Acclaimed actress Rita McKenzie is having the time of her life - and who can blame her.
McKenzie is loving life, and especially her role in Neil Simon's female version of "The Odd Couple," a new spin on the classic television comedy that showed the daily hysterics of Felix Unger and Oscar Madison.
Felix and Oscar have been transformed into Florence and Olive in Neil Simon's laugh-riot production of "The Odd Couple."
"The Odd Couple" will roll into Pittsburgh's Byham Theatre for shows Dec. 26-29.
Barbara Eden, best known as the charming genie on the hit television series "I Dream of Jeannie," stars as the neurotically neat Florence, and McKenzie portrays the unkempt Olive.
During a recent telephone interview from McKenzie's Los Angeles home, the seasoned actress talked about her fame and how good it feels to be on Broadway with longtime friend Eden.
She recently completed a 10-week run at Chicago's Apollo Theater and their successful tour of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
"We're just having the best time doing this, it really is a riot," said McKenzie.
In some ways, she says she's a little like both characters, but says she and Eden have more in common out of character.
"We're both very much alike as we both love to shop and we love diamonds," she said with a loud, contagious laugh.
McKenzie's career has taken her all over the country and gained international status for her performances.
Her most notable performance is her portrayal of Ethel Merman in "Ethel Merman's Broadway" at the John Houseman Theater in New York City.
She also took that show to Carnegie Hall, Atlantic City and on an eight-city tour in Japan.
Ironically, McKenzie said she didn't look up to Merman when she was growing up and aspiring to become an actress.
It was Julie Andrews who inspired her she says, as she played in the roles of the sweet woman "who always got the guy."
But now, McKenzie has respect and adoration for the late Merman, known for her loud, unique and often boisterous voice and whose performances were rooted in humor.
"Many people may not know that Ethel was a shy woman," McKenzie said. "Our show depicts the faces of Ethel that her films didn't."
She said she is looking forward to her upcoming "Ethel" appearances in London and Toronto.
Off Broadway, she has appeared in the musical Ruthless!" and can also be heard on the original cast album.
McKenzie has also toured the country as Annie Oakley in the 50th anniversary production of "Annie Get Your Gun" with Glenn Yarbrough.
She has created the role of Phoebe Farber in Sam Harris' Broadway-bound production of "Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!" in Los Angeles, and she played Maggie Jones in "42nd Street" with Mariette Hartley.
Her other starring roles include Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes," Aldonza in "Man of La Mancha," Ruth in "The Pirates of Penzance," Belle Poltrine in "Little Me," Domina in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Cleo in "The Most Happy Fella," Widow Corney in "Oliver!", Nurse Custer in "Whoopee!" and, of course, Mama Rose in "Gypsy."
McKenzie is also an accomplished television and film actress and recently played Alice, the housekeeper, on Fox's "The Brady Bunch: the Final Days."
Audiences may also remember her roles as Mrs. Littlejohn on "Frasier," Rita Marcus on the Family Channel's "Big Brother Jake," and her recurring role on "Daddy Dearest" starring Richard Lewis and Don Rickles.
She also co-starred in the feature film "I Might Even Love You" and was featured in Rodney Dangerfield's film "Meet Wally Sparks."
"TV is a lot of fun, especially sitcom work," McKenzie said. "It's great being in front of a live audience."
McKenzie says she feels blessed to have performed at places such as the Smithsonian Institute as Merman, and on the steps of the Capitol on the Fourth of July.
As Olive in "The Odd Couple," McKenzie says her character is very confident with her own sexuality, whereas Florence is newly divorced and uneasy about getting back into the singles scene.
The result is a lot of laughs onstage.
Other cast members include: Georgia Engel (Georgette from the Mary Tyler Moore Show); Larry Thomas ("Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld); Shirley Prestia ("Look Lady" on Home Improvement and a re-occurring role on Dharma and Greg.)
This won't be McKenzie's first trip to the "Burgh, as she has performed before with the Pittsburgh Symphony and at Carnegie Hall.
She has ties in the area, as well, as a younger sister lives in Sewickley.
McKenzie said she'll have no problem weathering the cold temperatures, as she grew up in New Jersey.
"I'm looking forward to the trip there," McKenzie said. "This group can have fun anywhere."
