From the 1996 Deborah Gibson calendar:

• "Never look at things like odds, competition, or the possibility you may fail. Instead, know that you have something to offer and no one can do it quite like you!"
• "Never feel you have to justify yourself to anyone. Do what you need to do to feel good and you will be of better service to others."
• "Pace yourself and you'll never have to want to retire."
• "Sometimes a cynical journalist will assume that they can judge my personal happiness by a chart position or sales... little do they know that during a sold out concert a relative passed away and at a time of particularly low sales my niece took her first steps. They haven't got a clue!"
• "Do not let anyone be an obstacle in your journey to achieve your goals. You must radiate so much belief in yourself that they simply have no other choice than to become a supporter."
• "Success is about achieving personal goals and using your potential to the fullest. It is a journey and no one else is on your particular path. How scary and invigorating!"
• "Pavoratti says that fear is helpful so long as it doesn't cripple you. Use your fears to propel you to greater heights."
• "Don't let people make you feel stupid about what you don't know. Feel good about your own knowledge and unique experiences."
• "Never begrudge someone else's success. It has nothing to do with yours. You are only in competition with one person... you. There will always be someone in higher and lower power positions... Comparisons get you nowhere."
• "I've always loved the audition process even though it is full of rejection. I choose to see every audition as a performance. I do my best knowing that if it's meant to be, it's meant to be!"
• "I've learned to have a sense of humor about myself. Lord knows everyone else does!"
• "Most success stories are not accidents. If you believe they are, you are probably afraid of success. Don't make excuses, just get down to business!"
• "Follow your heart and your inner voice. They are always right."
• "Think, plan, but more importantly, do!"
• "Cherish every day, every show of love, and pray for those mean in spirit. This is a lesson I've just recently learned."
• "Instead of 'jealous of' try 'inspired by'."
• "Be generous and charitable. It makes everyone feel good."
• "Celebrate your achievements without guilt and self-consciousness."
• "Never look down on someone else. You have no idea how far they've come and what it took to get there."
• "Being a good person doesn't always get immediate attention in a world that thrives on scandal. But, collectively it contributes to making the world a better place."
• "There are no regrets, only lessons."
• "You are an example, especially for young people. Choose to be a leader."
• "Never downplay the importance of preparation and practice. They're much more reliable than luck!"
• "Simplicity is beautiful."

From The Province (January 7, 1996):

• "I want to be an independent person. People assume the accomplishments are things you've done, the awards you've won. For me the little accomplishments I feel I achieve every day are something that makes me happiest."

(about feeling a "little schizophrenic" when rehearsing for the role of Rizzo)

• "I kept thinking I would say the wrong lines. I've been stuck in a '50s timewarp since I was 18. My first car was a '57 Ford Fairlane. I always knew I'd do the show Grease!, I just didn't know it would be a year-and-a-half chunk of my life."

(about playing Eponine in "Les Miserables," then playing in "Grease")

• "As far as downers go, that's the biggest-- you're shedding tears every 10 minutes. Grease! is the top of the up list, so I've had some extremes."

(about the people she's around)

• "You run into so many cynics in the music business. Theatre is a way of being around 35 people every day who choose performing for the love of it. I crave that. This is like my way of staying sane and happy."

(about music being a part of her life as a child)

• "Music was my life as a kid. If there was a sleepover party I wanted to go to, I'd try. But if it was between that and an audition I'd choose the audition."

(on becoming a megastar; focusing on the music and being unaware of the hoopla)

• "I'd say, 'Mom, let's go to the mall,' and she'd say, 'You can't because people will recognize you.' I was in denial."
• "I'm very lucky that I escaped with my sanity and that's all to do with my family."

(about concentrating on a current project)

• "Because of my conditioning from when I was younger and so disciplined, I block everything out of my life and concentrate on the show or the record or whatever. Somewhere, about two or three weeks into it, I go, 'I'm going to go insane if all I see is everybody on stage and then go back to my hotel room. Sometimes you think by resting your voice you're doing yourself a service, whereas what you're doing is stressing all by yourself, which is terrible."

(talking about the TV pilot)

• "For the TV pilot, I want to do something quirky--I've got a very strong business side and then I can be a total goofball and a klutz."

