He's king this summer

Micky Dolenz takes up the mantle of Charlemagne for the Goodspeed revival of "Pippin" By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor Micky Dolenz is a busy man. "Just last week I started in rehearsals [for his role as King Charlemagne in Goodspeed Opera Houses' summer production of "Pippin"], and I had to leave to do two days of concerts in New Orleans," Dolenz told PRIME during a lunch-break phone interview on June 20. "I came back Saturday at 5 a.m. to finish rehersals, went back to New York to do a radio interview on [my] children's book, then the BBC came to do a documentary for "The Monkees," and I had a book-signing party at Elaine's. I headed back up here for rehearsals at 7 a.m. [today] ... now I'm here and fortunately, I don't have to go anywhere for awhile!" For those of you who only remember him as the lead singer and drummer in the Emmy-winning 1960s life-of-a-rock band pseudo-reality show, "The Monkees," Dolenz's busy schedule might come as a shock. But it seems this multi-talented man who actually started his career in showbusiness as a child actor on the 1956 television program, "Circus Boy" is definatley not a candidate for one of those "Where Are They Now" programs. A winding road to Goodspeed "The Monkees" may have made him a household name with audiences of a certain age, but that bit of singing and acting is just a part of the resume that encompasses the career of Micky Dolenz. Even before "The Monkees," Dolenz had guest-starred on numerous television shows including early work on the "Zane Grey Theater," "Playhouse 90" and the series, "Peyton Place," and that work continued after he laid down his "Monkees" drumsticks. He made guest appearances on programs from "Laugh In" and "My Three Son"s to "The Drew Carey Show" and "General Hospital," lent his voice to animated series such as "Batman," "The Tick" and "Top Secret Adventures of Spy Dogs," appeared in commercials for products from Kool-aid to Pizza Hut (that spot, with Ringo Starr) and has done voice-overs for "Jeopardy" and "Seinfield." He's also worked behind the camera, beginning with a stint directing his fellow "Monkees" in two episodes and continuing with work on numerous TV shows, music videos and films both in the U.S. and the U.K. "I have a couple of films in LA on hold [so I can do this musical]," he said. "I've been [in show business] so long I'm not the kind to sit around and wait for the phone to ring!" He's also done a little writing. This May he released two books "Mickey Dolenz' Rock & Roll Trivia" and the children's book, "Gakky Two-Feet," an "it's OK-to-be-different" tale about what it might have been like to be the first hominid. And his role at Goodspeed is far from his first stint in live theater. After "The Monkees," Dolenz appeared in "Remains to be Seen" and" Tom Sawyer," where he played the part of Huck Finn. In 1977, he flew to London to star in the West End musical, "The Point," (he ended up making England his home for 12 years, becoming a respected director for the BBC). He also worte the book for, and directed the London production of "Bugsy Malone." Back in the states, in 1994 he joined the national tour of "Grease," playing Vince Fontaine, a role he reprised briefly on Broadway. A Canadian tour with "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" followed. And then, he got, as he put it, "a huge break," landing the role of the villianous father, Zozer, in the Tim Rice and Elton John production of" Aida" on Broadway. It was then that the idea of doing a play at the Goodspeed Opera House popped up on Dolenz's radar. "I first heard about Goodspeed when I was doing "Aida"," Dolenz said. "The kids were all talking about it, and how good it was, and the shows they did." "I made the decision [that I wanted to do "Pippin"] when I booked the audition and was thrilled when they hired me," he added. "I really wanted this one." Playing Charlemagne in "Pippin" "All the characters are broad, and [Charlemange] is a powerful king," Dolenz said. "I do sing, and dance a bit, ... I have a number of scenes." According to the Goodspeed press release, Dolenz will be joined onstage by Jason Blane as Theo, James Royce Edwards as Lewis, Shannon Lewis as Fastrada, Barbara Marineay as Berthe, Andrew Ward as the Lead Player and Teal Wkks as Catherine. Joshua Park will play the lead role of Pippin in this play, which features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of the Broadway hits "Wicked" and "Godspell". "The story is about Charlemagne's son, Pippin. He's coming of age ... everyone can relate to that," Dolenz said of the plot. "He's trying to find his way, and along the way he's wandering through politics and love and war." "It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, and this show is going for a Cirque [du Soleil]-like feel," Dolenz continued, describing the Goodspeed production of "Pippin". "Even the original "Pippin" took that kind of feel ... with vaudeville, magic and stunts, and we're going to be going a lot further with that." Dolenz added that he'll be going on the road with this production of "Pippin" when Goodspeed launches the national tour of the show this fall. "They're building separate sets for the road ... double sets," Dolenz remarked. "The cast is wonderful and very professional. It very well could be a Broadway production." But for now, Dolenz is just glad to be staying in one spot for the time being. He's got some work to catch up on. "I'm getting released to do a couple of concerts I'm contracted to do ... everything else I'm putting on hold," he said. Except for that screen play he's writing. And that second children's book about the flute, "the first musical instrument." that he's got a contract for. "The environmemt up here is conducive to that ... and playing golf," he said. That, and basking in the applause from the Goodspeed audiences. "It's wonderful at this point in my life to be able to do this," he said of his recent forays back into musical theater. "I love going out and singing the old "Monkees" tunes ... but this is the real deal. You can't edit it and do it again and fix it [in post editing] ... that's what makes it exciting." "Pippin" will be in residence at the Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Ct., July 14 through Sept. 24. Performaces are Wed. at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thurs. at 7:30 p.m., Fri at 8 p.m., Sat. at 4 and 8:30 p.m. and Sun. at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Additional matinees Thurs. Aug. 17 & 31, Sept. 14 & 21, and Fri. Sept. 22. Tickets, priced from $25-$63, are available by calling the box office at 860-873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org.