What's New on the Rialto

Amy Dolan has been a gypsy since the age of 4 when she performed "On The Good Ship Lollipop" in a Long Beach community theater production. The native Long Islander is realizing her life-long pursuit of an opening night on Broadway. As Ethel O'Brien, and covering Anytime Annie and Maggie, Amy is in the chorus of 42nd Street which is currently in previews at the Ford Center and has an official opening night of May 2nd. Dolan has a long association with this musical, from a high school production, to a European tour, and now, finally, Broadway.

From high school to Broadway was a long and arduous road. Dolan has been constantly performing in Regional Theaters across the country for years, including appearances on television and also in the recording studios. And she's no stranger to Broadway either, she got her first break in Hal Prince's Showboat as an understudy and performer. Then there was Grease and a stint in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

She's a smart cookie too! Like most actresses today, she realized that a good education is a must. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fordham University College at Lincoln Center; her major was musical theater, of course. In her spare time (what's that?) she became a fully licensed stock broker, and has recently formed her own production company, Midtown Productions, which specializes in corporate entertainment where she creates shows that promote a particular product or corporate event. However, Broadway is her first love.

Her very proud papa, Woody, says, "To tell you the truth I would never encourage anyone to go into show business. As a father, I never really had an influence on her career, this is what she wanted to do since age 4. And then it was just get out of the way. I think that this is why people succeed, it takes tremendous effort. I always said that with the effort she has put in she could have been the first person on the moon."

When asked about the Internet rumors about backstage rumblings Amy comments that, "Mark (Bramble, Director) has given us all an opportunity to be in a great show, but to achieve success, there is a lot of hard work. We have worked very hard to try to create real characters, more than any other show I've been involved in. And due to that hard work and long hours we have developed a family atmosphere and have a great deal of mutual respect for each other."

Amy may only be in the chorus, but those ensemble members are the real stars of 42nd Street.

Break a leg, Amy and gang. You deserve it!

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