‘Music’ to the Center’s ears

Lolita Harper

The Orange County Performing Arts Center will be alive with the

sounds of Academy Award winner Julie Andrews when she takes part in

an upcoming series of celebrity talks.

This season’s Up Close at the Center series starts at 8 p.m.

Monday at Segerstrom Hall with the three-time Tony Award nominee.

While the series has yet to pick up the steam expected by many

Center officials from years past, spokeswoman Angela Dickson said,

efforts have not been weakened to garner big-name speakers, such as

the legendary Andrews.

“We had Carl Reiner, who was great, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who

canceled, so a not-so-huge track record yet,” Dickson said. “But that

said, Julie Andrews will be wonderful.”

Andrews, a star of the stage, television, motion pictures and

recordings, is noted for her elegance, integrity and artistry,

Dickson said. She will be a welcome addition to the series and an

entertaining and insightful one at that.

She is coming to share a few of her favorite things, and no

spoonful of sugar will be needed to help her medicine go down.

In addition to Broadway and film roles such as “The Sound of

Music,” “Torn Curtain,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and Disney’s “Mary

Poppins,” Andrews recently toured with Christopher Plummer and

Charlotte Church in “A Royal Christmas.” She also just finished the

voice work on “Shrek 2” -- she plays the princess’ mom -- and is set

to co-star in the “Princess Diaries 2.”

Andrews has also tackled writing children’s books with her

daughter, Emma Walton. Her autobiography is scheduled to be released

in a few months, Dickson said.

The celebrity series is co-sponsored by Clear Channel

Entertainment.