Tony Award winner Betty Buckley has taken on TV, movies and musicals over the years in a very lengthy career that continues to shine. She is also an American Theater Hall of Fame inductee.
Her Broadway break came in 1969 for the musical 1776. Sunset Boulevard brought her an Olivier Award then Cats won her the Tony.
Movies have included Roman Polanski's Frantic, Woody Allen's Another Woman and M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening.
Her singing earned her two Grammy nominations for past albums and she has recorded over 15 solo records over the years. She returns to the spotlight with Ghostlight released this past September. Windy City gave her a jingle to discuss her projects and past on the West Coast.
Windy City Times: Hi, Betty. I noticed you are originally from Texas.
Betty Buckley: I am. I was born in Big Spring, Texas, and grew up in Fort Worth. My dad was in the Air Force so we traveled a lot. I started school in North Africa and lived in Maine for a year or two.
WCT: You are in Texas now?
Betty Buckley: I am. I moved back here 11 years ago to ride cutting horses.
WCT: Is that why you stick on the west side of the United States? I don't see you in Chicago often.
Betty Buckley: I haven't been to Chicago in quite a while. I did a play there once called The Fourth Wall. I would love to come back with this new show. That would be really nice.
WCT: What was the process of making the new album?
Betty Buckley: Well, T Bone Burnett was the producer. He and I grew up together in Fort Worth Texas. He had his own recording studio since the time he was 17. When we were both 19 years old our mothers got together and decided that he should record an archive tape of me singing. I had been singing around town since the time I was pretty young. We went in one Saturday morning and made a little recording, which I sent a copy to my first agent and he kept it all of these years. He played it for the publisher at Playbill, Philip Birsh, who was starting his own record label so he released it several years ago. It was the first album I never had! It was released Betty Buckley 1967 on vinyl and CD.
T Bone and I stayed in touch all of these years just socially. He was very moved by what we accomplished at 19 so a couple of years ago he called me out of the blue to make a new record. I promptly flew out to LA and met with him. I went to work on selecting the material, he hired the musicians, we went in the studio in L.A., and made this pretty record. I am so in love with it and it's such a gift from T Bone. I'm grateful that we did this.
WCT: The sound seems stripped-down, from what I have heard.
Betty Buckley: It's pretty complicated actually. It is from one of the great musicians in the world Bill Frisell, who is one of the greatest guitar players in the world and Chaz Smith plays pedal steel and synthesizers, who is incredible. T Bone played on several tracks as well.
I worked for 20 years with a jazz ensemble, which is piano, bass, synthesizers and drums. This is just more guitar-based.
WCT: You performed in Arsenic and Old Lace not too long ago, correct?
Betty Buckley: That was two years ago. Last year I did the world premiere of Horton Foote's The Old Friends in New York and then we repeated that at the Alley Theatre in Houston this past summer. It was an incredible play that starred Hallie Foote, Veanne Cox, and Cotter Smith.
I did an episodic appearance on the HBO show Getting On. It aired this past fall. That show is hilarious and I had a wonderful part.
WCT: Being an '70s kid, I wanted to be the ninth child in Eight Is Enough. Do you keep in touch with people from the show?
Betty Buckley: I do. I keep in touch with Dick Van Patten and many of them live in LA. Hopefully, some of them will come to my concert on the 24th. Adam Rich I have been in touch with. A few of years ago we did a reunion on the Today Show. That was the last time I have seen everyone as a group. That was fun to see everyone all grown up and different.
WCT: After performing in so many musicals, is there one that stood out for you?
Betty Buckley: Cats was a great opportunity for me to step into my potential as a singing actress with the song "Memory." The character of Grizabella was a real gift. I was able to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn. That team was amazing.
My first musical was 1776 that I got my first day in New York City when I was 21. After that I did Promises, Promises in London. I did Pippin on Broadway and worked with Bob Fosse.
I left for Hollywood to make my first movie with Carrie. Carrie helped me get the TV show Eight Is Enough then I did the film Tender Mercies. That was a great film with Robert Duvall. I played the country western star Dixie Scott. The song I sang "Over You" was nominated for an Oscar and Duvall won an Oscar that year for best actor. The song one the Golden Globe.
I did The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Gypsy and Triumph of Love, where I got my second Tony nomination for that.
I have had a pretty good time!
WCT: You have gained a gay following through the process.
Betty Buckley: Good. One needs that...
WCT: You have been teaching people for over 40 years now.
Betty Buckley: Yes, I [taught] a workshop in LA January through the 22nd, between my LA and Palm Springs concerts. I will then teach a spring workshop in Fort Worth. It culminates in a big concert for my students. I have been teaching at Fort Worth's Museum of Modern Art for the last 10 years. So far all of the students that I have taught have gotten into the school of their choice, most of them on full scholarship. That has been nice.
WCT: Sounds a bit like Glee. Do you watch that show?
Betty Buckley: I did originally. I haven't watched it in a while. There has been a real resurgence of interest because of Glee in musical theater, which is great.
WCT: What is left for you to accomplish?
Betty Buckley: There are a lot of things. I am working with a screenwriter to create a possible miniseries or film. I am working on an idea for a musical. There are still songs to sing and parts to play. I hope I get to do all of it for as long as I can.
Visit www.bettybuckley.com for more on this talented actress and singer.
