Broadway’s Lesli Margherita will star in a special one-night, one-woman performance Jan. 20 at Bucks County Playhouse
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Lesli Margherita has basically done it all.
An Olivier Award-winning performer, Broadway star, published author and famed actress with roles in television shows The Good Wife and Homeland and films Lucky Stiff and The Number 23, Margherita has built an impressive resume. Her work also includes a Bucks County Playhouse debut as Adelaide in its production of Guys and Dolls. Now, she’s returning to New Hope in her own creation, This Broad’s Way, a special one-night, one-woman performance on Jan. 20.
As Margherita braced herself last week to leave behind the warmth of California for the snow and ice of the East Coast, The Times caught up with the actress to learn the inspiration behind her BCP exclusive show.
Several months ago, the Playhouse approached Margherita about putting on a cabaret show. Though she already had one entitled Broad ready for the stage, she had something else in mind.
“I really wanted to do something from Guys and Dolls again,” she said. “The audience was so receptive.”
The longer Margherita thought about it, the more she realized the plethora of musical numbers she’d love to perform for the Bucks County community. In a single hour, she jotted down every song she’d ever enjoyed singing throughout her vast stage career, along with ones still on her “wish list.”
When she was finished, there was enough material to fill several shows. With the help of musical director Brett Ryback (BCP’s Murder for Two: Holiday Edition), she chopped the massive song list down to what she believed to be the perfect combination.
This Broad’s Way will feature time-honored classics and Broadway showstoppers from Funny Girl and Cabaret, all performed by Margherita with her signature sass and wit. With new twists on Disney favorites and even a country song or two, audiences can expect a few surprises.
Throughout the evening, Margherita will pay homage to her childhood and what life was like growing up in the fascinating world of theater. This Broad’s Way is set to include numbers from some of her earliest performances in Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz.
For Margherita, who has enjoyed a successful career both on and off the stage, it’s surreal to sing songs like “Over the Rainbow” so many years later as an adult. Compared to when she was a bright-eyed child, the lyrics have since taken on a different, more relatable meaning, something she plans to talk about during the show. Audiences will have the pleasure of hearing personal stories from her exciting career, but also life in general through the incorporation of a PowerPoint presentation and video.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” Margherita said. “It’s really just for everyone, young and old.”
Overall, Margherita is thrilled to return BCP to showcase some of theater’s most beloved songs with her own unique twist.
“It’s Broadway songs but my way,” she said.
The title of This Broad’s Way is a testament to that, but also some of her biggest female influences, including Barbra Streisand.
“I love and idolize those broads,” Margherita said. “They’re workhorses.”
This Broad’s Way will take place Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. as part of BCP’s Winter Visiting Artists Series, a full slate of entertainment representing a variety of musical, comedy and special event performances. This is one of the few times outside producers take the BCP stage to showcase their work.
The Visiting Artist Series began on Jan. 11 and runs through the spring opening of the Playhouse’s 2018 Summer Subscriptions Series. In addition to This Broad’s Way, upcoming events include the comedy Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3 Jan. 24 through Feb. 4, jazz performances from The Eric Mintel Quartet on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. and Turtle Island Quartet on Feb. 10 at 8 p.m., Bucks County Playhouse Mardi Gras Spectacular featuring New Hope’s own Miss Pumpkin on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m., Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho Feb. 14–25 and the film Not So Silent Cinema: Charlie Chaplin’s Mutual Shorts March 2 at 8 p.m.
For a full list of events and ticket information, call the box office at 215–862–2121 or visit buckscountyplayhouse.org. Bucks County Playhouse is located at 70 S. Main St. in New Hope. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
