Liza Is Back In Business

Legendary for her talent, family history—and messy personal life—Liza Minnelli returns to Broadway's Palace Theatre with a new one-woman show, "Liza's At the Palace!". She spoke with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: This show is partly a tribute to Kay Thompson, the author of "Eloise." Did she give you autographed copies?
Liza Minnelli: Well, she was my godmother and the last couple of years of her life she lived with me in my home and I took care of her. She was an incredible woman. She didn't need to autograph Eloise books for me. We were too close for that.

Do you think it's true that you were the inspiration for Eloise?
I don't know. I remember her pretending to be the Eloise character a long time before the book came out. She had this little girl's voice and she would say hilarious things.

Why did you decide to do this show?
It got booked. This show has evolved so beautifully. I started thinking about it two years ago and then slowly but surely I got Ron Lewis involved in directing and doing the choreographer. He's probably my favorite choreographer I've ever worked with.

More than Bob Fosse?
Oh, I love Bob Fosse too, but in terms of just movement I've always loved Ron.

I don't want to be mean but I'm a bit worried about you. It's a tough schedule. You're 62.
I'm also an athlete. Don't worry about me, honey. I'm doing just fine. Trust me.

'Cause you had the hip operations?
Thank God, before a hip operation you feel like you're never going to move again and then you have it, it's a miraculous thing, you can dance and you can sing and walk, it's wonderful.