Musical Celebrates Warwick's Career
By Associated Press


CHICAGO - Dionne Warwick received a rare treat _ hearing her hit songs performed in a musical devoted to her career. Warwick, 65, was in the audience as the Black Ensemble Theater performed "Don't Make Me Over (In Tribute to Dionne Warwick)."

The show features four actresses singing Warwick hits including "Walk On By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again."

Warwick received a standing ovation Friday night when she entered the theater, clapped and smiled through much of the show, and even laughed at a joke about her role as host of the "Psychic Friends Network" in the 1990s.

After the curtain call, a visibly moved Warwick took the stage to speak to the cast.

"My babies, you were magnificent. Truly magnificent," she said. "I cannot thank you enough for caring that much about me."

The show treads lightly on Warwick's personal life. Instead, it focuses on her family's roots in gospel, her beginnings in the music industry as a backup singer, and her legendary partnership in the 1960s with the music/lyrics team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

One of the show's themes is whether Warwick would have been successful without Bacharach, and vice versa. At a reception after the show, Warwick said some earlier retrospectives of her career only focused on the work she did with Bacharach and David.

"They forgot there was an entity called Dionne Warwick," she said. "My career has spanned many composers, many producers. Of course the bulk of my music is Bacharach/David, which I'm very, very proud of and grateful for, but life goes on."

Warwick appeared on the season finale of "American Idol," and is working on an album of duets with contemporary artists.

"Don't Make Me Over," is scheduled to run through Oct. 1.

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On the Net:

Black Ensemble Theater: http://www.blackensembletheater.org/

Dionne Warwick: http://www.dionnewarwick.info/

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Dionne Warwick is a class act...talented and gracious. This merits a special trip to Chicago for a look/see...

Dionne Warwick is right up there with Diana Ross on my "Don't like AT ALL" list.


Don't wish her ill and I'm glad someone's showing her love, but

this is one show I'll be skipping this season.

mmmmm give a little back
of what you been takin'

ya better start beeeing for real
and stop your fakin'

you better prepare yourself
for that rainy dayy

ya better throw a little tenderness and affection my wayyy

Aaaaaahhhhhoohhh