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WCU to host screen legend Mickey Rooney
By Justin Goble
Local residents will get a taste of Hollywood when legendary performers Mickey and Jan Rooney grace the stage at Western Carolina University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center Sunday, Sept. 17.
The couple’s multimedia performance, called “Let’s Put on a Show,” has been playing to audiences throughout England before beginning a U.S. tour. Sunday’s show will be a walk down memory lane, with jokes, songs and stories from the couple’s time in show business.
Talking to The Herald from their California home during one of their few breaks, both Mickey and Jan said they are looking forward to performing the show on a college stage.
Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney and his wife Jan will perform at Western Carolina University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center Sunday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. Along with singing jazz standards and numbers from musicals, the two will tell stories and jokes about their time in Hollywood. For more information or tickets, call the Fine and Performing Arts Center at 227-2479 or visit fapac.wcu.edu.
“It’s important to play colleges,” Mickey said. “We get all ages there, and we welcome everyone from students and young people to veterans. Some of the folks may not remember us, but I think they’ll still have a great time.”
“It’s a very heartwarming show,” Jan said. “It will be an evening full of happy times. We have a lot of songs and stories. Mickey plays a little piano, and we a wonderful trio that’s played with the likes of Frank Sinatra.”
A 81-year Hollywood veteran, Mickey has been acting since he was 17 months old. Legend has it his first appearance was in a Chicago theater when he accidently sneezed and interrupted a performance by his father, vaudeville performer Joe Yule.
Not knowing how to react while everyone was looking at him, Mickey blew on a tiny mouth organ hanging around his neck, which caused the audience to burst out laughing. This auspicious start led to more than 250 movie roles (many starring opposite famous leading ladies, such as Judy Garland and Lana Turner); four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (including one with Jan); and a Lifetime Achievement Award Oscar in 1983.
He is currently putting the finishing touches on “A Night at the Museum,” a film set for release in December, which also stars Robin Williams, Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.
While he takes joy in all of the accolades, Mickey said his greatest pride comes from serving in the Army during World War II, where he was awarded a bronze star for combat and entertaining the troops. His support for the armed forces has not waned over the years, and he often speaks at USO events.
“It’s been an honor to serve our great country,” Mickey said. “We always keep our veterans in mind, and think of the people that are guarding our country each and every day.”
A longtime singer and entertainer herself, Jan has been in numerous television shows and movies, and has taken part in numerous tours with Mickey since their 1978 marriage.
“We look out for each other,” Jan said. “There’s a lot of pressure in this business, but I love working with Mickey. He’s an old-fashioned guy, but he’s very ‘with it’ as well. It’s nice to be with someone who hasn’t gotten old and forgotten about life.”
With various shows, autograph sessions, appearances and movie roles coming up before and after their performance at WCU, the duo show no signs of slowing down. Mickey said he liked being in front of an audience so much that there was no reason to stop.
“We love our country, and we love performing for the people,” Mickey said. “We love every minute of it and we’re honored to do it.”
“Mickey’s got more energy than a lot of people much younger than him,” Jan said. “He’s definitely got more energy than I do. They need to find out what it is and bottle it, because he is a whipper-snapper.”
For more informations or for tickets to Sunday’s performance, call the Fine and Performing Arts Center at 227-2479 or visit fapac.wcu.edu.
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