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Rapid Fire 20Q with ‘Hairspray’ National Tour Cast: Coming to Nashville’s TPAC June 11 thru 16

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Based on John Waters’ 1988 cult classic film, Hairspray made its way to the musical stage in 2002 with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production was directed by Jack O’Brien with choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Hairspray set out on its first national tour in 2003, playing Nashville’s TPAC near the end of that initial tour back in 2006. In 2021, O’Brien and Mitchell came together once again to helm the show’s second-ever US tour. Now it its third year, Hairspray once again returns to TPAC’s Jackson Hall with shows Tuesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 16.

WIth just days before the show returns to Music City, I recently had the opportunity to chat with members of the company for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q. What follows are those conversations.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF HAIRSPRAY NATIONAL TOUR

RAPID FIRE WITH HAIRSPRAY’s LINK LARKIN, SKYLER SHIELDS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Link Larkin to you?

SKYLER SHIELDS: Link Larkin is a golden retriever. To me, Link is the perfect balance of boy next door meets Danny Zuko. I think he’s the shiny “It” boy, but he’s a bit aloof which is what makes him so endearing when he meets Tracy. He’s never met someone quite like her and she pushes the boundaries and norms that he’s never had the courage to question.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A quick perusal of your socials seems to indicate that you and your Hairspray costar, Caroline Eiseman, who plays Tracy Turnblad, get along off-stage as well as on. What’s your favorite thing about your work wife’s performance as Tracy?

SKYLER SHIELDS: Working with Caroline has been the biggest gift and blessing. It’s so empowering to be able to go on stage and know that someone truly has your back. We have laughed, cried, and accomplished so many goals this year, it’s been incredible having a partner like Caroline by my side. One of my favorite things we do is when, during Without Love while Seaweed is breaking Penny out of her house, we are supposed to be frozen at the jail cell, and we just talk and talk and pretend like the audience can’t see or hear us. It’s just a great reminder to me how lucky I am to be able to share this whole experience, let alone one of the best songs in musical theater, with one of my best friends.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A couple months ago you celebrated your one-year anniversary with the show, having joined the company near the end of the latest tour’s second season. In that time, have you discovered aspects of Link that you didn’t really explore in your performance early on?

SKYLER SHIELDS: It’s been fun to play into different aspects of the role depending on how I’m feeling that day. Link has qualities of aloofness and being perhaps a little dull but also could be played as entitled, cocky, and overly confident. I’ve enjoyed stepping into these different sides of him all while trying to maintain a sense of likability and tenderness. I think one thing I learned from this experience over the year is truly to make Link a successful character, he has to be in service to Tracy’s story. Dramatically all the characters are in service of Tracy’s story and how they affect her life. If I approached every scene thinking about how funny I’m gonna be or how great my songs are the role would fall very flat. “The material is funny, you are not” is something our wonderful director Matt Lenz would often say. Trusting the incredible score and script we are given and being a vessel for the material has made embodying this character truly pivotal.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Prior to being cast as Link, you spent some time at sea…as a cast member of Saturday Night Fever aboard Royal Caribbean cruise lines. What was the best part of your time with that show and life afloat?

SKYLER SHIELDS: Working with Royal Caribbean has been one of the craziest experiences of my life. I met some of the most amazing people from all over the world and performing such a fun show for over a year was wonderful. It was definitely tough being on the ship for so long but absolutely worth it. The best part by far was meeting some of my dearest friends from the UK and New Zealand.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: OK, I gotta ask…why is #gaylink not trending? But seriously, what does being a part of a show that shines light on equality and acceptance mean to you as an out gay actor?

SKYLER SHIELDS: I think at times I take for granted how lucky I am to have such an accepting family and a wonderful community around me. Being a part of a show that inspires its audiences to think deeper and embrace acceptance and love is why we do theater. Shows like Hairspray meant the world to me growing up and it’s been amazing being able to be a part of something that can bring that same joy to so many others while also spreading the narrative of acceptance, especially in the political climate we are in today.

RAPID FIRE WITH HAIRSPRAY’s LITTLE INEZ, KAILA SYMONE CROWDER 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Can you describe Little Inez in FIVE words?

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER: I would describe a Little Inez as bold, optimistic, light, courageous, and resilient.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Hairspray is your first National Tour. How much fun are you having, not only being in the show, but bringing its message to audiences across the country?

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER: Every day is a new experience! I have found that Little Inez truly brings out something within me that is so powerful. It’s truly been a blessing to share with the world, the gift that God has given me.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re from Monroe, North Carolina, right? For whatever reason, one of the only things I know about Monroe is that one of its most famous…or infamous…natives was ultra-conservative politician Jesse Helms. How excited are you to change that statistic as your career flourishes and YOU become Monroe’s most famous citizen?

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER: I come from a family of history. My grandfather, Roy Lee Crowder, was a civil rights activist leader, along with the amazing Robert F. Williams, who was also known for his courageous stance on Black people and their freedom (Negros with Guns). It does me great joy to implement the things that my grandfather and the women in my family (Rhonda Crowder, my mother and Revonda Crowder, my grandmother) have gone through. Now I can take it to another level to truly bring a light into how we can move forward as nation through the theatrical aspect.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of your home state, Hairspray’s costume designer, William Ivy Long hails from Raleigh, North Caroline. He’s designed costumes for more than 60 Broadway show, having won the Tony for Hairspray in 2003. Do you have a favorite costume in the show, whether it be your’s or that of one of your co-stars?

