Colleen Zenk Gets a Taste of Sweet Charity at Summer Stock NYC!
Soap Opera Weekly recently dropped by a rehearsal for the CAP21 Theatre Company’s Summer Stock NYC, a musical revue featuring many classic Broadway numbers — and daytime’s own Colleen Zenk (Barbara, AS THE WORLD TURNS). We chatted with the multitalented actress about treading the boards after the WORLD stopped turning — and sharing the stage with her daughter, Kelsey!
Soap Opera Weekly: Watching you dance, it’s like you never stopped!
Colleen Zenk: It was 32 years ago that I started on WORLD TURNS, which was the end of my musical theater career. I did a few things after I started the show — I had my Broadway debut after I started ATWT, and I did the film Annie. I was still very active until my daughter Kelsey was born in 1984. That’s when it really stopped. And to be back now doing this is the thrill of a lifetime, and I’m so full of gratitude and joy that I was invited to work on this project. After you’ve gone through cancer or any other life-altering situation, whether it’s health or family-oriented, it changes your life. And I’m just very, very, very happy to be here — and I’m taking in all the joy.
Weekly: You got involved with CAP21 because the founder was…
Zenk: …an old college friend! Frank Ventura was actually my dance partner in college! Frank and his wife, Eliza, founded CAP21, and it has grown into this mega-animal in the theater and educational-theater world. I’m very, very proud of him. He really does some incredible things for our business, and for the educational theater side of the world. And I got a phone call [laughs]! He said, “You’re gonna be out of a job! Would you like another one?”
Weekly: How has rehearsing for this revue been different from rehearsing for the soap?
Zenk: Do you know what “marking” is? “Marking” means when you only “half-do” something in either dance or theater. And I never mark! And they were giving me a hard time about it the other day: the fact that I’m full-out, all the time. And I said, “It’s because I’m so happy to be here, and I’m just so happy to be doing this again. I couldn’t possibly not do it full-out, all the time!”
Weekly: But doesn’t that get exhausting?
Zenk: Yes, it’s exhausting. But also, because I haven’t been doing it all the time, my muscles have to learn everything. All the choreography is muscle memory, so I’ve got to get it in my body.
Weekly: Earlier, you mentioned that you stopped doing theater work after your daughter, Kelsey, was born. She’s actually in Summer Stock. That must be an awesome feeling!
Zenk: Kelsey’s in this, and she’s a featured performer, and she has a couple of songs! It’s a real thrill. I’m not getting to do anything with her except “Big Spender” and “I’m a Brass Band” (from Sweet Charity), but I get to watch her, because she’s playing Gypsy‘s Louise with Karen [Mason] in “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and the number before that, when Baby June and Louise do “If Momma Was Married.” So, to watch her, she’s heartbreaking; she’s gorgeous up there and so wonderful. It’s a mama’s thrill! Even though I’m not playing Momma Rose [laughs].
Weekly: So what’s your favorite number that you’re performing?
Zenk: Oh, without a doubt, it’s “I’m a Brass Band.” I am so excited about it. And we are doing the entire 10- minute version of it. It’s ridiculously long, and that’s why the choreography…I’ve got to stick it in my head, because it’s a lot!
Weekly: And this is obviously a revue, so it’s music, music, music, right? No dialogue?
Zenk: Yes. It never stops. The show never stops. There’s no breather. There’s no intermission. It’s an hour and 15 minutes of non-stop hot, hot, hot musical theater. It’s like you get on a train and you have to go. You can’t put a foot off, and you can’t do anything, because that train starts, and you’re on it, and you gotta go with it!
You can hop the train with Zenk, Mason and the talented gang at CAP21 through July 23. Visit www.cap21.org for ticket and venue information.
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