From the Los Angeles Daily News (January 22, 1996):

• "I love doing Rizzo because everyone outwardly associates me with Sandy. It's fun to surprise people. Even my family members who have come to see it have been quite surprised."
• "I look at the girl playing Sandy and I go, 'Oh, my God, I know where you're at in your life because I was there five years ago."
• "I've kind of graduated from playing Sandy from that standpoint. Sandy spends the whole show trying to prove that she's worthy of those other girls' approval, and I feel like I'm more of a leader of a gang coming into this show. It feels right that I'm not bouncing around and trying so hard. I can take a stronger stance even in my body language."
• "I've been in school and people think that they know what was going on when I was on the road, let's say. And they have no idea, the levels of discipline it takes. You just kind of want to go, 'Look, leave me alone. You guys don't understand.'"
• "Like Sandy, I've always been very outgoing, very friendly. People assume that means you're wimpy; they assume that means you can't put on a little black dress and surprise people, which is kind of what she does at teh end. So I think I've got bits and pieces of both in me."
• "It's really interesting, because while all that stuff was going on, I was as aware as I could possibly have been and as grounded as I could have been. But now, I have this whole different perspective of that time in my life."
• "It seems like that was such a whirlwind, I was lucky to have saved my sanity. I feel I have, which is, to me, probably my biggest accomplishment. People will think, 'Oh, that record sold 3 million copies, what an accomplishment.' But my accomplishment was more on the personal end of things."
• "I go, 'Oh, my God, I thought I was singing like Barbra Streisand and I sounded like a munchkin.' I also kind of say, 'Well, that sounds like a 16-year-old made that record.' Period. End of story."
• "Even though the work is play, you have to have friendships, and I used to put those on hold a lot of times. This time of my life is more about growing up, and starting to find a balance because I want to have a family someday. I hope to juggle that and a career."
• "There's something to be said for having a life. As a songwriter, you need life experiences to write about. I feel like I've just begun to accumulate that. I'm looking forward to seeing how that affects my writing in the future."

From the UCLA Daily Bruin (January 26, 1996):

• "(Rizzo is) a more colorful character than Sandy. Sandy was more about controlled energy and with Rizzo you can let loose like you do in a concert. She's a sassy, troubled high school girl who needs to get attention in all the wrong ways and doesn't quite know where to focus her energy. Although I wasn't a mischievous high school student, I did have a lot of that kind of energy and so I can relate to it on that level."
• "You can be a comedian, or a model/actress or singer/actress, and come at this role from so many different angles and put so many different elements into it. Anyone can take this role and make it their own."
• "People who were living in the '50s want to relive it, people who grew up with the movie and the musical want to relive it, and their kids rent that darn movie all the time and can relate to the energy. Everyone knew the characters. Everyone had those characters in their school."

(about how having fame at the age of 16 caused adjustments to her daily life)

• "I had been doing so much theater as a child that I was familiar with the performing part of it, I was familiar with the discipline," Gibson says. "I was not familiar with the fame part of it. I was kind of in denial that I would get recognized in the street. I'd think, 'Oh, I can go Christmas shopping in the mall,' and then get mobbed. I was trying desperately to have a normal life and I think I kept it as normal as I could under the circumstances."

(about the kind of music Deborah likes)

• "I personally love a good melody, but I can relate to artists that focus more on the groove or more on attitude if it's coming from the heart. For me, that doesn't seem to work because that's not really part of my roots, but I can be more open-minded overall."

(about looking back at the earlier part of her career)

• "I look back on it as a really fun, crazy time. It's kind of funny to have all your awkward moments documented on video, but it'll be something to show the grandkids. I'm so glad I started when I did. It's really fun to look back on that stuff and it all led me to the place I'm at now, and I feel personally and professionally, I'm exactly where I want to be."

From Deborah's America On-Line chat on March 27, 1996:

• "I think that the more negative angst-ridden music stems from someplace very real and it is the real-life situation's influence on music that I worry about more than the music's influence on a child's life. If a child has a great upbringing, they won't be easily swayed by pop-culture. But it is also the responsibility of performers to be aware that some children may use their favorie musician as their role-model."
• "I will continue doing melodic ballads and fun up-beats, but I think that there is another element in my writing that has developed lately. You'll have to wait and see what it is."
• "I always felt like a creator and communicator and music was always a natural outlet for me. It's hard to explain in words the way music makes me feel connected to so many people. I mean, music has us all staring at a small screen right now."
• "Competition doesn't come into play for me in this industry anymore. It is simply about expressing myself."
• "I have heard from many a radio program director that my music is 'Too Musical.' So I will call my music 'Musical Music.'"
• "I continue to do my thing with the same energy and enthusiasm I have always done it with. Two weeks ago I finished a national tour of Grease, so for me, it feels the same and I don't notice how bright the spotlight is and I never have."

(about signing autographs)

• "I do it happily so long as someone doesn't come up to me when I have a piece of lettuce hanging out of my mouth."

