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Now it's Jerry Springer the musical
Amar Singh17 Feb 2009
JERRY SPRINGER is to make his stage debut as Billy Flynn in the long-running West End musical Chicago.
The 65-year-old TV host, who admits that it has been 40 years since he performed in "a few college plays", has been signed up for a six-week stint starting on 1 June.
Springer told the Standard today: "I think the producers must have been having a drink when they came up with my name. This is a whole new world for me - so hold onto your seats."
Springer, famous for his Jerry Springer Show on which American families discuss their problems before a studio audience, caught the eye of Chicago's producers during a memorable run on Dancing With The Stars - the US version of Strictly Come Dancing. His inconsistent performances led judge Bruno Tonioli to dub him "Fred Flintstone meets Fred Astaire" but he nevertheless won over the audience and made it to the seventh week of the competition.
He added: "That was where they probably got the idea. I could dance, but I was telling jokes along the way and not taking myself too seriously. People voted for me to prolong my agony.
"Everything hurt - it wasn't pretty. Every dance wound up ending in the same corner of the dance floor, where the paramedics were waiting."
It is not the first time the name Jerry Springer has been associated with the West End. Jerry Springer: The Opera, an award-winning musical based on his TV show, ran for two years at the Cambridge Theatre from 2003 to 2005.
Springer says he has begun preparing for the gruelling eight shows-a-week run.
"I'm taking this very seriously. It's an honour to get the opportunity.
"I'm walking around with an iPod and learning all the songs. I've been practising in the shower. Last night I had to stop singing at 2am because the guys in the next hotel room banged on the wall, begging me to stop.
"I will watch the movie, although I will not try to imitate Richard Gere. He is great at whatever he does and he has the look. I could be Richard Gere on the radio."
Springer, who lives in Chicago, added that he was a fan of the musical, which has been running for 11 years in London.
"It's a visually fun piece and a great character play. It has some adult themes, with comedy and great music.
"It's a huge responsibility. I will have a bit of nervousness, I will rehearse and I will give it my all.
"I'm very comfortable in front of an audience but in terms of my singing and dancing it will be an adventure, I think it's great fun.
"Maybe God had a plan for me, at the age of 65, this is an amazing new opportunity and sends out the message that no matter what your age is there's always one more show."
The show's London producers, Barry and Fran Weissler, are yet to cast the actresses who will play opposite Springer in the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, though a source said "more big names" could join him.
Chicago opened at the Adelphi Theatre in November 1997 to rave reviews and soon became a sell-out hit.
Springer, who was born in East Finchley Tube Station during air raids in 1944, has been the mayor of Cincinnati, a political pundit, a lawyer, newscaster and a country recording artist.
