Bebe Neuwirth got caught with some “Funny Honey“ when she was barely a teen.
The Broadway star – who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in the 1996 revival of “Chicago” – recalled what it was like getting arrested for smoking pot when she was just 13 in a new interview with Page Six.
“I didn’t like getting in trouble, that was no fun,” she told us on the red carpet for the musical’s 25th anniversary on Wednesday. “I guess I did a lot of stuff when I was 13.”
Neuwirth, now 62, also reflected on starring in “Chicago,” first as Velma Kelly and later as Roxie Hart and “Mama” Morton in 2006 and 2014, respectively. She compared performing in the musical to brain surgery.
“It’s the degree of focus [that] is very, very extreme, but the whole experience is so joyful that whatever stamina of focus or physicality that it takes is really [challenging],” she recalled. “I was sort of unaware of it because it was such a brilliant show and it was such a beautiful experience.”
Despite her success on Broadway, the New Jersey-born star is seemingly still best known for her role as the deadpan Dr. Lilith Sternin on “Cheers” and “Frasier.” She told Page Six that she had no idea she was creating such an iconic character at the time.
“I was just doing a great part on a great show and having a great time,” she shared.
James Naughton and Joel Grey – who were part of the 1996 production of “Chicago” with Neuwirth – also came to the special event Wednesday night, which featured a speech by Mayor-elect Eric Adams and an energetic pre-performance by Brooklyn United Marching Band.
Other celebs in attendance included Andrew Rannells, Carrie Preston, Michael Emerson, and Christie Brinkley.
“Chicago” is now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.