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We caught up with the erstwhile pop star to watch rehearsals for her new Atlantic City gig

May 2, 2008

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of her first No. 1 hit single (otherwise known as "Foolish Beat" to mega-fans and '80's triviaphiles),  Debbie Deborah Gibson stars in a three-week engagement of "Pop Goes Broadway"—a concert that's one part Broadway, one part pop, and one part new material at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City from May 4 to 24.

We caught up with Deb and crew and sat in on rehearsals—the first using costumes—at Midtown West's Montana Studios. And although the numbers we saw were a tad campy (lots of "Hey, big spender!" and jazz hands), Gibson's voice never sounded better and she was characteristically upbeat, especially between songs when she bopped over to our photographer and happily asked to see the shots.

While we weren't privy to any renditions of her old-school pop hits (we were hoping for a little "Electric Youth"), we saw basic but entertaining medleys combining classic showtunes and 1950s "oldies." — Perrie Samotin