Features

Steven Brinberg On…Simply Barbra

Barbra Streisand Impersonator Steven Brinberg writes and stars as Simply Barbra which is updated annually as he travels the globe with the show. This year he appears with Marvin Hamlisch and the Symphony Orchestras of Dallas, Milwaukee, Buffalo and Norfolk. Prior appearances with Mr. Hamlisch include one with Barbara Cook and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and another at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. He recently narrated the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus concert at Avery Fisher Hall, written especially for him by Terrence McNally. That program was also seen in Seattle.

Brinberg has performed at Stephen Sondheim’s birthday concert at the Library of Congress; at Carnegie Hall with Uptown Express; and on Broadway in the concert version of Funny Girl with Whoopi Goldberg. Simply Barbra has toured New Zealand, Australia, the UK and all over the U.S. This popular ‘funny girl’ returns to Salford in July.



Why do you think Barbra Streisand’s career has lasted so long?

Because
she has true talent unlike some people today who are famous for no reason.
She has covered every aspect of the business as well.

She has a
huge gay following – why do you think this is?

We have very high
standards. Barbra is in great company with Judy, Liza, Bette, Lena Horne –
all the great musical stars. We are also very loyal and will stick by our
girls no matter what!

What do you think of Glee and the juxtaposition
of popular songs and showtunes?

I enjoyed it at first but now it’s
gotten silly and the autotune that they use on the vocals is
horrifying. I also think it’s absurd that Kurt would be the only gay kid in
the school and the glee club…please…just more US TV avoiding
gays!

For anyone who has not seen Simply Barbra before – what can they
expect?

It’s like going to a Barbra concert on a more intimate and
humorous scale. If you love her, you will get every little thing that I sing
and say….and if you just know who she is you will also find it
fun.

You have performed with Marvin Hamlisch – how did this come
about?

Marvin heard my CD and hired me for a concert and we have appeared
in 15 cities in the last decade. Just last week we were in Seattle with
the symphony. A trombone player in the orchestra loved my performance
and offered to come to one of my shows and he played on “Send In The
Clowns.”

I know Babs herself likes your act. But how long do you
think she can keep going for?

Well, Barbra is 69 and is filming one
movie now, planning another, has a new CD – she’s busier than
ever…Betty White is 89 so I think there is much more to come and I’ll
always be young enough to be her son so as she gets older I
can just age up
onstage!

What’s your favourite track from the Yentl soundtrack?

“The Way He Makes Me Feel” – when I saw the movie when I was young –
it meant one thing. Now that I’m older, I start humming it when I see a
cute guy…..

Do you get much time to yourself when you visit the UK?

I’m a
theatre addict and always came to London to see shows before I was even
performing so I always manage to see things as well as other tourist things.
You can never run out of things to do.

Talking of theatre then,
what was the last thing you saw on Broadway/on tour that you enjoyed and
why?

I saw Book of Mormon –  the smash Broadway show written by the South
Park
guys. It was very funny and the music is old fashioned and
fun.

Following the tour, what are your plans?

Recovering
from jet lag…and then after a short rest I’m doing shows up in
Provincetown on Cape Cod.



Steven Brinberg was speaking to Glenn Meads.

Simply Barbra is at the Lowry on 3 July.