(about working with the Circle Jerks)

• "The guy who mixed my album produced their album and they asked him if I'd sing backup vocals on 'I Want To Destroy You,' and from the title, it sounded like it was right up my alley!"

(about trying to shake the Tiffany/mall type image)

• "Over time people's perceptions will change but it will be an uphill battle, like it always has been."

(about her age)

• "Debbie looks great for 42 doesn't she? No No No......I'm 25."

(the most rewarding thing of Debbie's career)

• "Well, of course, there's the personal fulfillment and realization of dreams. But even more than that music heals people and success gives people like me the power to help people less fortunate through charity work. Also, I love people and I get to meet TONS of 'em!!!"

(Deborah's closing statement)

• "Now it's time to say goodbye to all my Fam-I-LY MIC see you real soon! KEY Why? Because we love you!! Thanks, guys this has been a BLAST!!!!!!"

From Detour (April 1996):

Why the big emphasis on love songs on this new album?

• "It seems that nine out of ten songs that I write are ballads, in general. So I just really decided to let that show. I know as a listener, I miss melodies. There are a few bands right now that have really great melodies, but a lot of the stuff is more about a groove or an attitude."

Do you tell people when you write songs about them?

• A lot of times I do. People are usually flattered. Some people go on an ego trip about it."

They're like, "Why isn't my song a single?"

• "Oh, please, I get that all the time. 'When's my song going to be a hit?' I've got news for you, pal, it's not even being released."

Where's the oddest place you've ever heard one of your songs?

• "When I was still in high school, I heard the Muzak version of 'Shake Your Love' at the mall."

How did you end up singing with the Circle Jerks?

• "The guy who mixed my album produced their album, and they were like, 'Maybe she'll stop by and sing something with us," so I just went in and did it, and did it, and then they wanted me to sing live with them, and Rolling Stone did something about it, and I was like, 'God, you can't get this kind of publicity when you're trying to.'"

What was the song?

• "'I Want To Destroy You.'"

That's right up your alley.

• "Totally up my alley, but you know, I can let my hair down and rock out with the best of them. And then I stage dove at CBGBs in New York. It's like you're floating on a sea of hands. A lot of Mohawks and piercings."

Where did you end up?

• "They just put me back on stage. They were really nice. They didn't let me down."

Were you on your stomach or on your back?

• "I think I should have been on my back. But, you know, I didn't know. I just dove head first."

Demographically, who do you think your fans are these days?

• "Mainly people between like 20 and 30 who are looking for an alternative to alternative; a lot of college people who aren't really the clubby hipster type. It's people like myself, I think."

Are there any people that you were surprised to find out are fans of yours?

• "Well, when I first met Elton John, he was up on every aspect of my career. He knew how I started and where my song was on the chart at the time. I was shocked. He invited me up to play with him and Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. I did 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' and Elton was like, 'I only have one extra keyboard, so do you mind playing on mine with me?' Do I mind? Hello!"

When I was in Japan a few years ago, I saw a clothing store named after you.

• "Yeah, I had one. We've since closed it. What happened was this team of backers and designers literally came to my house in Long Island and looked in my closet and imitated what they saw. And I just thought, This is so funny. I'm a girl from Long Island who shops at the mall. They're going to imitate THIS?"

You also endorsed a perfume for Revlon called "Electric Youth." Did you actually wear it?

• "Not really. I didn't go THAT far."

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have of you?

• "I used to hear the phrases 'Teen Queen' and 'Pop Princess,' and it's as if you live in this sheltered world and you get driven around from place to place. I think people had this image that I don't live in the real world, and that's not the case."

What's the oddest thing you've ever read about yourself?

• "That I was chasing Vanilla Ice. Ice was never my type."

Have you ever met Tiffany?

• "Oh, yeah. We met on one of the very first TV shows we did, 'Top of the Pops.' Tiffany was really nice. I just always felt like she was unhappy. I don't really know her that well, but I felt like she was surrounded by the wrong people. At that age, you don't want to be surrounded by the wrong people."

Do you get frustrated trying to figure out where you fit in today's music scene?

• "I don't get too frustrated because I'm not a bitter person, and I like a lot of what's out there. It's just not what I do. I don't sit home and watch MTV and go, 'Arrgh, why aren't I on there?' But I do kind of say, 'Well, it is a shame that they won't give music like my music a chance at this point in time,' because I think they should. I know that they're not awaiting me with open arms at the moment because my name's not Hootie. There is this connotation that my name has. There are people that assumed that someone had handed me all this and I was going to live it up for a while, but I've been into music since I was two, and I'll be in it forever, in some way, shape, or form."

