed by Rob Marshall. Her work in NY Cabaret has earned her Show Business Weeklys 2005 Best Female Cabaret SInger of the Year award, a MAC award for her turn as Liza Minelli in JUDY & LIZA LIVE ,several nominations for her one woman shows (WONDERFUL SONGS - An Evening of Comden & Green , CHRISTINE PEDI in a Single Act of Desperation & FORBIDDEN DIVAS) as well as a on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. She can be heard daily on Sirius Satellite Radio's Broadways Best playing showtunes and interviewing theatre legends. (Sirius.com) Recordings include: “Forbidden Broadway: SVU”, "Forbidden Broadway2001: A Spoof Odyssey", "Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back", "Forbidden Hollywood", "Forbidden Broadway: Vol. 3" "Jekyll & Hyde"" & "Little Me". She has performed for President and Mrs. Clinton (playing Mrs. Clinton) appeared at Lincoln Centers Avery Fisher Hall & headlined on the Queen Mary 2. SOPRANOS fans may recognize Christine as the dearly departed Mrs.Bobby Baccala (He loved her so much he couldn't defrost her ziti). Credit:Broadway Diva Christmas Official Website
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Corine Cohen: Christine, you are best known for your "Liza"
impersonation in the smash hit Forbidden Broadway was that one
of your favorites?
Christine
Pedi: One of my favorites. It changes depending on the material
and whether or not I've been doing the character to death. Bernadette
is my newest and current favorite...it just makes me laugh when
I hear her voice coming out of my mouth. We couldn't be more visually
& vocally different...except of course that we're both nice
Italian girls.
Corine: Yes, you are! I saw "Wonderful Songs", your
one woman dedication show to Comden and Green. It was incredible!
Any plans to bring it back?
Christine: Thank you so much for that! I just might bring it back. I'd really love to record it, adding a few more songs that didn't make it into the show. I've spent some lovely afternoons singing for Betty in her apartment lately. She's a brilliant audience and it's been an honor. I'd love her to contribute liner notes to the cd...If I ever get the $$$ to make it!
Corine: Any producers out there? GIVE PEDI A CALL! Tell me
about Divas. What will you be singing?
Christine: As of today: The Man with the Bag, A very unusual take
on Santa Claus is Coming to Town that is fused with elements of
Yes Virginia There is A Santa Claus and ROXIE from Chicago. Count
Your Blessings with a gorgeous Cy Coleman Christmas Song "Twelve
Days of Christmas" (or should I say "Twelve Divas of
Christmas"...you'll love this one).
Corine: It sounds like fun. I heard you are going to be in
a reading with Jennifer Simard and Jackie Hoffman. Can you tell
me more about it?
Christine: The play is DALLIANCE IN VIENNA, a show I did at the
American Theatre of Actors 2 years ago thru the Genisius Guild.
I play a suicidal woman from 1900 Vienna who storms a very elegant
party to kill herself in front of the lover who spurned her leaving
her a broken woman with a past and no future...but all done in
the funniest way possible of course!
Corine: Sorry I missed it. What is the one role you dream of
playing? I can see you in Wonderful Town (Donna Murphy's role)
Christine: I've outgrown a lot of the ladies I've always wanted
to play but happily I'm now approaching the right age for Mama
Rose, Auntie Mame, Mrs Lovett and Miss Hannigan. Lily Garland
from On The 20th Century has always been at the top top top of
my list.
Corine: What are 10 things that people should know about Christine
Pedi?
1 SHE WANTS THE LEAD IN A HALF HOUR SITCOM FILMED IN NYC!!!
2 SHE IS BLIND AS A BAT, SO CHANCES ARE IF IT APPEARS THAT SHE'S
IGNORING YOU OR LOOKING RIGHT THRU YOU...WELL, SHE IS BUT THAT'S
BECAUSE SHE CAN'T SEE YOU. EXTREME HAND GESTURES AND REINTRODUCING
YOURSELF ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED
3 SHE CAN SING LIKE A REAL GIRL... not just the high belting,
chain smoking , alcoholic, diva bitch goddesses she's been doing
for years in Forbidden Broadway.
4 SHE'S NOT MEAN. SHE DOESN'T DO IMPRESSIONS & PARODY CAUSE
SHE DIGS POKING FUN AT PEOPLE...IT'S JUST A FREAKISH ABILITY.
I hate being mean to people, especially people in my profession
so I am careful not to offend to deeply...REALLY, I try!
5 HER DEAR COUSIN TOM PEDI (WHO PASSED AWAY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO
AT 83) WAS THE FIRST ACTOR IN THE FAMILY. HE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL
DEATH OF A SALESMAN, HARRY THE HORSE IN THE ORIGINAL GUYS AND
DOLLS, ROCKY THE BARTENDER IN THE ORIGINAL ICEMAN COMETH AND HAD
A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THEATER & FILM HIS WHOLE LIFE.
HE WAS A GENEROUS SOUL WHO EXUDED WARMTH & HUMOR AND PEOPLE
STILL MENTION HIM TO ME WITH TENDERNESS AND APPRECIATION. HE IS
MY ROLE MODEL.
6 SHE LOVES TO COOK AND SEW and do all manner of crafty homebody
chores...needlepoint, baking cookies...I'd love to star in MARTHA
STEWART THE MUSICAL...NAH I COULD NEVER BE THAT MEAN.
7 SHE HAS THE MOST SUPPORTIVE PARENTS ANYONE IN SHOW BUSINESS
COULD HOPE FOR AND HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS ARE THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL,
FUNNY, SWEET AND LOVING CHILDREN...ALSO SMART AND GORGEOUS.
8 SHE HAS A LOT OF CLOSET SPACE IN HER APARTMENT...(SHE SAID THAT
TO MAKE YOU JEALOUS)...A LOT.
9 SHE MAKES THE BEST GUACAMOLE. NO, yours IS NOT THE BEST...HERS
IS....SORRY ... HERS IS.
10 SHE CAN NEVER REMEMBER A NAME OR FACE.
Corine: You kill me. And yes, I am jealous about your closet space
not to mention your talent! Who do you admire most?
Christine: The people who have tranquility during times of stress
and anxiety (which in NYC at least is every day). The ones with
the ability to keep centered and focused and not dwell on the
negative...to move passed roadblocks and not carry them on their
shoulders and hold on to a burden which need not exist. How can
I be like that?
Corine: What was your favorite version of Forbidden Broadway?
Christine: Impossible to say since there have been oh so many
versions...NYC, LA, London, Tokyo...and the casts are always brilliant
and NICE. So many many of my dearest friends are from Forbidden.
Perhaps that's ultimately the best and longest lasting gift that
Forbidden has given me.
Corine: What is your favorite restaurant in New York?
Christine: I'm still on a constant quest for the answer to that
one. Regrettably, if frequency of visits indicates anything, then
my answer would be STARBUCKS...but I'm filled with shame about
that. I must stop. I'm addicted and it's a ridiculous way to throw
away ten bucks a day.
Corine: Starbucks is a restaurant? (Laughs) If you could change
anything about the World what would it be and why?
Christine: I'd eliminate bullies. Can’t stand them. They
are the highest form of cowards. From the brats that push you
down in the schoolyard all the way to the most intolerant, fanatical
terrorists, they're all bullies. Hate them all. They fill me with
rage and frustration.
Tickets are $70, and are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or
by visiting www.telecharge.com.
Visit www.abroadwaydivachristmas.com
for more information.
Interview conducted by Corine Cohen
