Kiki Ebsen performed her one-woman show and multi-media theater production To Dad with Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen at the Theater West on Friday September 6, 2019. It was evident on her premier that show business has always been in her blood as she wore several hats that evening, not only acting and singing but dancing, too. With grace, humor, and that beautiful voice of hers, Kiki Ebsen gave us an exclusive look into her life as the daughter of the famous Buddy Ebsen.
Co-creator and brother Dustin Ebsen created a slide show chronicling their Buddy Ebsen’s long career in show business. The visual added so much, while complementing Kiki’s wonderful voice. (Producer credit: StKi, LLC.)
“My dad grew up in the era of the Great American Song Book. And I grew up in the era of Black Sabbath. My dad had his heart set on me being a jazz singer . . . but I wanted to sound like Ann Wilson from the rock group Heart. So we clearly did not see eye to eye musically. I went on and forged out my own career and performed with groups like Chicago, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs and Tracy Chapman,” Kiki explained to the audience. “When dad came to see me perform, he would look at me like, what? Not understanding the music.”
A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen opened with a dark stage with lights slowly rising on Kiki Ebsen. Center stage was an old trunk. She opened it and gingerly handled each treasure that had been locked inside all those years ago during her dad’s early career. The trunk was a time capsule that kept safe Buddy’s letters, photographs, scripts, and costumes. Each item reflected how little she actually knew about her father’s past. When Kiki was born, he was already a big star on The Beverly Hillbillies. When her father tried to tell his children stories of how he went to New York City with just $26.65 in his pocket (Kiki imitates her father’s voice), as a youth she found the story boring. But once Kiki discovered the chest after her dad had passed away, she felt differently after that day.
“I got chills because there were letters to his family; photographs I had never seen before; Broadway musical programs; scripts from shows like Born to Dance, Broadway Melody from 1936 . . . and then I found this incredible find: the song book from the Wizard of Oz.” She pauses.
“THE SONGBOOK HAD HIS NAME ON IT SAYING HE WAS THE SCARECROW…AND I ASKED MYSELF, “WHO IS THIS GUY?’ WHO IS THIS GUY I CALLED MY DAD.”
That question gave birth to the Scarecrow Sessions, a Jazz CD that was a tribute to Buddy Ebsen’s early career. From there, Kiki developed a cabaret-style show that has evolved over the last 4 years. From the very first song, Kiki charmed us with her vocals and seasoned technique and individual style and unique phrasing. A montage of old photographs of Buddy Ebsen flashed across the screen. Buddy made love to Eleanor Powell on the screen. Kiki broke into the romantic rendition of “Easy to Love,” scatting beautifully.
During the evening we heard fascinating stories of Buddy’s involvement with The Wizard of Oz. Kiki shared that he was asked by MGM to play the Scarecrow but when Ray Bolger displayed his “rubber-legged” dance, Buddy was given the role of the Tin Man. Unfortunately the silver aluminum makeup that he had to wear everyday on set for hours was deadly, landing Buddy Ebsen in the hospital fighting for his life. Without a second thought, the role of Tin Man was handed to Jack Haley without even a second thought. They couldn’t wait for Ebsen to recover. The studio was on a strict schedule. This was something he never talked about. At the 50th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Buddy Ebsen finally received credit for his voice on the soundtrack as well as the long-shots of the dance scene he did with Dorothy, the cowardly lion, and the scarecrow. He was finally able to move past the pain of losing that role. Kiki paid tribute to her father by singing “If I Only Had a Brain” with a sensual vocal, full of control. Saxophonist Kim Richmond accompanied Kiki beautifully a she scatted expertly.
That evening the audience learned that Buddy Ebsen wrote children’s songs as Kiki sang an amusing song called Angelica about a mischievous little girl. The audience loved it!
We were then treated to film clips of Breakfast at Tiffany’s as Buddy Ebsen co-starred as the estranged husband to Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly.
“I hated seeing the pain in my dad’s eyes when he realizes he lost Holly forever. Well, that just broke my heart.” States Ebsen
One of the biggest highlights was her hauntingly beautiful arrangement of Moon River. Kiki’s voice had an otherworldly quality. And when she switched moods to the bluesy tempo of St. Louis Blues, Ms. Ebsen belted out the lyrics with style. Kiki showed the wonderful film clip of Buddy Ebsen tap dancing to The Cod Fish Ball with Shirley Temple. Buddy Ebsen’s long legs pranced across the set with dexterity as he swung Shirley Temple from one platform to another. Even though he towered over the tiny star, he was the perfect dance partner!
Then a magical moment occurred. Behind the screen set up on stage left, a figure appeared in silhouette. Kiki faced the screen mesmerized. A fanciful character that resembled Buddy Ebsen, popped out and the scene was transformed into a brilliant tap dance number. Kiki Ebsen rolled out the steps, keeping pace with dancer Gregory Gast, who was portraying Buddy Ebsen. The number ended in a heart-warming hug. Kiki threw a sorrowful glance to the audience. It was a bittersweet dance through time between father and daughter, which was all too brief.
The audience was enchanted by the dance, ebbing and flowing with Kiki’s nostalgia. The perfect ending to a perfect moment, Kiki Ebsen recounts, “[A journalist from] Vanity Fair asked my father . . . how would you like to die? He said, ‘preferably with a stand in.’”
Kiki Ebsen moved us all with her version of “Over the Rainbow.” It was a gripping and powerful performance. She filled the theater with incredible jazz vocal musings—a perfect Hollywood ending. We all felt the presence of Buddy Ebsen looking down on his beautiful daughter, smiling and feeling proud.
Check out the red carpet highlights the premier Kiki Ebsen’s To Dad With Love – A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen
Kiki Ebsen’s To Dad With Love – A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen is running for two more weeks on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. till September 22, 2019.
General Admission tickets are $25 per person, $20 for Seniors and Students per person with ID and $15 per person for Groups of 15 or more. VIP packages for $40 per person are also available, and include premium seating, an After Show Meet and Greet and complimentary beverages. For further information and to purchase tickets online, please visit the websites, http://buddyebsentribute.com and www.theatrewest.org, or call the Theatre West Box Office at 323-851-7977. The running time of the show is 75 minutes. To see a video link of what to expect, please visit: https://youtu.be/i6GNUASLPr0
Theatre Parking will be available for $5 per car directly across the street from Theatre West in the Panasonic Parking Lot, 3330 Cahuenga Boulevard West, Los Angeles, CA 90068. The Metro Bus Stop 156 Line drops off at Cahuenga Boulevard West and Oakshire Drive nearby the theatre (both Northbound and Southbound buses).
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