ENTERTAINMENT stitutional issues!' He adds that his character "believes in ideals, as I do!' Macht is beginning to sound a lot like David Keeler. Does he confuse the two? "No, not really. My training has been in the classical theater. What ap- pealed to me so much was that David Keeler didn't run around being serious all the time!' Is David going to propose to his lady love? "Yes. I'm going to ask her to marry me," he confesses. "Barney (Rosenzweig, the show's producer) wants the millions of women over 40 to hear those words out of my mouth. And he also wants the audience to hear her refuse," he adds, "so that if you're single and don't have children — it's okay in this life!' Actress Sharon Gless, who por- trays Christine Cagney, finds Macht "sexy and talented;' and is one of his biggest supporters. Thanks to Gless and her manager, Monique James, Actor Stephen Macht is very close to the `Cagney and Lacey' character he portrays. Stephen Macht plays Sharon Gless' love interest on "Cagney and Lacey." Following The Script ILENE LEHRMAN Special to The Jewish News Kristine Cagney trudges into the precinct tired. She's had a frustrating, exhausting day as any- one who's been wat- ching the Cagney and Lacey episode can attest. The desk sergeant calls out to her, "David Keeler phoned;' and suddenly the pep and energy is back in her step as she glides to her desk, picks up the phone and dials a number. And, oh yes, she's got that Mona Lisa smile on her face. Who is the heartthrob that no- nonsense super detective Cagney drops her defenses for? He is por- trayed by Stephen Macht, 45, a sleek, sensual actor who was immediately attracted to the part because he's so C much like the character of David Keeler. For instance, Keeler is well educated, Macht was a tenured associate professor at Queens College, taught acting at Smith, went on to train in England at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, received his M.A. degree at Tufts, his Ph.D. degree in dramatic literature at Indiana University. At present, he teaches Aristotelian Story Structure as part of UCLA's faculty, where he's describ- ed as a stern but passionate and delightful instructor. Another parallel is that David Keeler is an ACLU attorney, Macht is a member of the ACLU. "I started out just doing research for the role, but got so involv- ed with the ACLU that I joined;' he offers. "I believe you need a thorn in your side to remind people about con- Macht will direct episodes of Cagney and Lacey very shortly. "They went to bat for me," he gratefully acknowl- edges. "They went to Barney and got me the directing assignment. I owe them both so much!' An executive at Universal in New York first spotted Macht in a 1975 Stratford, Ont., Shakespeare Festival. She notified then vice president of new talent for Universal in Hollywood, Ms. James, about the pro- mising performer. James, a powerful woman with an exceptionally keen eye for up and coming actors (she's responsible for guiding Gless' career), brought Macht to California in 1976. Along with him came his wife, Suzanne. The couple, married 23 years, are the parents of four children. Macht's first professional job was at the Boston Theater Club opposite Dustin Hoffman in End Game. Then came New York without great success, and he ended up teaching swimming at the Paris Swimming Pool where one of his students was Shelley Winters. Eventually, he began building his career on and off- Broadway. His first Broadway part was a few lines in Five Act Regina op- posite Claire Bloom and Eileen Atkins. One of his first television challenges was the ultra-controversial 1975 TV movie, The 10th Level, film- ed in New York and brought Macht to the attention of then CBS president, Fred Silverman. Silverman, always on the search for new talent, signed Macht to a "holding deal;' paying I GOING PLACES I WEEK OF May 13-19 COMEDY COMEDY CASTLE 2593 Woodward, Berkley, "Kozak," today and Saturday, Thom Sharp, Tuesday through May 14, admission. 542-9900. COMEDY CASTLE AT PUZZLES 29900 Van Dyke, Warren, Diane Nichols today and Saturday, Larry Amoros, Tuesday through May 14, admission. THEATER ATTIC THEATER Attic Theater Playhouse, 7339 Third Avenue, Detroit, Learn to Fall, now through May 22, admission. 875-8284. WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY Bilberry Theater, Nicholas Nickleby, today and Saturday, Tuesday through May 14, admission, 577-2972. MEADOW BROOK THEATER Oakland University campus, Rochester, Harvey, now through Thursday, admission, 377-3300. DETROIT REPERTORY THEATER 13103 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit, The Colored Museum, Mornings at Seven, now through Sunday, admission, 868-1347. BIRMINGHAM THEATER 211 S. Woodward, Birmingham, Doubles, now through Sunday, David Groh, admission, 644-3533. FISHER THEATER Fisher Building, Detroit, Don't Get God Started, now through May 15, admission. 872-1000. HENRY FORD MUSEUM Henry Ford Museum Theater, Dearborn, Peg 0' My Heart, now through May 14, admission. 271-1620. SHAW FESTIVAL Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, You Never Can Tell, now through October 15. Dangerous Corner, Wednesday through Oct. 15, Hit the Deck, Wednesday through October 16, admission. 416-468-2172. MICHIGAN OPERA THEATER Masonic Temple, Detroit, Il Trovatore, Saturday, admission. 874-7850. THEATER SHOWCASE Henry Ford Community College, Adray Auditorium, Oklahoma!, today and Saturday, admission. 845-9634. ROSEDALE COMMUNITY PLAYERS THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 63