adrienne-barbeau

CVRep Luminary Luncheon with Adrienne Barbeau, Oct. 13, 2016

Susan Stein Social Scene

adrienne-barbeau
Actress Adrienne Barbeau takes questions from Radio/TV host Don Martin.
PHOTOS BY GREGG FELSEN

Actress Adrienne Barbeau kicked off The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre’s 2016 season with the first of four Luminary luncheons that feature prominent personalities in the entertainment industry.

The event began with a luncheon on the floor of The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa and culminated with a 60 minute Actors Studio-style interview on stage by TV/Radio host Don Martin, who was introduced by Ron Celona, artistic director of the CVRep.

Celona also welcomed guests with news that CVRep has served more than 8,000 people in an 86-seat theater, but has signed a two-year option to purchase the Imax theater in Cathedral City and make it their new home.

Before asking questions, Martin prepped guests with a rundown of Barbeau’s astonishing career path.

Best known as Maude’s daughter, from the TV series of the same name, Barbeau proved to be as spunky and spirited as her character Carol was on the show. Maude, a spin off of All in the Family, ran for six seasons. Maude’s daughter, Carol, became one of the most important characters.

Barbeau began her career in 1963 with the San Jose Light Opera and after high school traveled in a musical comedy revue that took her throughout Southeast Asia to entertain the troops. Upon retuning she moved to New York to immerse herself in the world of theater. She admitted that her first job was as a go-go dancer for the mob in New York, but it was a job.

She was quickly swept away from that scenario to make a Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye’s daughter, Hodel. She then received a Tony Nomination and a Theater World Award for her creation of Rizzo in the original production of Grease.

This success led her back to California for her role in Maude. She spent a large portion of time chatting about her performances in The Fog, Escape from New York, Creepshow, Swamp Thing, Back to School as well as Cannonball Run with Bert Reynolds. Recently she has performed in ARGO, Tales Of Halloween, Divine Access, and the soon-to-be released Death House, In Extremis, and The Hoax.

In addition, she has been seen as Ruthie the Snake Dancer on HBO’s Carnivale as well as The Drew Carey Show and General Hospital, Criminal Minds,and Sons of Anarchy.

Barbeau has starred in over 25 theatrical productions in the U.S. and Canada, and in 2015 played Berthe, Pippin’s grandmother at the McCallum Theater.

In her spare time she has authored four books including her best-selling memoir, There Are Worst Things I Could Do, which is titled after one of her show-stopping songs from Grease.

“All my life I have been a performer – an actress, a singer, a dancer, even a talk show host – but never in my wildest dreams of my first 50 years did I ever imagine I would write something that other people would read,” says the 71-year-old Barbeau. “I still can’t quite get over it.”

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre
69930 Highway 111, #116
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-296-2966
www.cvrep.org

Photography By: Gregg Felsen