Theater preview: 'Tootsie' creators, performers update a favorite 1980s comedy

Broadway and TV veteran Santino Fontana ("Frozen," "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") stars in the Broadway-bound "Tootsie," beginning previews Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. Courtesy of Nathan Johnson

"Tootsie," the new Broadway-bound musical beginning previews Tuesday in Chicago, won't entirely recall the 1982 comedy that inspired it.

The fundamental details remain the same: Unemployed actor Michael Dorsey (played in the film by Dustin Hoffman) has a reputation for being difficult. Desperate for work, he dresses as a woman named Dorothy Michaels and auditions for a soap opera. The role catapults him to fame and transforms him into a feminist icon based in part on Dorothy's outspoken criticism of the show's sexist scripts and misogynistic environment.

But composer/lyricist David Yazbek ("The Band's Visit," "The Full Monty") and writer Robert Horn ("13," "Dame Edna, Back With a Vengeance") say they've updated the story to reflect the current zeitgeist, including the #MeToo movement.

"We put in a number of plot twists and ideas that didn't exist in the movie," said Horn.

While Horn and Yazbek intend to "honor the movie" and remain "faithful to its themes," they intend to tell their own story.

Lilli Cooper plays Julie in "Tootsie." -

"We had to make it our own show," Horn said.

When it came to feminism and gender issues in the film "Tootsie," audiences and critics were divided. Some argued that Michael -- after experiencing sexual harassment, discrimination, condescension and body shaming as Dorothy -- became more sensitive to the challenges facing women.

Others opined that setting up a man in drag as the film's most empowered female character fuels the perception that women -- unable to fight their own professional and personal battles -- require a male champion.

In addition, the film's male characters, for the most part, wield the power professionally and personally.

The musical's stars say in that respect "Tootsie" differs from the original.

Sarah Stiles plays Michael's friend Sandy in "Tootsie."

Audiences "will see the characters they loved in different ways," said Julie Halston, who plays soap opera producer Rita Marshall. Rita, she says, is "very much in charge" in this incarnation.

Santino Fontana, who stars as Michael/Dorothy agrees.

"Rita is the boss," he said. "Men who misbehave are put in their place."

The musical never glorifies Michael's decisions, Fontana said.

"All great drama starts with terrible decisions," he said, pointing out that Michael deceives people from the start.

Julie Halston plays soap opera producer Rita Marshall in "Tootsie."

"Michael doesn't save anybody," Fontana said. "It's about him climbing the mountain he's going to fall off."

Sarah Stiles, who plays Michael's friend Sandy, says Michael doesn't deserve the blame for her character's unhappiness.

"In our musical, Michael and Sandy are really great friends," said Stiles, adding that Sandy "treats herself much worse than Michael does."

More than empowerment or feminism, "Tootsie" is a show about actors, says Lilli Cooper, who plays Julie, the daytime drama actress Michael falls for.

Both characters make sacrifices to pursue their art, she said. Ultimately, they have to grapple with what they're willing to give up in its pursuit.

"It's about acting. And acting is about playing a role," adds Andy Grotelueschen, who plays Jeff, Michael's best friend. "In life we all play a lot of roles."

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"Tootsie"

When: Tuesday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Oct. 14

Where: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or broadwayin chicago.com

Tickets: Start at $35