Interview with Ron Fassler . . .
A chat with Megan Hilty about her new Café Carlyle show and what inspires her about playing at the legendary supper club.
Megan Hilty, Tony nominated last season as Best Actress in a Musical for Death Becomes Her, is returning to Café Carlyle for a 10-performance residency starting June 16th. Hilty, who has played the fabled room six times previously, will be performing a new show in residency with her long-standing musical director Matt Cusson. Here are some experts from a recently conducted interview:
Ron Fassler: Why a new show and why now, Megan?
Megan Hilty: Well, by now it’s so interesting to me that my whole family has a history with this hotel since I’ve played here so often. I was pregnant with both my children during certain engagements. I even found an old video recently with the kids playing in my suite while we were doing a last-minute rehearsal. I adore the Carlyle. It’s the most intimate venue I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been here, off and on, for fifteen years. As for what new things we’ll be bringing to this show, I do try to tailor things to what we’re experiencing in life now. Half the show are always standards that you would expect to hear if you were coming to see me, so I don’t disappoint anybody. But the other half is new stuff pertaining to my life right now. I’m extremely fortunate that I’ve been working with Matt Cusson, who’s a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter, and I always insist that he sings something of his own during our show. My guitarist is my husband, Brian Gallagher, who also sings as well. Jack DeBoe on drums and Dennis Michael Keefe on bass are like family. All these men are fathers, they’ve got their kids, we’ve got our kids. I’m going to be singing during this engagement when Father’s Day happens. It’s perfect. We’re very happy to be doing this gig.
RF: What are the specific challenges in working a room as intimate as the Carlyle?
MH: Well, for one thing, I see everything and hear everything. If a phone is open and the light is on, I can see that. I hope it doesn’t take me out of the moment, so that’s a little tricky, but I’m prepared for it. It’s awesome, really. In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way. And the shows I do are always changeable. I take the temperature of the room and, if a certain ballad that’s supposed to come next might not fit the moment, and if I believe I can do better with a different choice, then I go for it. And that’s not to judge people or anything, but I can just go of in another direction and, without whispering a word to anyone, can trust these guys will follow me. There’s kind of a shared beauty in all of that. We’ve worked together for so long that it’s all instinctive. And frankly, we love to go that extra mile. It’s so much fun.
RF: Who have you seen in a cabaret setting that makes you say, “that’s as good as it gets,” from the vocals to the storytelling to performance? Who inspires you?
MH: That’s easy, I don’t even have to think twice. It’s Bernadette Peters. She does perfect, perfect shows. She’s such a fantastic show personality and brings all that history to the stage with her. And she’s also deeply honest and doing fresh spins on old classics. I saw her a few years back in San Diego and she did “There is Nothing Like a Dame” and the way she turned that song on its head. I mean, there’s just nobody like her. I’m deeply inspired by her, and she constantly constructs these shows so well that it makes me want to see them. And she fills the space just as easily when she performs with a symphonic orchestra.
RF: You perform solo with an orchestra as well. What is it like play those sorts of venues that are different from the warmth of the Carlyle?
MH: I love it, too. I have some Christmas shows coming up with symphony orchestras that I’m excited about in Seattle and in Baltimore. Really, at this time in my life I’m so grateful for everything. I’ve got the support of my husband, my family, this wonderful band, I have a medical team (which is terribly important) so I can keep my voice. My husband is the best partner in life and onstage and I’m just thrilled to be back at the Carlyle for an engagement like this and be able to hopefully give audiences the kind of a show they’re used to seeing me in.
Megan Hilty at Café Carlyle is from June 16th to 25th at Café Carlyle, 375 E. 76th Street, NYC.
For ticket information, please click here.
Photos by David Andrako.
