Musical triple treat

Young Chang

Sandy Duncan has a playful, cartoon voice.

It resonated well in the title role of “Peter Pan,” for which the

Broadway singing and dancing star is widely known. It has been

appropriate in cartoons, including “Scooby Doo,” in which she played

herself.

Her voice catches children’s attention. A waitress in Florida recently

told her so.

The waitress said her child, who has Down syndrome, hardly pays

attention to anything. But when she heard Duncan’s voice on television,

she looked up and focused.

“I do a lot of children’s things because I think if you can inspire

children’s imaginations, it’s one of the more important things to do in

this world,” said Duncan, a mother of two boys. “If you inspire them that

way, it’s a gift.”

And as her Emmy and three Tony Award nominations show, adults listen

up too.

Duncan will team with Don Correia, Guy Stroman and the Pacific

Symphony Pops for a Valentine’s celebration at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center next weekend. The program includes the Broadway

classics “I Remember It Well,” “You Were There” and “Singin’ in the

Rain.”

“We’re doing all sorts of different numbers,” said Correia, who is

married to Duncan. “You don’t usually get this kind of show. It’s usually

either someone sitting on a stool or someone standing by the piano, but

this is more of a singing, dancing show.”

Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman will lead the symphony in

such works as Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to “Russlan and Ludmilla” and

Dvorjak’s Slavonic Dance No. 7 during the first half of the performance.

Correia, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 1986 forhis performance

as Don Lockwood in “Singin’ In The Rain,” has worked with his wife on

numerous projects. His credits include “Oklahoma,” “Gypsy,” “You’re A

Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Funny Girl.”

Stroman, who originated the role of Frankie in “Forever Plaid,” has

won best actor awards from both the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and Drama

League.

Though Duncan is a singer, actor and dancer, she said she would stick

to the label “actor” if she had to choose one.

“Because whatever I do, whether it’s singing or dancing, I approach it

from an acting point of view,” the Texas native said. “I interpret songs

rather than stand there and sing a bunch of notes. It’s supposed to tell

a story.”

Duncan left Lon Morris College in Texas after one year to pursue a

career in New York. After appearing as Louise in Agnes De Mille’s

production of “Carousel,” Duncan continued in off-Broadway productions --

“Ceremony of Innocence” won her the Theater World Award -- and broke onto

the Broadway scene with “Canterbury Tales.”

Duncan was nominated for her third Tony in 1980 for her title role in

“Peter Pan.”

“‘Peter Pan’ was when a lot of people first saw me on stage,” said

Duncan, 55. “Because of that, that’s what they remember me for. Doing the

part was absolutely thrilling because it’s wonderful, and it reaches all

ages. It’s not an adult show or a kids show -- it’s just a people show.”

Her television credits include the comedy series “Funny Face” and “The

Hogan Family,” “Roots,” “Vanities,” “Sandy in Disneyland” and “The Sandy

Duncan Show.”

Her more dubious distinctions include appearing as herself in cartoon

form in “Scooby Doo,” starring as Pinocchio with Danny Kaye and being the

first guest on “The Muppet Show.”

Duncan met Correia almost 30 years ago. He was a dancer on “Sandy in

Disneyland.” It was the first of numerous projects together.

One night, she was returning home from working on “Peter Pan,” and

Correia was coming back from his work on “A Chorus Line,” in which he

made his Broadway debut. He proposed -- he did the whole knee bit -- and

21 years later the couple looks forward to putting on a Valentine’s Day

performance together.

“It’s problematic, I suppose some people say. But for us, it’s not --

we really love working together,” Duncan said.

FYI

WHAT: Sandy Duncan performs with the Pacific Symphony Pops

WHEN: 8 p.m. Feb. 9-10

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

COST: $14-$72

CALL: (714) 755-5799