By Jackie Demaline
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati and Broadway's Pam Myers would love to do a show about "Body and Soul" singer Libby Holman, the Cincinnati-born torch singer who had a life so big it's hard to believe she's a footnote.

Holman (born "Holzman") had a career that stretched from the Prohibition to civil rights eras and was packed with millions, murder, scandal and suicide. Along with her great pipes, she's credited with inventing the strapless evening dress.

"I always have to break a song over my back," Holman noted in a long ago interview. "I can't just sing a song; it has to be part of my marrow and bones and everything." Sounds like it could be a heavenly match for Myers.

If you knew Holman, who died in 1971, Myers would love to talk to you. Call me (513-768-8516) and I'll put you in touch.

Benefit promised: Cincinnati native son Richard Oberacker, whose long run last spring as music director for The Lion King helped inspire the formation of New Voice, promises the incipient theater troupe will hold another one-night benefit in spring, details to be announced.

Oberacker will leave the Lion King tour in mid-February to conduct the still to-be-named Cirque du Soleil show being built at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. "It's a major honor" to be working with composer Benoit Jutras, Oberacker says.

The new gig gives him two days off a week and a few large vacation blocks every year "so I'll have plenty of time to get back to Cincy to help with New Voice."

It's not true: If you've heard the rumor that the Rockettes and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular would be back in Cincinnati for 2004, let me scotch it right now.

"There was talk," says Broadway in Cincinnati rep Nancy Parrott, "but it didn't work out."

Star-ry twosomes at Covedale: The Glenway Avenue theater has booked a series of couples to star in Love Letters, a back-and-forth, lifelong correspondence about a should-have-been happily-ever-after.

The show runs Jan. 15-Feb. 1. Here's the line-up of featured players to date, subject to change: Jan. 15, Ellie Shepherd and Bill Hartnett; Jan. 16, Nancy James and Rob Reider; Jan. 17-18, Jen Dalton and Bob Herzog; Jan. 22, Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen;

Jan. 23, Spring Starr Pillow and Nick Allen; Jan. 24, Sunshine Cappelletti and Greg Procaccino; Jan. 25, to be announced; Jan. 29, Dayna Eubanks and Jim Scott; Jan. 30, Dayna Eubanks and Bob Brunner; Jan. 31, Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen; Feb. 1, to be announced.

Reservations and information: 241-6550.