Dressed from head to toe in red sequins and belting out "New York, New York," the singer on stage is the spitting image of Liza Minnelli.
Well, almost.
The TADA theater is ringing in the new year with the premiere of "Almost Liza." The humorous musical features a nightclub setting, local Liza look-alike Cris Rook and Curtis Moeller as Liza's most recent ex-husband, David Gest, on the piano keys.
"It is like going into a nightclub and seeing a performance of Liza Minnelli," Rook said.
Basically, imagine Liza Minnelli singing "New York, New York" in the movie "New York, New York," minus Robert De Niro.
"It is just really fun to get up there and sell songs," Rook said. "With her, she just goes over the top all the time."
Rook got her Liza start with her portrayal in "Forbidden Broadway."
"This is the first time we have done something that is featuring her all the way through," Rook said "It has kind of evolved with devoting more and more time to Liza."
The script was written Bob Rook, TADA's artistic director. The musical mixes anecdotes from Liza's life, her most famous musical numbers and comedic commentary.
"This is completely new," Cris Rook said. "It is a production that we wrote that we put together."
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. this weekend and next weekend at the TADA Theatre in the Creamery Building at 7th and P Streets. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling 438-TADA.
"I just really want people to come out to our very first show of 2010 and come in from the cold," Rook said.
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