After making her mark as Jenny in a 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, Cyndi Lauper stole the show at the closing ceremonies of the Gay Games at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. But it would appear that she’s just getting started. With an autumn tour underway and plans to head back into the recording studio, Lauper is one busy diva. She was gracious enough to spare me a few minutes to answer some questions.

Gay & Lesbian Times: When I’ve interviewed you in the past, I’ve asked you about appearing in a Broadway show. In fact, in 2002, you talked about having wanted to do Annie Get Your Gun. Now that you have a Broadway show, The Threepenny Opera, under your belt, how do you feel?

Cyndi Lauper: I got one down! It was a different kind of experience. Scott [Elliott], the director, did not choose your typical Broadway people, although he did have Broadway people. It was Alan Cumming in the lead. Nellie McKay was Polly. I was Jenny. He had a lot of people famous for other things. But Alan is famous for Broadway and the movies. Most of it was nontraditional. The most traditional scene was the scene with me and Alan. But I think, still, it was incredible to do. To watch Jim Dale work every day – oh my god! He’s incredible!

GLT: Something else you can add to your resume is the TV commercial you directed for Hasbro’s game Trivial Pursuit: Totally ’80s Edition. Was that a fun experience for you and is it something you would do again?

CL: Well, yeah, of course! [Laughs] I love it! I love film, and when you hear the camera rolling it’s almost like a very peaceful experience. As an actor, when you step into a frame, it’s kind of extraordinary because you are putting a whole world on a piece of film. When you’re directing, you get to watch it happen. For me, the commercial was

supposed to be a comedy [laughs]. I like funny commercials. My favorite ones are the funny ones. I thought it would be incredible to have Charlotte Rae break dance. Lou Ferrigno was working on the Rubik’s Cube with his mental prowess. He’s fantastic; he’s so funny, Lou. All of the actors, like Philip Michael Thomas, are definitely an untapped reservoir. The camera just eats him [Thomas] up, and Charlene Tilton. Everybody had a little something. And Kelly LeBrock, who’s an extraordinarily bright and funny woman. They all were great. Roddy Piper was in it, and Julie Brown. I got to work with Darryl from Run DMC. If we were going hip-hop, I wanted it to be legit.

GLT: Speaking of television, is there any chance that you will be appearing on any upcoming TV shows, either in a comedic or dramatic role?

CL: I’d love to work on a TV show. Of course, my dream is to do that. Also, I don’t want to leave Broadway. I would like to do a Broadway show. I don’t want to just do that and then go away again. I’ve always wanted to do TV. I tried twice to do a more conventional type of show, but I’m not that kind of person. Still, there are a lot of old-fashioned things that I love about comedy that I would love to do. We’ll see. I was with William Morris [talent agency] a long time ago, and now I’m back. I’m excited with the agents that I have. They have a lot of energy. I’m excited to be able to work in many different areas. The opportunity to do Kurt Weil only comes along once in a great while.

GLT: You were very fortunate to have that opportunity.

CL: And Sondheim! Especially that Mrs. Lovett part [in Sweeney Todd]. I’m glad that Patti [LuPone] did it because she did all that other stuff. But I would love to do Mrs. Lovett. I think she’s an incredible character. And the music is fantastic.

GLT: Perhaps if there’s a movie version, you’re the person to go to.

CL: I know, I know. I’m trying.

GLT: Since we’re talking about music, is it true that your next album will be in a dance-music vein?

CL: Some of it will. But mostly, I think, songs are important. The dance and energetic stuff [too], yes. I think I’m going to start working with [producer] Rockwilder a bit. There are some European guys and a guy or two that I know in the states that I would like to do something with. But I don’t think I can have a complete dance album. That would drive me a little crazy. I’m not a great dancer, anyway. I love the clubs and I go there all the time. I love rhythm, but I would always be mixing rock in it. That’s what I do.

GLT: Right, those are your roots. As a mom, have you ever considered doing an album for children?

CL: I don’t know. Yeah, when we had to listen to Raffi over and over again. But then other people started doing stuff for children and I thought that was really great. No, I don’t really want to do a lot of stuff for children. My son is more into rockers. He looks like a little rocker.

GLT: You have some autumn tour dates lined up with Jill Sobule.

CL: On some of the West Coast dates, yes. I asked her because we’re friends. We started writing a song together and I want to finish it [laughs]. Listen, if we could be in a band together, I think that would be really good. The best way right now, at least if she does a few dates with me, I get to see her and we get to play music together. We’ll be able to write. That’s the exciting thing. It’s easy to play music with Jill.

GLT: She’s an absolute doll. Speaking of nice people, I interviewed Andy Bell earlier this year and he mentioned the “True Colors” tour. What can you tell me about it?

CL: We’re going to do that next summer, next year. By the time I could get out of the Threepenny, they were telling me July; it didn’t seem worth having a festival tour that would be the last tour of the summer. I wanted to do something with all of the gay Prides. We could go all over the country and have a blast. I just did P-town – Carnival in Provincetown. That was a riot…. It’s good to do these things in the right order [laughs], so you can actually get to celebrate with people.

Cyndi Lauper performs Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Pala Casino and at Viejas Casino on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 8:00 p.m. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for more information and to purchase tickets.