By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - From "Baywatch" to Broadway -- the surf's up for David Hasselhoff to fulfill a lifelong dream. He'll debut in the Broadway musical, "Jekyll & Hyde,'' at the Plymouth, Oct.17.
"I'm finally hanging up my trunks to do what I want to do," he says. And, he assures, "I'm just not a replacement (Sebastian Bach, Jack Wagner and Robert Cuccioli preceded). I'm doing it to also prove a point."
He says he's talked with Frank Wildhorn (wrote it with Leslie Bricusse) about his interpretation of the role.
"I want to do certain things to make it (the role) my own. I want to make it more interactive with the audience."
And he says he's also spoken with director Robin Phillips about it. There are 14 songs in the show and Hasselhoff has been working with musical coach Joan Zajac -- with whom he first studied -- 20 years ago. Hasselhoff is obviously not doing it for the money -- he has starred in "Baywatch" for ten years and is a hefty owner of the globally syndicated series which is picked up for anther two seasons.
"I am doing it for my heart," he says. "I never wanted to be a star. I'll be perfectly happy in my little Broadway dressing room."
At seven, he appeared in "Peter Pan." "And that's when I realized what I wanted to do. It's taken me 40 years to do it.''
Hasselhoff was asked to star in Pierre Cossette's "Scarlet Pimpernel," "Grease," as well as "Annie," but each time a TV deal conflicted. He did find time to record -- in Austria and Germany, where he became a superstar -- won platinum records overseas, but his domestic album didn't equal 'em.
Hasselhoff does not plan to appear in "Baywatch" this year -- but may reappear in the initial two-hour show next year. But, as a part owner, he heads over to Hawaii this month "to check on things -- and do a little surfing. I hope it continues on. If is doesn't, I have another series idea which I discussed with Brian Harris (of Pearson TV Intl., owner of the series). And we'd be ready to do that one!''
Meanwhile, he also has completed "Shaka Zulu," a miniseries in which both CBS and ABC are interested, as well as "Lay Over," a movie of the week which he compares to "sex, lies and videotape."
As you can see, Hasselhoff is not waiting for the big wave. He's already caught it.