Fresh Face: Amy Spanger
Age: “I’m older than I
look.”
Currently: Lois
Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me,
Kate.
Hometown: Newbury,
MA. Spanger begged her
parents to come to New
York, but they made her
wait until she was 21.
Pre-Kate Bravado:
When Spanger first arrived
in New York, she would tell
everyone she met: “I’m
going to be a star. All of the
jaded New Yorkers would
look at me like I had ten
heads, but I would be like
‘No, really! I’m going to be
one, you watch!’”
Audition Drama: After her first audition, the producers, “dropped it for a
little bit.” Six months later, after Spanger returned from touring with Chicago,
she was called in again. At that audition, Sharon Lawrence was there. “And
she actually got it. She got the part of Lois Lane. So, I was like, ‘Oh,
devastated!’” However, Lawrence had a television opportunity and Spanger
was called in for a third time and nailed it.
Consulting Emily Post: Before Spanger could sign on the dotted line,
she had to get approval from director Michael Blakmore, the Porter estate
and the Elias’ (who took over the Spewack’s estate). “I actually had to have
tea with everybody. And I was like, ‘Oh God, please just let me be
charming.’” It was a daunting experience for Spanger who was questioned
about her training and schooling. “I was like, on paper I’m not that
interesting, but I’m really good, I swear!”
Tony Snub: With a lot of attention early in the run, Spanger seemed a
shoe-in for a Tony nod. But when the nominations were announced, her
name was absent. Spanger acknowledges her disappointment but was also
"somewhat prepared" for the snub since she was overlooked by the Outer
Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards. Ultimately Spanger said, “I don’t
know how to feel. I think it’s great for business…but as an artist it’s not
something I need in my life necessarily to fulfill me. Sorry, I didn’t mean to
get all deep and philosophical.”
Consolation?: “Even though I wasn’t nominated, so many people in the
neighborhood, in Midtown, in the theater community have come up to me
and said I was robbed, and that they couldn’t believe it and that they were
shocked and they were pissed-off and you know, it’s really not a tragedy.”
Chance meeting: The evening after the nominations were announced,
Spanger ran into The Music Man’s Ruth Williamson, who was also ignored
by the Tony-nominating committee. “We kind of commiserated, and it was
eye-opening to see her.” It gave Spanger perspective. “I was like, ‘Okay,
Amy, you’re not the only one.’”
Hell: Spanger plans to stay in Kiss Me, Kate for a while, but she is also
writing a show for herself. The working title is, “Straight to Hell in a
Hand-Basket.” The title, which will probably change, refers to Spanger
“always telling myself I’m going straight to hell for what I’m thinking. I have a
dark sense of humor.”
Dream Role: Spanger says that she would love to play Sally Bowles in
Cabaret and considering that her boyfriend is Michael Hall, the current
Emcee, it might give the show a new twist.
Last Word: “I just don’t want people to think I’m bitter about the Tonys
because I’m really not. It’s been a learning process for me about myself
more than anything else. If you’re true to yourself then that’s all that really
matters.”
June 7, 2000 (12:09PM)
by Beth Stevens
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