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CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) – The circus will have an extra-special opening act tonight: Cincinnati native Drew Lachey.
Lachey will serve as the Guest Ringmaster at tonight’s performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s “FUNundrum” circus.
The performance will be tonight at 5 p.m. at U.S. Bank Arena.
Nick and Drew Lachey plan to pitch three TV shows from their Flying Pig Productions to networks “in the next month or so,” Drew said.
Drew, 34, said he would appear in one, and work behind the scenes in the other two. He declined to elaborate. The brothers formed the company two years ago.
He’s also talking to the Gospel Music Channel about hosting an “America’s Funniest Home Video”-style series showcasing funny musical performance videos tentatively titled “America Sings,” he said.
He plans to spend part of the summer at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino hosting a stage version of “The Price Is Right,” as he did last year.
Nick, 37, was in New York Saturday for the premiere of “Last One Standing,” the song he wrote as the anthem for Big East Conference events. It’s posted at nicklachey.com.
They’re ready to take the stage again at the School for Creative & Performing Arts.
Drew and Lea Lachey, SCPA Class of 1994, have pledged their time and support to revive the musical theater major dropped seven years ago.
“They spent a lot of money on this new building. Now we want to make the inside of the school as great as the outside of the school,” said Drew, 34, who starred in “Rent” and “Spamalot” on Broadway after singing with brother Nick in the 98° boy band.
His wife, the former Lea Dellecave from Western Hills, danced at Radio City Music Hall and choreographed the 98° music videos, tours and TV appearances.
Since they moved back home from Hollywood in 2009, they have wanted to help another generation at SCPA.
“When Lea and I realized the program had been cut altogether, we thought it was a complete travesty,” Drew said.
SCPA artistic director Isidore Rudnick said the Lacheys promised support “in their professional experience and financially” to bring back the music theater curriculum.
“We are absolutely thrilled,” Rudnick said.
The couple, who met in fifth grade at SCPA, will help oversee auditions Saturday to fill 20 slots for the restored major with faculty members Gina Kleesattel and Laurie Wyant-Zenni, their old vocal coach.
“For the past five years, I’ve been focused on being a mom. Now I’m ready,” said Lea, 34. They have two children, Isabella, 4, and Hudson, 9½ months.
The Lacheys plan to be at SCPA this fall three or four mornings a week. Cincinnati Ballet dancer Jay Goodlet, a 1992 SCPA grad, also will instruct students, they said.
Before school starts, they will lead a two-week summer camp preparing the students for their major, she said.
They’ve also talked to friends in Los Angeles and New York about speaking to classes.
“I’ll never forget when Gregory Hines and other professionals came to talk to students,” Lea said. Hines shot “A Rage in Harlem” here in 1990.
“They know what it takes to audition, and what it takes to succeed,” she said. “That’s very important to a 16- or 17-year-old student thinking about getting in the business.”
The Lacheys also want to take the revived program far beyond the walls of the new $72 million Erich Kunzel Center for Arts and Education at 108 W. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine.
When they were at SCPA, musical theater students performed around town and across Europe. Before their junior year, Drew and Lea toured France and Germany in an SCPA troupe.
“Music theater majors were the ones out representing the school, doing performances for corporate groups, private parties, at Children’s Hospital and nursing homes,” Drew said. He plans to seek support for the program from Procter & Gamble, Macy’s and other companies.
“Schools across the country are struggling with budget cuts. More people need to realize how they can contribute, and ease the impact of the cuts,” Drew said.
The Lacheys’ commitment comes a year after Nick Lachey co-created and served as executive producer for MTV’s “Taking the Stage” reality show, filmed at SCPA. Rudnick said he still gets e-mails from “students around the country” mentioning the show.
“I tell the students every day that all the students who came before them helped make this building possible,” Rudnick said.
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but you want to give back,” Drew said. “We moved back here to raise our family. We want to make the city an amazing place for our kids, and their kids.”
Audiences will be whisked away to 1960s Baltimore when Pittsburgh CLO presents Hairspray July 20 – August 1 at the Benedum Center. Adapted for the stage from John Water’s 1988 film, Hairspray ran on Broadway for over six years and has since become a toe-tapping hit all over the world.
Set in Baltimore in 1962, the energetic Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a larger-than-life personality with a big ‘do and big dreams of dancing on the local “Corny Collins Show.” However, when she wins a spot on the program, Tracy must take on the show’s dancing queen and the challenge of integrating a television show, all while trying to win the heart of teen celebrity Link Larkin. Hairspray’s enthusiasm is contagious as it follows Tracy’s passionate push for fairness and acceptance in a time of change. Featuring songs such as “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now,” “You Can’t Stop the Beat” and “Good Morning, Baltimore,” this Tony® Award-winning musical will have audiences singing and dancing all the way home.
ABOUT THE CAST
Drew Lachey (Corny Collins) comes to Pittsburgh CLO for the first time. Best known for winning ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2006, he was also a member of the pop group 98 Degrees, along with his brother Nick. His film credits include “The Wisher” and “The Comebacks.” He has also appeared on television’s “As the World Turns,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.” Mr. Lachey has appeared on Broadway in Rent (Mark Cohen) and Spamalot (Patsy).
Congratulations to Drew & Lea!
The littlest Lachey has arrived!
Drew Lachey and wife Lea welcomed a son, Hudson Nicholas Lachey, on Saturday, May 15 in Cincinnati, Ohio, his rep tells PEOPLE.
Baby Hudson joins big sister Isabella Claire, 4.
The former Dancing With the Stars champ and 98 Degrees crooner, 33, announced the pregnancy in December.
TVGuide.com has their own poll on who should replace Samantha as co-host on Dancing With the Stars. Drew is listed as one of the choices & he is currently in 2nd place. Go vote!
There’s going to be a new man in the Lachey house.
Nick Lachey has announced that his brother Drew and sister-in-law Lea will welcome their second baby — a boy — next spring.
“I get to be an uncle all over again,” Nick, 36, gushed on Monday’s “Bonnie Hunt Show.”
Drew and Lea, both 33, married in 2000 and welcomed their first child, daughter Isabella, in 2006.
Drew, who used to be in the band 98 Degrees with his brother, was crowned the champion of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2006.