Is your record company committed to doing another record?

• "Yeah. I really want to spend this summer demo-ing. I've been writing a ton since I've been out on the road. I also want to do a Broadway album some time next year."

Is it true that you're developing a sitcom pilot with Warner Brothers?

• "Yes. We're still firming things up this week. There are like five different ideas, a couple of which have singing involved, but I think it's everyone's consensus that it would be silly to kind of burst into song every week."

You're currently playing Rizzo in the touring company of Grease. Do people react differently to you as a brunette?

• "With blonde, you get 'cute' and 'pretty.' With the short dark wig, it's 'sassy' and 'sophisticated,' and you're a little more intimidating. People are much more sexual when I'm Rizzo, even backstage."

Do you smoke as Rizzo?

• "The funny part is, I just won't smoke. I'm often seen with a cigarette, but it's just never in my mouth."

Is being in Grease helping your CD?

• "Totally. I think I've always had that perception around me. I mean, people still come up to me and go, (whispers) 'I have your albums,' like they can't admit it. So even if they genuinely want to see me, it says 'Grease' on the front of the building, it doesn't say Debbie Gibson, and they can come and check it out."

What's your biggest laugh line in the show?

• "Probably my line about the swimming pool, where I say, 'Oh yeah, really fun, right until you hit a warm spot.'

Peeing-in-the-pool humor always works.

• "It really does. They keep telling me to change it back to the original 'If you like swimming in Clorox' line. I make sure that I do the Clorox line when the writer or the director is there, and then I do the other line every other night. See, I have a little mischief in me."

From Entertainment Tonight (June 6, 1996):

• "People just expect me to be this one thing. They don't realize that in theater you can be anything and that's the great thing about it."

From People magazine (June 17, 1996):

• "When you start young, people find it hard to let you grow up and change. It takes a long time before you're known as an adult."
• "Broadway was my first dream. I love the challenge and the tradition."
• "If I've one major struggle, it's learning to relax. I really have a hard time doing nothing."
• "People have the perception that I resorted to Broadway. Come on. Resorted to Broadway!"

From a letter printed in DGIF 8.2:

• "Wow! Whatta convention! I'm still recovering from what I consider to be one of my favorite days ever! Again, thanx to everyone at G.M.I. for digging in and working so hard, and to all of you for your positive energy and cooperation in helping the day go smoothly. Well, basically, I've been busy sifting through album material and coaching for Funny Girl. I feel like an infant, even though I did a two hr. plus concert for you guys, hearing new material always seems to mean learning new ways of doing things. It's intense and worth it! Have you all been watching the Olympics? It's funny to me to hear all these young girls being asked all the same questions I used to get. "Have you missed your childhood?" etc... I look at the determined look on these girls faces, especially the gymnasts, and think "Ain't no one gonna stop these gals from going for it!" Good English - eh? (ha, ha) Anyway, my 26 th birthday is on it's way... and you know what that means.... A decade of Deb! Woah, do I feel old! (Do I say that every birthday?) Again, thanx so much for making the convention so special! Let's do it again!"

From the Seattle Times (August 6, 1996):

• "I've been having trouble with major record labels, so I'm making the album myself and it'll be sold out front of the theaters where 'Funny Girl' is playing, and then I expect to make a distribution deal."
• "I've never liked 'Debbie,' but I'll be billed as 'Debbie' for the tour. I'm just making a slow transition to 'Deborah'."

(about being in a revival of Funny Girl)

• "It's the same thing with any revival. There's always somebody who came first. But you do the best job you can and you don't worry about whether you're imitating someone else. The last thing I want to do is play Streisand; she's a hero of mine."

(when asked about Funny Girl making it to Broadway)

• "That's (the producers') intention. But I've always believed that nothing comes until it comes."

From NBC Weekend Today (September 15, 1996):

• "Over the summer I recorded a new album, and we actually have our own label. It's my own family-run label, because it's such a personal thing, music. And sometimes you feel like you get lost in the shuffle if you don't do it yourself. So I have a new label called Espiritu Records, and my album is just going to be called 'Deborah' because it's always been my name; it's what I've prefered people to call me."

(about Funny Girl)

• "Well, I'm gonna be playing Fanny Brice. I'm gonna be on the road for nine months, and it's the first tour in over thirty years."
• "It's a lot of cities, but you know what, concert tours, you're in a different city every night, and this, at least we're in some places between a week and four weeks, so..."

