Interview: Sunny Thompson Discusses Channeling Marilyn Monroe in MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE, Coming to Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center

MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE, a one-woman play with music, starring Sunny Thompson, is coming to the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside. The show will run for one performance on Saturday, October 24, 2015, as part of the Broadway in Riverside series.

This is no ordinary impersonation show. Greg Thompson, now Sunny Thompson's husband, who produced it, wrote the script from hundreds of Marilyn's quotes. Mr. Thompson attempted to convince Sunny for many years before and after their marriage that she should do his show about the famed screen icon, in which Marilyn Monroe sings some of her songs and imparts her thoughts about life shortly before her untimely death. When Sunny agreed, the pair enlisted Stephanie Shine (then artistic director of Seattle Shakespeare Company) to direct.

Ms. Shine was a walking fount of knowledge regarding Marilyn Monroe, because of her detailed research to play Maggie in AFTER THE FALL; Maggie was a fictionalized version of Marilyn, to whom Arthur Miller, who wrote AFTER THE FALL, had been married from 1956 to 1961. Ms. Shine was devastated when the particular production never got off the ground and wondered if she'd ever be able to use all that preparation. She received the opportunity when the Thompsons came calling.

Beginning in April 2005, Ms. Shine and Ms. Thompson spent fourteen months working together researching and rehearsing. They enlisted the help of Jimmy James, another Marilyn Monroe expert and veteran make-up artist. Mr. James, who himself had impersonated Marilyn Monroe in his own show from 1984 to 1997, had developed make-up for the role. He designed Ms. Thompson's make-up for MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE. The result of all this hard work is an acclaimed production that has been playing all over the world, including off Broadway, in the West End, and now in Riverside.

Broadway World spoke to Sunny Thompson by e-mail, and asked her to explain how she transforms herself into Marilyn Monroe.

Broadway World: How much time does it take to get into make-up?

Sunny Thompson: It takes two and a half hours while listening to a fabulous playlist of Frank Sinatra. It's fun to imagine Marilyn getting ready for a date with Frank Sinatra. She loved to go out on the town.

BWW: What does the make-up consist of [prosthetics or standard cosmetics]?

ST: The makeup consists of standard makeup, requiring lots of shading, and a wig styled as Marilyn's was styled for the movie SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE in 1962.

BWW: How does someone learn the facial expressions and speech necessary to portray such a well-known individual?

ST: Hours of listening and watching...spending time with the person. It's necessary to know the why before you attempt how. And then working through all the awkward failed attempts in front of a mirror until at last you latch onto a flash of a mannerism or voice timbre that rings true. My first flash came when recreating how she pronounced her "t's and the "oo" vowel. We also enlisted the help of Jimmy James, THE Marilyn Impersonator in the 80's, he helped me a great deal with mannerisms and walking... which I flunked for the first week... I think, after 8 years I've finally got it! LOL! But I am still going to school on Jimmy James. And I continue to study Marilyn in audio recordings and thru her movies.

BWW: Is there anything special to go from Sunny to Marilyn before the show?

ST: The 2&½ hour makeup process generally takes me there, all the while listening to Frank Sinatra. I have many pictures in my dressing room of Marilyn in 1962 and I also find it helpful to watch outro clips of the filming of SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE. I love watching her when she is unaware the camera is filming. That is the Marilyn I want to recreate.

BWW: The show has toured all over the world. Is there any intent to take it to Broadway?

ST: We have played the "West End" in London and I loved every second. I hope to have the chance to play Broadway one day.

MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE will play at the Fox Performing Arts Center for one performance only, on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at 8 p.m. Tickets for the 2 p.m. performance, which has been cancelled, will be honored for the 8 p.m. show, but the identical location may not be available. Ticket prices range from $33.50 to $51.00. Tickets are available at www.riversidelive.com, through Ticketmaster, at the box office, or at 800-745-3000. The Fox PAC is located at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501, about 120 miles from San Diego, 70 miles from parts of the San Fernando Valley and West LA, 57 miles from Long Beach, 55 miles from Palm Springs, and 45 miles from Anaheim.

More information on MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE is available at its web site, www.marilynforeverblonde.com/.Theatergoers should be aware that the show contains explicit material that is not suitable for children or for others who prefer family-oriented entertainment.

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