Tiffany, the singer who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 with her cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now,” has made her Off-Broadway debut in “Spandex the Musical,” a role she says fulfills ambitions she set aside as a teenager.
The 54-year-old, whose full name is Tiffany Darwish, plays Linda Gustafson, a housewife who competes in a fictional 1988 aerobics championship, in the 10-day limited engagement running through Sept. 27 in New York.
“Before music came into my life, I was a dancer and an actor, and those dreams were put on hold when ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ took off and my recording career began,” she told People magazine in July.
Tiffany’s rise began with the Shopping Mall Tour ’87, a series of free concerts at malls nationwide starting in June 1987 that turned the then-15-year-old into a national name. That September, her cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in under two months. At 16, she became the youngest female artist to top the Billboard 200 with a debut album, and she headlined a 1988 tour with New Kids on the Block as her opening act.
Her follow-up single, “Could’ve Been,” also hit No. 1, while “I Saw Him Standing There” peaked at No. 7 and “Feelings of Forever” reached No. 50. Her 1988 sophomore album, “Hold an Old Friend’s Hand,” went platinum and produced the Top 10 single “All This Time,” but her third album, “New Inside,” struggled as the teen-pop market shifted in the early 1990s. Her fourth album, “Dreams Never Die,” released in 1993, was sold only in Asian markets.
Tiffany then stepped back from the mainstream industry to raise her son, Elijah, with her ex-husband, makeup artist Bulmaro Garcia. The couple were married from 1992 to 2003.
In the early 2000s, the California native left Hollywood for Nashville, a decision she described in a 2023 interview with Fox News Digital as a return to her roots.
“I came to Nashville for the first time when I was 10. I’ve been coming back ever since. I love being out in the country – I’m a country girl at heart. I’ve toured all over the world and this place has always been home for me. There’s just something about coming home to my little ranch… I’ve never looked back.”
Since then, Tiffany has continued touring and recording independently while branching into television and film. She has also built a culinary brand, “Let’s Food With Tiffany,” offering recipes, virtual cooking experiences and events. Earlier this year she released her second cookbook, “POP LIFE: The Ultimate ’80s Kitchen Encore,” made with Las Vegas chef Alicia Shevetone, following her earlier independently published “Breakfast with Tiffany.”
In July, Tiffany announced her New York theatrical debut in “Spandex the Musical.”
“I’ve always believed the right role would find me, and the moment I read the script, I knew Linda was that character.”
She drew a parallel between her character’s arc and her own path since leaving the music industry’s spotlight.
“Just as Linda discovers a new passion through aerobics that changes her life, I’ve found exciting new passions beyond music through my ‘Pop Life’ cookbook, ‘Let’s Food With Tiffany’ events, and now returning to acting on stage. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.”
After each performance, Tiffany sings “I Think We’re Alone Now” during the curtain call. She said the show carries added meaning because a portion of proceeds will benefit Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit that raises money for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada.
“Making my Off-Broadway debut with such a funny, heartfelt and uplifting show is truly a dream come true. I’m also incredibly proud that ‘Spandex The Musical’ is partnering with Children’s Miracle Network, with a portion of the proceeds helping children and families in need.”
“Giving back has always been close to my heart, so being able to combine my love of performing with a cause that means so much to me makes this experience even more special,” she added. “I can’t wait for audiences to experience the laughs, the music, the ’80s nostalgia and, of course, plenty of spandex!”
