Cheers Star, Princeton Local Bebe Neuwirth To Perform At Kean

UNION, NJ — Best known for her role on the popular television show “Cheers,” Bebe Neuwirth will take to the stage at Kean University in Union this weekend. But not before talking to Patch first.

A Princeton native, Neuwirth said she is “always happy to have an invitation open to perform in New Jersey.”

Neuwirth will kick off Kean Stage’s 2018/19 season on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. by performing her cabaret act, “Stories with Piano.” Scott Cady, her music director will play the piano as Neuwirth sings.

“It is just the two of us on stage… and we perform story songs,” Neuwirth said. “The songs will tell stories. And some of the the songs are narrative, in the first person, while some are between two people, like a conversation, and some are impressionistic."

Although Neuwirth is known for performing in countless Broadway shows — such as “Sweet Charity,” “Damn Yankees,” “Fosse” and “A Chorus Line” — the songs in this performance are nothing she has sung before. They are songs by a wide range of songwriters, including Kander and Ebb, Tom Waits, Edith Piaf and German composer Kurt Weill.

“The songs will be ones I love and songs that mean something to me and really are beautiful,” Neuwirth said.

Pinpointing a favorite song for Neuwirth is not an easy task.

“This always happens when I am performing, I think ‘Boy. I love this song. This is my favorite song, this must be my favorite song.’ Then the next song begins and I start singing and think, ‘No, this is my favorite song.’ That’s the most fun way for me to perform. To love everything,” Neuwirth said.

Performing on stage is not so different than acting on television for Neuwirth.

“Whatever it is. Acting, is acting. Whatever medium I am in it is all the same thing. It is all about telling or expressing the truth and telling whatever the story is,” Neuwirth said. “I have had the opportunity to experience this in all different forms.”

Despite performing on so many platforms, the stage is where it is at for Neuwirth.

“I prefer being on stage over anything else,” Neuwirth said. “The audience gets to see the entire space, there is no camera deciding where to look. The audience can decide where to look.”

Neuwirth will be performing “Stories with Piano” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday at Enlow Recital Hall at 215 North Ave., Hillside, on Kean University’s East Campus.

Tickets can be purchased at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre on Kean’s Main Campus, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, by phone at 908-737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

(Image by George Holz: Jersey girl and Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will perform "Stories with Piano" at Kean University’s intimate Enlow Recital Hall Saturday and Sunday)

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