Sisters: Bright lights, little city

Dust off your tux and gown! The dazzling lights of The Great White Way will illuminate the High Desert on Friday, May 1, when Innovation Theater Works Presents "A Little Night of Broadway - with Cindy Benson" at the Sisters High School Auditorium.

Benson is a dynamic star in the galaxy of musical theater, and was a member of the original Broadway production cast and National Touring Companies of "Cats" and "Les Miserables." She has also performed Off-Broadway in the hilarious "Nunsense" and "Eating Raoul," supplying her distinctive voice and mercurial presence.

Musical comedy is Benson's specialty. Her sassy, ebullient style has often been compared to Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball, both women she greatly admires.

Other memorable Benson roles include Emma Goldman in "Ragtime" at the South Bay Civic Light Opera, Agnes Gooch in "Mame" at the North Shore Music Theatre, and Mama Rose in "Gypsy" at the Texas Star Theatre.

In addition to her work on stage, Benson can also be heard on the original cast albums of "Les Miserables," "Eating Raoul," and "All That He Was." Her voice has even graced the legendary Symphony Hall in Boston.

The Nugget spoke to Benson from her home in Los Angeles about the glitz of show biz life and her upcoming performance in Sisters.

"It's a spin-off of my one-woman show, 'Out on a Whim,' with music and songs only," Benson said. "A cabaret concert providing a mixture of show tunes, special comedy material, rare gems, and some fun surprises. I do numbers from 'Cats,' 'Gypsy' and 'Showboat.'"

Benson was raised in Massachusetts, enamored of singing and listening to Mitch Miller albums her mom and dad would buy.

"I'd play the records over and over. I memorized every song," she recalled. "Ever since I can remember I loved to sing."

After college she moved to New York City where she worked and lived for over 20 years. She now calls Los Angeles home but still keeps her foot in New York's door for casting calls and tempting engagements.

Asked what life as a performer in a touring company is like, Benson said the traveling on your day off and living out of a suitcase can be tiring, but it also has been amazing meeting and working with so many talented and famous people.

A serious vegan, Benson never eats in restaurants and prepares all her own meals.

"I travel with my hot plate and pots and pans," she said. "You should see my suitcase when it goes through the airport metal detectors."

Benson is busy with many appearances in the coming months. She will be in the Hollywood Bowl's fully staged concert production of "Guys and Dolls" this summer featuring an all-star cast including Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell and actress Jessica Biel.

This is Benson's first trip to Sisters, and she's looking forward to bringing a savory taste of Broadway to our little corner of the world.

The curtain rises Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, available at the door, online at http://www.innovationtw.org or call 504-6721.