The Karen Ziemba Appreciation Thread

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 2:47pm

Anyone love this lady more than I? Anyone?

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 2:54pm

I'll give her 2 more seconds...she'll be here...

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 3:01pm

Who will be here? Karen herself?!?! How exciting!

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 3:04pm

I have to admit, I have never been a big fan of La Ziemba. I thought she was 'aaaaaaight in Never Gonna Dance. Not more.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 3:35pm

She's beautiful and talented and funny. And as it turns out, Mamamia Sammy ain't so bad either. But I probably love her more than you do, MS.

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 03:35 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 3:58pm

I think she's another of the gals who should have had a hit written for them years ago (Carolee Carmello is another)...Karen is extremely talented and quite the triple threat - she can do it all and has proven as much time after time. I love huh!

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:00pm

Something about Carolee bugs me too. I saw her do Elegies recently and she annoys me. Very talented, no doubt, but annoying.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:02pm

redhot, I know you love Karen enough to have blocked this out - but she DID have a show written for her years ago...oh wait - you said HIT. I agree then.

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 04:02 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:10pm

...and I still say it COULD have been a hit with a better director. But obviously thats water under the bridge...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:10pm

Knives in my heart, redhot...poor KZ...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:22pm

Knives in your heart because I find some likeable things about Steel Pier?..come child, its all subjective, Possum!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:28pm

No no - knives because with a good director...it COULD have worked...but it didn't...and she's not the headliner she should be. I don't think STEEL PIER was the most horrible show ever to come down the pike - I just hate what it did to her career when it was supposed to be her big launching pad.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 7:23pm

Sorry it took me so long!

Nicest lady on Broadway. Best true triple threat. Little more than ten years ago she was known as "a great dancer who's a pretty good singer". Now, she does Shakespeare and Weill and Ayckbourn at some of the most pretigious regional theatres in the country. It's a fair bet that she will NOT be doing any big dance numbers in THE OPPOSITE OF SEX.

She could have stayed in CONTACT - it ran another 9 months after she left. She could have gone back into CHICAGO a few more times. She chose instead to "stretch herself" as a performer - working at non-profit regional theatres for much less money.

I've known her for ten years, and have probably spent a grand total of two hours in her company - the last time I saw her in person was a fifteen minute visit in her dressing room after CONTACT. The last time I talked to her on the phone was to congratulate her on her Tony nomination for NEVER GONNA DANCE - which closed before I could see it.

I consider myself a fan and an acquaintance, but she always introduces me to others has "my friend Jon".

When my dad died in 1996, she saw his obituary in "Variety" ( he was a theatre diector and actor), and sent me the nicest note.

In 1997, she was doing CHICAGO on Broadway, and the touring company was coming here to Chicago (the city). The producers decided that Amy Spanger, who was playing Roxie on tour, wasn't strong enough to face the local critics (and looked too young), so they had Karen leave the Broadway cast and join the tour for just the first two weeks of the run here in Chicago. This was a last-minute thing - they first tried to get Charlotte D'Amboise, who backed out of it. Karen found out on a Friday that she was flying to Chicago on the following Monday. She took the time to send me a note saying she'd be in town - since there would be no advance publicity about her doing the tour, and I might miss her in it.

By the way, her semi-nude Playboy shot is on display in my Fan Photos.

P.S. - she actually had one and a third shows written especially for her. The "Did You Move" segment of CONTACT was developed espcially for her. What a shame that Charlotte D'Amboises was on the broadcast. She danced fine, but couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 07:23 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:28am

I just wanted to bump this thread back to page one.

Have I mentioned that I love Karen Ziemba?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:30am

Good job, Jon!!

She'd never slam the stage door on a ten year old, I know that much.

And how about that Law and Order: Criminal Intent episode? Girlfriend can ACT.

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 09:30 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:49am

Jon - a very nice post - thank you. I must disagree about Charlotte D, though - I actually thought she acted fairly well in Contact- maybe not the same as Karen - but I was still enchanted by her on screen.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 9:50am

It is too bad though that Karen wasn't the performer they taped. I've never heard people speak about that performance without stars and wonderment in their eyes.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 10:16am

I'm sure she was magnificent...I never thought I'd like that show, but after seeing the video, I wish I'd seen it when she was around.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:14am

So what's the consensus on OPPOSITE OF SEX?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:53am

Anyone?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:56am

Rath - I love that icon - Miracle Worker is one of my fav films of all time - what a great cast...and who can make it through that film without boo-hooing like a baby?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:56am

Yeah yeah - on topic now - what about OPPOSITE OF SEX? Any feelings, thoughts, predictions?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:57am

oh my -= you ARE a lesbian, aren't you?LOL...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 11:59am

Rath - I'm only a little leary because it really is one of my favorite films - but I'm certainly willing to give it a chance

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 12:34pm

It's one of my favorites too - I just hope to God that they do a great job with it - if the writing and directing are spot-on, imagine how funny and irreverent it could be!!