(about Funny Girl going to Broadway)

• "It's the Pre-Broadway tour. Hopefully in about a year."

(about a clip of Deborah rehearsing for Funny Girl)

• "I am having a lot of fun. I was just critiquing, you know, because we've only been rehearsing for like two weeks, and we open in a week-and-a-half, so... Oh, no, in two-and-a-half weeks, sorry. Um, so I was sitting there going, 'Oh, could do that differently; that better'."

(about comparing Deborah to Barbra Streisand)

• "Well, I went and I did a lot of research on Fanny Brice, and Fanny Brice is not Barbra Streisand, and I really wanna just concentrate on portraying Fanny Brice. And Barbara Streisand obviously is one-of-a-kind. You know, she is so unique in the entertainment world, and I have my own unique qualities to bring to it, so I don't really think about comparisons. When I'm working, I just concentrate on what I'm doing."

(about other roles Deborah has done in theatre)

• "I played Eponine, which was a big thrill. It was something I had originally auditioned for when I was about fourteen before I ever started recording, so it was a long-time dream. And I played Sandy in London in the revival of Grease, and I also played Rizzo over here on tour."

(about playing Rizzo)

• "Yeah, it was a blast, especially to kind of play opposite what people think of me as, so it was a lot of fun."

(about "Debbie" vs. "Deborah")

• "My friends and family have always called me 'Deborah', and I went with 'Debbie' initially just because it kind of suited what I was doing. It sounds like a young girl's name. Not that I'm over the hill, but... This album is very personal, and I think it shows growth. And I want to make that statement in the title."

(about the name "Espiritu")

• "Spirit. You know, I mean it's just, um, I'm all about spirit. I think you can do anything if you have spirit; if you have determination."

From Deborah's Prodigy chat on September 17, 1996:

(asked about how many copies of the "Lost In Your Eyes" single were sold)

• "I am not exactly sure, I think it went platinum, and I'm not sure what the numbers are for a platinum single. Thanks for the compliment!"

(about how Deborah's career started)

• "I started in community theater and local talent shows. When I started writing songs I went to local studios. Then I realized I had ideas of my own and I set up my own studio. I released a single to the clubs and after a year of promoting "Only in My Dreams", things started to take off."

(asked about the name "Espiritu")

• "Basically, I wanted to sum up what I was all about and I think that Spirit sums it up because I think there are alot of people who have talent, but I think you have to be enthusiastic about it and do it with heart and I think that's what spirit is. For people who don't know, that's the name of my independant label. It's the label my new album is on."

(about how long Deborah intends to play Fanny Brice)

• "I have to admit, even though it is very gruelling doing eight shows a week, I feel I am making this role my own and I would have a hard time turning this role over to anyone else! A normal broadway contract is nine months, but I would love to do it for much longer!"

(asked if there will be a 1997 D.G.I.F. convention)

• "The office is still recovering from the '96 convention! But I'd love to."

(about Deborah's appearance and song on "Weddings of a Lifetime")

• "It was 'For Better or Worse', and it was kind of crazy, performing to somebody elses family. To have the mayor present as well! But the hosts, Catherine Hickland and Michael Lee Knight [sic] are actually people who I have met before, so at least I knew somebody! : ) The couple who were married came up to me after the day was done and said they realized now what public life was like. They kind of had a mini breakdown. It made me realize that I am not crazy when sometimes I do the same."

(about when Deborah will tour for the next album)

• "I'm not sure, I'm going on the road with Funny Girl for nine months. It's supposed to go to broadway for a year, so I'll be tied up for a while. Happily tied up. After that, I'd love to do another full on tour, pull out all the stops."

(how Deborah feels about taking on the role of Fanny Brice)

• "It feels amazing, in fact, just being asked that question gave me goose bumps. Every day when I go into rehearsal I am reminded of the history as we are dealing with the agents of deceased writers and Bob Merrill (lyricist). I feel that it is one of the best musicals there is, so I am absolutely thrilled."

(asked if Deborah was religious)

• "I was raised Catholic going to church every Sunday. I believe in some of what I learned. I also have developed philosophies of my own. I would say that more than religious, I am spiritual."

(asked if Deborah sees any changes in her musical direction)

• "When you don't have business people looking over your shoulder, you are able to be more spontaneous and I feel a freshness and an energy with a new album. And oddly enough, the direction of the new album is along the lines of what the major labels were after me to do for years and I kept trying to explain to them that you have to allow yourself to progress naturally or else it seems forced and people pick up on that."

(asked if Deborah will ever make a new album)

• "I'm listening to mixes of the new album as we speak! It will be out in November and is called 'Deborah'."

