Actress Valerie Bertinelli is best known for shows One Day at a Time in the 1970s/1980s and the Betty White sitcom Hot in Cleveland in the 2010s, plus her various Food Network shows from over the years.
But in the 1980s, in what looks like it was perhaps after One Day at a Time went off the air, Bertinelli starred in a rather famous play in Santa Barbara, California. On Wednesday, May 21, the actress posted a photo to Instagram of herself in a production of “Vanities” by playwright Jack Heifner.
“#waybackwednesday mid ’80s Stage production of ‘Vanities’ in Santa Barbara. Just a short run and a whole heck of a lot of fun,” wrote Bertinelli.
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A post shared by Valerie Bertinelli (@wolfiesmom)
Though it was a “short run,” according to Bertinelli, the playwright is very aware that she starred in it. In 2022, Heifner did an interview with Breaking Character where he talked about his play, which originally debuted in 1976, and how it’s still relevant today. In doing so, he managed to name-drop a lot of big stars who have starred in Vanities, including Bertinelli.
“The original cast was brilliant with Kathy Bates, Susan Merson and Jane Galloway. The Los Angeles cast opened with Sandy Duncan, Stockard Channing and Lucie Arnaz and they were dazzling,” said Heifner, adding, “Some of the other wonderful actresses to play the roles were Sally Field, Elizabeth Ashley, Priscilla Lopez, Kelly Bishop, Annie Potts, Cybil Shepherd, Tyne Daly, Barbara Sharma, Annette O’Toole, Valerie Bertinelli and almost every woman of that age at that time played it somewhere. It was the most produced play in the USA for several years.”
That is quite some good company that Bertinelli is in.
The play is about three women named Joanne, Kathy and Mary. The first act is about them in high school, the second is when they are in college and the third act is what has become of them after college. Honestly, we’re dying to know which part Bertinelli played and with whom she co-starred in the production.
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In the comments of Bertinelli’s Instagram post, her fans can’t believe how beautiful she looks in the photo.
“I grew up during that time and you are just as beautiful now as you were back then. Word 😎🤘🏼,” wrote one fan.
Another added, “Beautiful then and even more so now. Thank you for sharing.”
“Wow! You’re causing a memory tsunami!” wrote a third fan.
Another wrote, “I do remember, you were the ‘it’ girl back then. You wanna know something, you’re still that good looker today. My crush❤️❤️.”
