DATE: Monday, October 20, 1997              TAG: 9710180054

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

PATINKIN'S TURN FROM ACTING TO SINGING HAS WORKED OUT

WHETHER YOU DON'T know the song or have heard it 100 times, when Mandy Patinkin sings about going over the rainbow, you believe he could actually go there.

He brings that much meaning to the lyrics.

``It's the lyrics, not the music, that is the thing,'' Patinkin said from New York as he prepared for Tuesday's concert at Chrysler Hall. ``It's just that I see a song in terms of a play. It has a structure - a beginning, ending and middle.''

His performance won't be his first in Hampton Roads. Six years ago, he appeared at Portsmouth's Willett Hall in a show called ``Dress Casual.'' It was clear then that Patinkin was not afraid to take risks. It was also clear that he had a cult following in the making.

In the years since, that is what has happened. His shows usually sell out; hordes of fans drove down from Washington for his Portsmouth concert.

But what is it with him? After winning an Emmy, he walked out on a hit TV series ``Chicago Hope.'' He turns down movie offers. He's giving a one-man show in Norfolk.

Does he have something against money?

``Which side of the family are you from?'' Patinkin laughed. ``You sound just like the family. I only think of money when I need it, and right now I'm making enough for my wife and two sons.

``I miss the people on `Chicago Hope,' but the time came when I had to make the decision if I was going to be with my family. I couldn't go on with a schedule of a marching army and expect to have these precious years with the family. You can make a good living on Broadway. The only place you can't make a living is off-Broadway and regional theater. And I don't need the crazy money. That's what I call the huge salaries - crazy money.''

In his show, he traditionally wears baggy trousers, a T-shirt and running shoes. In 1991, he sang ``When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along,'' ``Rockabye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody,'' ``Brother Can You Spare a Dime?'' and ``A Tisket a Tasket'' - familiar songs from yesteryear given a fresh, unique drama.

Patinkin has no real idea what he'll sing Tuesday.

``We plan it as we go along. We have a rehearsed repertoire, of course, but I reserve the right to make mistakes,'' he said. ``The show is really like a rehearsal. The rehearsal is the best part of any show - especially a Broadway show. I've always wished the audience could have been there for the rehearsal. Now, they can.

``My pianist, Paul Ford, and I choose the songs. He has an amazing knowledge of Broadway songs, and all songs, but he can't sing at all. He sings them for me and, if I still like them, I know they're good.''

Patinkin has had a unique career that has touched every base. He won a Tony for playing Che Guevara in ``Evita'' and was nominated again for ``Sunday in the Park With George.'' In Hollywood, he did ``Yentl'' with Barbra Streisand, ``Ragtime,'' ``The Princess Bride'' and ``Dick Tracy.'' His albums include ``Mandy Patinkin,'' ``Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Dress Casual,'' ``Experiment,'' ``Oscar and Steve'' and an upcoming album of Yiddish songs.

His next Broadway project is a musical version of Rudyard Kipling's ``Captains Courageous.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Graphic

IF YOU GO

[For complete graphic, please see microfilm] KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY SINGER

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