(asked Deborah what touring was like)

• "Touring is gruelling, it's exciting, it's a great feeling to be able to perform in cities that don't have as much of a choice of shows as we do here in New York. The hardest part about touring is staying healthy through weather changes, time changes...etc. I guess there is something about it I love because I keep going out on the road."

(asked Deborah about her opinion of the current music scene)

• "I prefer the more musical alternative music, like the Smashing Pumpkins and Alanis. There is some rap that I like, like the more storytelling kind, and more entertaining than negative. I feel the music business has, over the past ten years, gotten to be less about the music and more about politics and image which is very disheartening to me."

(asked Deborah if she enjoyed playing Sandy or Rizzo more)

• "I enjoyed them equally as much in the sense that they both came at the right time in my life. Looking back I guess I would have to say it was more fun to play the opposite of what people perceive me to be, which was playing Rizzo."

(asked Deborah if she has any other "dream roles")

• "Gypsy Rose Lee, Ava Perrone, Maria Von Trapp and Peter Pan. I am also working writing my own musical based on a film script called Skirts. That is probably my ultimate dream, to see something I have composed on Broadway. The other day while I was in my costume fitting for Funny Girl, I saw glimpses of Norma Desmond in trying on Fanny Brice's more divaesque costumes... but I could wait another thirty years for that. : )"

(about achieving chart success as an adolescent vs. as an adult)

• "Oddly enough, it is easier for me to make good music now, but harder to achieve chart success. I think as you get older you stop jumping through hoops for publicity purposes and you gain more integrity which can sometimes work against you publicly, but personally it is the only way I live."

(asked Deborah if she was bothered by fans coming up to her)

• "No, in fact, the other night, I was out in the village with my boyfriend, and we have very limited time together at the moment because I am going on tour. Someone who had been at the convention came up and asked if they could take a picture, which was fine with me because she was very polite and not intrusive and respected my private life. However, there was one time where someone followed me into a restroom and stuck a piece of paper under the stall with a pen. That definitely was not cool."

(about the power of music)

• "Wow, the power of music! It never ceases to amaze me. I have heard some very personal stories about how a song that may seem ridiculous or sappy to one person affects somebody's life in a profound way."

(asked if Deborah went to college)

• "No, I didn't. I definitely got a hands on education. I think college is great for some professions, but as far as performing goes, learning by doing is the best way."

(asked Deborah about what's important in today's entertainment world)

• "For some strange reason, packaging has become more important, which to me, is just awful. But I have met enough people who can see through all that to make what I do so worthwhile."

(asked Deborah what her biggest inspiration is for writing songs)

• "It varies from song to song. Sometimes it stems from a deeply personal place, like a song I am listening to right now, off the upcoming album called 'I Will Let You Go'. Other times I base a song around a catch phrase or general theme. Other times my life is so boring I have to make stuff up!"

(about why Deborah no longer wants to go by "Debbie")

• "I've actually always referred to myself as Deborah but went with Debbie because people seemed to be uncomfortable calling such a young girl such a formal name. Now I am sick of it and want people to call me by my real name."

(asked about Deborah's views on abortion)

• "Personally, I don't think I could ever have one. However, there have been people close to me who have been in situations that unfortunately led to the decision to have an abortion and I fully supported it because of their circumstances. As I said, I would have a hard time with it, but I definitely believe in choice."

(asked Deborah if it was difficult to separate the two images of her)

• "I certainly have no problem with it because I have lived with myself through the years. But I do realize other people's difficulty. It's like my cousin Albert who is 19 and I still think of him as being 10. But I think that through musical progression and through staying in the public eye, people become familiar with your changes and growths."

(about what artists Deborah draws inspiration from)

• "Always Billy Joel and Elton John. In the theatrical world, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Patty Lupone. Currently in my CD player is Luis Miguel, Counting Crows and the soundtrack from Rent. I like good music in general, no matter what the style."

(Deborah's closing remarks)

• "Thank you all, I'm sorry I didn't get to answer every question, but it is time to put the vocal chords to bed. No, that is not me typing, I'm speaking to a typist! I'm looking forward to seeing you guys when I hit the road next week with Funny Girl. Good Night!"

From Playbill Online (September 19, 1996):

(asked how it feels to follow in Barbra Streisand's footsteps)

• "When you have a ten-hour rehearsal day, you're just not thinking about that. I love and admire Barbra Streisand enormously, but I'm not intimidated. I know I'm right for this role."

