NOT ACTING My Age
ON THE CUSP OF HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, THE BELOVED ACTRESS TAKES ON A HIGHSTEPPING NEW CHALLENGE
Anew role in the musical Half Time required Georgia Engel to master some high-energy hiphop dance routines that might scare off a lot of actresses of her generation. “It’s long hours and very strenuous work,” Georgia, who turns 70 on July 28, tells Closer before adding with a grin, “and I’m loving every second of it!”
The part, written specifically for her by friend Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), allows the five-time Emmy nominee to show off her impressive hoofing skills. “I’ve been dancing since I was 3 and I did ballet for more than 50 years,” explains Georgia, best known for her comedic turns as Georgette on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Pat, Robert’s mother-in-law, on Everybody Loves Raymond. “Other people like to play tennis or run, but my joy is dancing. I’d retired from it in 2010, so I’ve been trying to get back to it,” she notes of jumping at this new production.
In Half Time, Georgia plays one of a group of senior citizens who dream of being a part of the halftime show at a basketball game. “The message is that it’s never too late for good things to appear in one’s life. There’s a song called ‘A New Point of View,’ and that’s all you need if you’re feeling stuck by limitations people place on you,” she shares. “Besides, I believe our God-given qualities like rhythm, courage, strength, endurance, inspiration — they don’t age out.”
She proved that by tackling the rigorous rehearsals with abandon, though she admits she had to gently ease her way back into the swing of things with some help from Pilates. “Doing what you love is about the healthiest thing you can do,” she insists, “and I hope this show makes people want to get up out of their chairs and dance out of the theater no matter what stage of life they’re in!”
— Ron Kelly, with reporting by Katie Bruno
“Don’t give up just because things get hard!”
— Georgia