Suzanne Somers to Bring Solo Show to the Brooks Atkinson on July 8
Somers premiered The Blonde in the Thunderbird after her very brief appearance in American Graffiti in San Diego in January 2004. Written and directed by Mitzie and Ken Welch, the multimedia show features photos, video and music to tell the story of Somers' life, from her tortured childhood to where she is today. Prior to coming to New York, The Blonde in the Thunderbird will play an engagement at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, June 16 through June 26. The show was expected to be called Suzanne Somers: Naked for its Broadway run, but the decision was made to go back to the original title.
Somers rose to fame as Christmas "Chrissy" Snow on the hit sitcom Three's Company. After a few years with the show, Somers, who had become the most visible of the show's stars, made contractual demands that the producers would not meet. She spent another year making occasional guest appearances before leaving altogether in 1981. Her career failed to take off after her departure from Three's Company, and she sued ABC claiming that her troubles with the network had damaged her reputation. The suit was settled out of court. She soon became a fixture on the Las Vegas stage and was named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year in 1986. Somers returned to the national spotlight when she had a sexy role in the miniseries Hollywood Wives, starred in the late-1980s series She's the Sheriff and appeared as the spokesperson for the ThighMaster and ButtMaster. In 1991, she began a seven-year run on the family-oriented ABC series Step by Step. She is now well known for her fitness books and products, including an entire Somersize system for healthy living. She continues to appear on The Home Shopping Network to sell her line of products.
The Brooks Atkinson's current tenant, Democracy, is scheduled to close on April 17. As we previously reported, The Odd Couple will begin performances there on October 4.