NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Calling it the hardest and most rewarding role she has taken on, Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth returns to Broadway in a farce set on a train about trying to make it to Broadway.
Her potrayal of a nonstop singing, dancing and silly Hollywood starlet in “On the Twentieth Century” has earned Chenoweth her third Tony nomination.
Starring in the revival is a dream come true, Chenoweth told CBS2’s Dana Tyler.
Chenoweth returned to the show last week after missing performances because of bronchitis. When she’s not on stage, she’s not talking to save her voice.
The actress, who communicated with Tyler by writing notes, said the lead role means so much because she talked about it with the late legendary collaborators Adolph Green and Betty Comden, who wrote the book and lyrics for the musical and so many others.
Chenoweth said they asked her to do the show 15 years ago.
“They said you will do it,” Chenoweth wrote, adding she was too young then.
Chenoweth co-stars with Peter Gallagher and Andy Karl, who is nominated for a Tony Award for the second year in a row. Last year, he was nominated for “Rocky.” This year, he’s nominated for playing a dashing yet bumbling screen star.
“Very different kind of physical than last year,” Karl said. “This one’s a lot funnier. But I’m still taking my hits. The doors are slamming in my face. At least it’s not punches to the face this year. But just having a great time, and I’m very lucky.”
“On the Twentieth Century” runs through July 19 at American Airlines Theatre. The Tony Awards are June 7 at Radio City Music Hall.
To watch Tyler’s full report, click on the video above.