(asked about stage fright)

• "I do vocal exercises and lots of breathing. You can't let it affect you, I mean, you might have had a horrible breakup, a relative passes away, you still have to come onstage and make people happy and laugh."

(asked about Funny Girl's moral)

• "You're stronger than you think you are. Especially if you use your strength in a positive way. Fanny uses her dramatic flair to get what she wants -- even if it isn't always what's best for her."

(asked if the character of Fanny Brice made the right choices)

• "Fanny probably should have married Eddie, but there are things you can't explain. And she's in love."

(about how singing on stage isn't too different from recording pop records)

• "The hard part is going from a beautiful ballad and then having to do a big ensemble number, and then back again."

(about whether or not Fanny's Jewishness presented a problem)

• "I'm Italian. We eat a lot and talk with our hands."

From USA Today (September 30, 1996):

• "I'd heard about a possible revival about four years ago, and the day I auditioned (for the show's composer, Jule Styne), I broke out in hives. I don't think I was fully ready."
• "Being a concert artist has helped me. Brice was a solo artist, growing up on the road and dealing with personal hardships and 10 minutes later facing an audience."
• "In the midst of eight shows a week I can't do a concert, but I'll be doing all the morning shows (for nine months), and it takes that long to build up awareness of an album."

(about how Deborah was criticized for her looks when she was younger)

• "But when I was a kid and going to commercial auditions and such, they'd say, 'You've got a lisp and crooked nose. Get those fixed.' I'm not a beauty queen. I don't have a dancer's body. I've always felt quirkier. Of course, Fanny felt downright ugly."

From the Beaver County Times (September 30, 1996):

• "My chief concern was making a connection with Fanny when she was older and suffering because of another divorce in a string of unsuccessful marriages. I've had some boy-girl breakups, but nothing like hers. I've never been married. I have no children. I had to turn to friends who were willing to tell me their experiences so that I could try to make an inner connection with the pain."
• "My research helped to make Fanny real to me and then I began to make the role my own. I keep in mind that even though the musical depicts her life, it's a musical, not 'This is Your Life.' "

(about watching the movie Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand)

• "I watched the movie four times. She is fabulous, but I knew I had to create my own characterization, not to try to copy her."

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (October 1, 1996):

• "Barbara Streisand doesn't cross my mind a lot when I'm in rehearsal concentrating on what I'm doing. I mean, I knew the production was gonna happen. Someone was gonna be up there playing Fanny Brice and I would have absolutely kicked myself if it wasn't me, 'cause I've wanted to do it forever. It's great that for a lot of new people, I can be Fanny."
• "I made up my mind that I didn't want to do a Barbra Streisand impersonation, because that's obviously only one of her. And she's pretty amazing."
• "One minute you're in tears, and the next minute you're on stage making people laugh. That, I think, is the part I understand most of all."
• "I had my Equity card before I had my first record deal. As a kid, I was 'Annie'-obsessed. I wanted to be Annie in the worst way. In fact, if I have one regret in life, it's that I'm too old to play Annie."

(about researching for her role as Fanny Brice)

• "I spent many hours at the Museum of Television and Radio pulling up clips of sketches."

(about the parallel between Deborah Gibson and Fanny Brice)

• "She used to worm her way into auditions, which I would do all the time. It would come to the 10 finalists for a role and I'd say to my mom, 'They must have made a mistake. I'm just gonna go sneak into the group.' I always felt like if I had the chance for them to really seriously listen to me, I could do it."

(about when Deborah for Jule Styne for Funny Girl)

• "That was about four years ago. I never got nervous. My adrenaline always goes haywire, but I never get scared. Well, that would be the one and only day in my whole life I broke out in hives. I was so aware of the fact I was in the presence of a legend. I had done 'Gypsy' several times as a kid, and grew up listening to the music."

(about Deborah's involvement in theatre from ages 5 to 15)

• "I'd be doing a children's show during the day and then a college production at night."

(about putting theatre on hold for a recording career)

• "It was heartbreaking to me, to have to put it on hold. So when the opportunity came up later to do 'Les Miz,' I thought, 'Well great, I'm finally going to get to strike a balance between the two'."

(about the success of Deborah's early recording career)

• "For the amount of whirlwind activity I had just been through to try and get those songs there, I felt like I was supposed to be happening at that point."

(about how the kids at school reacted to Deborah's success)

• "My friends, who knew how hard I'd been working on it, understood completely. They were like, 'OK, that's supposed to be happening, because she gave up going to this football game and this party.' They knew I was demo-ing every night after school."

(about the kids who resented Deborah's success)

• "Kids would say, 'You think you're so great.' And in my head, I'm thinking I didn't do anything to them, I didn't say anything to them that would have led them to believe that."

