Tootsie

from Intermission March 2022

Marquee

LAUGHS, LOVE AND FUN

It’s an American classic: the tale of a failing, difficult actor, taking on the role of a woman to land, yet, another role. “Tootsie,” originally released as a movie in 1982, swept the nation with its hilarious laugh-out-loud story and performances. And now, it’s back, updated and filled to the brim with incredible music for audiences to enjoy all over again.

Peyton Reilly plays Sandy Lester, described as the main character’s — Michael — neurotic ex-girlfriend, she gets to have a lot of fun with something that has been all too stressful in the past: auditions. Growing up in a small town, Reilly started off doing gymnastics, but it didn’t take long before theatre and stage performance took over her life.

For someone growing up as a gymnast, the stage presented something entirely new and alluring. As she describes it: “It’s not about being judged on how perfect you are. It’s about bringing yourself to the table and doing something fun and creative. I was all in!”

But for as fun and creative as the stage life is, it also brings with it a fair amount of frustration and trepidation. Since moving to New York, Reilly has been “auditioning and doing the grind ever since. What’s funny is that’s kind of what ‘Tootsie’ is about. My character is an actress who wants to get a job so badly and is so desperate and is going to audition after audition and is kind of losing her mind. We’ve all kind of been there.”

“My character can’t get a job,” Reilly says. Coming from the drought of actors not being able to get jobs or work throughout the pandemic, she has a ready-made connection to her character. “That frustration of not being able to work only adds to the gratitude of having this job now and ... sharing this awesome story and my character who is hilariously insecure and neurotic — it’s just so much fun!”

Reilly’s character asks her ex, Michael, to help her prepare for an audition. In doing so, Michael tries to help her, showing her what the character should be. He is so good at it that her character remarks, “You’re even better at being a woman than me!” And so, the plot unfolds.

“The show is about theatre; the show is about us, essentially, so we’re really bringing ourselves to the table.” Reilly’s character even sings a long song about all of the reasons she shouldn’t go to an audition, and it hits home for Reilly, who has felt that way many a time. So now, it’s fun to play the part of an auditioner without the stress.

Though the show stays true to the heart of the original story, it is also modernized to take on modern-day issues. New characters and plot points help to incorporate the music and make it an allnew experience. So, whether you already love the movie or not, “Tootsie” is two and a half hours of laughs, love and fun!

Presented by Celebrity Attractions March 8–9 at 7:30 p.m. March 10 at 1 and 7:30 p.m. March 11 at 8 p.m. March 12 at 2 and 8 p.m. March 13 at 1 p.m. CHAPMAN MUSIC HALL

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