BWW Exclusive: Kristin Chenoweth Talks Dating 'The Bachelor', GCB, Next Album & Hosting ACAs

Emmy and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth will co-host the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS ON FOX airing Monday, December 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Chenoweth is an accomplished singer and actress of stage, television and film. She recently completed a North American concert tour featuring music from her latest album, “Some Lessons Learned,” as well as an array of her most memorable songs and Broadway show tunes. She is known for her Tony Award-nominated turn as the original “Glinda,” the good witch, in Broadway’s “Wicked” and her show-stealing, Tony Award-winning performance in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” She has received two Emmy Award nominations for her role as “April Rhodes” on the hit series GLEE. She won an Emmy Award for her role as “Olive Snook” on “Pushing Daisies.” She also starred in “GCB” and will next be seen on “The Good Wife.”

The petite actress with the larger than life voice chatted with BWW about the upcoming Broadway revival of 'On The Twentieth Century,' dating Bachelor contestant Jake Palveka and what's in store for her next album.

Chenoweth most recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of Promises, Promises, but has also originated such memorable roles as 'Glinda' in Wicked. I asked her if she has a preference for doing one over the other?

"It’s interesting, and thank you for asking that question, I am kind of an odd duck." she began.  "I view every role I do as original.  If I thought for a second about Barbara Harris playing the apple tree or anything I’ve done as a revival, I might be too intimidated.  So I view them all as, “Okay, you’re putting your stamp on this.  Think of it as it’s never been done before.” 

She continued, "That’s sort of what I think when I do a revival.  Of course I love doing original work because there are no rules.  There are no rules.  We just did a reading of Soapdish and even though it was a movie it has never been done on stage.  So there are no rules and I enjoy that aspect of creating.  But I look at them both the same.  If it’s a revival and/or if it’s new, I think in my mind, “Don’t think that it’s ever been done before.  Do it your way.”  That’s kind of what I do."

For the past year, Broadway fans have been eagerly awaiting Chenoweth's return to the stage in a rumored revival of On the Twentieth Century, a musical with book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman. The actress confirmed that following a European tour in March, her plan is to bring the project to fruition. " I’m going to do London, Scotland, Australia and surrounding areas.  After that it’ll be 'On the Twentieth Century', we’re trying to work out the dates because I want to do that, as well as Soapdish, on Broadway.  Those are, I know, the two things that I’m looking to do on Broadway sooner rather than later.  That’s a lot right there.  I’m also trying to put together my next record and do a pilot.  It’s busy, but those are the “for sures” on the horizon."

The busy actress admits that she she still has difficulty juggling her busy career with her personal life. "That’s my biggest struggle in life, is the balance issue," she explained.  "I know that a lot of people know that I got hurt in July.  I’m doing so much better, so much better, but I think it slowed me down to a point to really try to be very, very careful.  I like to do a lot of different things and I’ve realized that life is short and I want to do things that make me happy and really help me leave my mark in this world. I really just try to weigh my time and how much I’m going to be able to—I want to be great.  When I say yes to something I want to be great at it.  So that’s what helps me decide."

On the romanctic front, Chenoweth confirmed recent rumors that she has been seeing 'Bachelor' star Jake Palveka. "I met him doing the 'Hero Dog Awards' for Hallmark channel, which is dogs who basically save lives, which if any of you know what they do, it’s absolutely amazing," she explained. "We met that night and we’ve been spending a little time together.  It’s been really fun to get to know him.  That’s kind of where that is."

Though her recent TV project GCB did not last through its first season on ABC, the actress maintained that it was a worthwhile experience. "Those characters that we all played on GCB were so fun.  It disheartened me to think that there was a few that thought it was making fun of God, which I would never do.  I thought it was just having fun with a world that I knew very well.  I love that people come up to me now and say, “Where’s GCB?  What happened?  We want to see it.”  But, you know, when you lose a lot of your major advertisers I understand why ABC did what they did, but it still makes me sad.  I miss her.  I miss [Chenoweth's character] Carline, but whenever I do I just put on my wig and I feel better."

Related Links

LiveU and SnappyTV Partner for Real-Time Video Social Publishing June 19, 2013

Kanawha Players to Present SING DOWN THE MOON: APPALACHIAN WONDER TALES, 6/28-29 June 19, 2013

Hunter Hayes to Bring 'Let's Be Crazy' Tour to Fox Theatre, 10/17 June 19, 2013

CURTAINS to Raise at the Arvada Center, 7/9 June 19, 2013

BRAVO BROADWAY: THE WICKED DIVAS Set for Deer Valley Music Festival, 7/12; Arturo Sandoval to Play 7/13 June 19, 2013

Caryn Robbins is a features editor for BroadwayWorld, covering TV, flm and the best of Broadway theater.