(about working with the Circle Jerks on "I Wanna Destroy You")

• "Niko Bolas, who mixed my album, was producing their album and they were like, 'We think she's cool. Do you think she would ever come and sing with us?' So I just thought it would be a hoot."

(about being called Deborah)

• "It's funny, because I always preferred to be called Deborah and other people had a very difficult time calling such a young girl what they considered to be such a formal name. So I kind of went with it, thinking we'll make everyone else feel comfortable. But I'm really sick of it now. My name is Deborah, my friends and family have always called me Deborah."

(about being labeled as a "Renaissance Teen")

• "That's cool. That's all a part of my life and what I've done. It's not like I'm putting something terrible behind me."

(what Deborah thinks about when she hears her older recordings)

• "I can't say that I listen to them too often. But when I do happen to hear them, I kind of marvel at how munchkin-y my voice sounded at the time. But it sounds like what was going on in Top 40 at the time. The '80s music scene was very cool because you could be as cheesy as you wanted to be, and I am cheesy. I admit it."

Deborah's message on the inside of the "Sneak Preview" CD:

• "The four songs on this sampler are from the forthcoming album entitled 'Deborah.' This title is a reflection of how I feel my life as a performer and my personal life truly come together through this music. As much as major label success initially was a big part of what I did, I've always preferred a 'grass-roots' approach to promoting albums. My dad put countless amounts of flyers in co-workers mailboxes to get 'Only In My Dreams' off the ground in 1986. And, my family run management company headed by my mother -- Diane, has truly been the foundation of what I've done for the past ten years. When nobody else 'got it,' Gibson Productions was tireless when it came to getting my music heard. Now it is time for that support to be officially recognized and I proudly show my belief in my 'team' by releasing this next album on Espiritu Records, an extension of Gibson productions. Music is a truly personal thing. It involves putting everything you are on the line. But its healing powers are one of the greatest miracles on earth. I hope you enjoy the songs featured. Three are originals, and 'Don't Rain On My Parade' was of course written by Bob Merrill and the late, great Jule Styne--lyricists and composers of FUNNY GIRL. I embark on this, my fourth professional theatre experience (and my 'dream role' I might add!!), and my sixth album with wide-eyed enthusiasm and much gratitude for the opportunity to be able to share this piece of my soul with all of you..."

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch (October 6, 1996):

• ''This is my dream role because there are so many similarities between Fanny Brice and myself. We both started quite young. She used to do shows in her alley on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I used to do shows in my back yard on Long Island. She used to talk her way into talent shows and auditions. I would do the same. I absolutely hope my personal life doesn't suffer the way hers did. Up to now, my choices in men have been better."
• ''I just have a lot of creative energy I haven't used. I have a fiery side. I relate to every word in that 'Funny Girl' song, 'Don't Rain on My Parade.' ''

(about how much Deborah wanted to be in Funny Girl)

• ''I would have done this show anywhere for any amount of money.''

(if Deborah had to choose between theater and recording)

• ''I can't answer that because I don't have to choose. One keeps me sane enough to do the other. I'm a creative person. I have to get that creativity out of my system by writing and producing and recording, but I love the family feeling of being part of a cast. I don't love living in hotels, but I do love the idea of bringing theater to the people.''

(how often she thinks of Barbra Streisand when playing Fanny)

• ''The only time I ever think of Barbra Streisand is when people ask me. My philosophy is that somebody has to bring 'Funny Girl' to a '90s audience, so why not me? I'm making musical and acting choices based on my own experience of what I know to be true in show business. I would never do a Barbra Streisand riff if it didn't come from somewhere deep in me."

(about Funny Girl going to Broadway)

• ''Broadway is a hope. The only indication this might go to Broadway is that they have a cut-off point on the tour. I'm signed at the moment for nine months with the option of doing this on Broadway.''

(about Deborah's voice)

• ''I'm constantly learning to sing in new ways for every project I do. It was more of a stretch to take the theatrical sound out of my voice to record. I'm a natural belter.''

(about Skirts)

• ''I'm composing my own musical, and I've already done basic arrangements and preliminary recordings of 10 songs. It's called 'Skirts,' and it takes place at the New York World's Fair in 1964. It's a combination of 'Moonstruck' and 'West Side Story.' It involves family life and racial tensions, and music and dance are key elements. Oddly enough I'd be a good choice for the lead role, a teen-aged girl who ends up being a motivating force through difficult circumstances in many people's lives. We have producers interested in this, and I'm waiting for the book writers."

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