HOLLYWOOD veteran of stage and screen MICKEY ROONEY will perform at the Newcastle Civic Theatre on Saturday, November 28, with his wife JAN CHAMBERLAIN in TWO FOR THE SHOW. Rooney, 79, is a living Hollywood legend who has performed in more than 300 motion pictures, was once signed to MGM as Hollywood's most highly paid star, and has appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.
Speaking to TE last week from his home in West Lake Village, just outside Los Angeles, California, Rooney said the show would feature songs from his stage and screen career, performed live with a 17-piece orchestra.
'We'll be doing a whole flock of them,' Rooney said.
'All kinds of songs that you'll remember from motion pictures that I've been in.'
Rooney will sing songs from GIRL CRAZY, STRIKE UP THE BAND and WORDS & MUSIC, and others, in which he starred opposite JUDY GARLAND. As well as performing songs from stage and screen, the pair will talk about Rooney's life and times, as well as entertaining audiences with jokes and impressions.
Born JOE YULE JNR, Rooney was literally born into acting, the son of burlesque entertainers JOE YULE and NELL CARTER. He made his first adult performance opposite ELIZABETH TAYLOR in NATIONAL VELVET in 1944, already successful from his HARDY BOYS series.
Landmark films he has acted in include BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY and THE BRIDGES AT TOKO RI. Rooney said there were no actors he knew of his own 'vintage' still treading the boards.
Rooney said the secret to his longevity was to continue working.
'To keep entertaining people and to keep happy - that's what keeps you going,' he said.
He recently finished a two-year run of the MADISON SQUARE GARDENS production of THE WIZARD OF OZ in the title role, opposite EARTHA KITT as the Wicked Witch of The East. Most recently Rooney performed in Aaron Spelling's SAFE HARBOUR as a conman, and two years ago he travelled to Australia to film BABE II: PIG IN THE CITY. 'Age is nothing but experience,' he said. 'My wife has a tough time keeping up with me.'
Tickets are now on sale through Ticketek. TE
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