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER: Absolutely, I actually have two favorite costumes. The first one is the multicolored polka-dotted dress that is shown during Run and Tell That, and the other is the gold and off-white finale dress that is shown during You Can’t Stop the Beat. Although these are my favorite outfits, each outfit reminds me of when I was a little girl and how my mom would dress me in colorful dresses with white lace socks and Keds, which is exactly what I wear in the beginning of the show.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In Hairspray, you share scenes—and a storyline familial bond—with Deidre Lang and Josiah Rogers who play Little Inez’s Mother and Brother, Motormouth Maybelle and Seeweed J. Stubbs, respectively. Do you have a favorite moment that involves one or both of them?

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER: During Run and Tell That, when Seaweed, played by the amazing Josiah Rogers, does the handshake, that moment signifies our close brother and sister relationship throughout the show and how he’s rooting for his sister Little Inez because he understand the talent has continued to pass down through another generation. Alongside my mother Motormouth Maybelle, who is played by the amazing Deidre Lang – during the song I Know Where I’ve Been, there’s a particular moment where she grabs my hand and then eventually let’s go of it, so that I can walk my own path and continue to be the light through darkness. It’s as if she’s passing on the torch to another generation to change the world in a positive way. This also supports how powerful the bond of a mother and daughter can be.

RAPID FIRE WITH HAIRSPRAY’s VELMA VON TUSSLE, SARAH HAYES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Velma Von Tussle, the character you play in Hairspray’s current National Tour?

SARAH HAYES: There are some people who, as the world changes, walk forward with arms open wide, ready to embrace any and all changes the future holds. Then there are some people who struggle with change and have a hard time adjusting. Velma Von Tussle is someone who needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the future! She is a woman who has worked very hard to get herself into a position of power as producer of The Corny Collins Show, which is especially impressive in 1960s Baltimore. And to top it all off, she’s made her daughter, Amber, the star of the show. So Velma is having a great day when the show starts! Then Tracy shows up ready to “eat some breakfast and change the world,” and it all goes wrong for Velma.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I must admit I’m a Hairspray fan since the OG 1988 John Waters film, so I gotta ask…How excited are you to be playing a role that was first brought to life by Blondie lead singer, Debbie Harry and has since been played by everyone from Susan Anton and Belinda Carlisle to Michelle Pfeiffer and Kristin Chenoweth.

SARAH HAYES: It’s a little intimidating because those are some big yellow heels to fill, but excitement still wins out, because that’s a pretty cool list to be on! I feel like my entire Hairspray adventure has been a series of “pinch me” moments, and one of those moments happened in Tulsa, when I got to perform for and meet Linda Hart, the OG Broadway Velma! Absolutely surreal. I also love that I get to say I share a resume credit with Catwoman. Haha!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In preparing to chat with you, I did a little internet sleuthing and discovered your theatre background is highlighted by several performances at Myers Dinner Theatre in Hillsboro, Indiana. I do love a sweet little dinner theatre! How has your background working with such a small, intimate company helped you adjust to your first-ever National Tour?

SARAH HAYES: I know I wouldn’t be on this tour without the opportunities I had at Myers. Jeremy Littlejohn was the Artistic Director during my time there, and he created this little artistic oasis in the middle of rural Indiana. He gave me roles that challenged me and helped me overcome insecurities and nerves I’d battled for years, which then helped me be more successful in future auditions, including my Hairspray callback in New York.

The audiences at Myers were pretty small but they were mighty…in fact, right before the Covid shutdowns, we were doing Run For Your Wife which was a cast of 8. There were 7 people in the audience the night before the theatre closed. We asked if they still wanted us to do the show. They enthusiastically told us yes and those 7 people made thunder that night! That was such a beautiful night for everyone involved and a reminder of how important theatre is, and how lucky I am to get to do it for a living right now.

I’m really grateful for the twists and turns my career has taken, including several years in my late 20s and early 30s when I wasn’t getting much acting work. It’s easier to take something for granted if you’ve never gone without it. I’ve been hungry for work, and will probably be hungry for work again. That makes me appreciate the work I do get so much more.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Again, while doing my homework prior to our chat, I fell down the proverbial Velma Von Tussle internet rabbit hole where I saw that fabulous Velma has an entry on Villains Wiki!!! So, a two-part question…1) How much fun are you having playing Velma and 2) Why is she NOT a villain?

SARAH HAYES: 1) That’s hilarious! I didn’t even know that she was on Villains Wiki! I understand why though…she’s so brilliantly written, which makes her a blast to play. I’m a peacemaker by nature, and struggle to communicate when I’m upset. Velma has no problem saying (or screaming or cackling!) exactly what she’s thinking, so that’s part of the fun of it for me, getting to play someone so completely opposite of me. Plus, singing Miss Baltimore Crabs every night is a dream!

2) Velma is not a villain if you dig a little deeper and look at why she does and says the things she does. I don’t think her motivation is actually hate. It’s fear. Velma is a widow raising her daughter on her own, while working full time in a changing world. She’s scared of losing her power and the empire she’s built for herself and her daughter, and as we know, fear can make people say and do some pretty nasty things. One of the most beautiful messages of Hairspray is that no one is beyond redemption. If the world is truly going to change it has to mean that no one gets left behind and (spoiler alert) even Velma and Amber finally get on board and shake and shimmy it!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I love that the original Broadway director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell are at the helm of this tour. What does it mean to you and the cast that they’re behind this tour?

SARAH HAYES: It’s incredible. I think it speaks to what a special show Hairspray is, that the original director and choreographer still want to take care of Baltimore and all of its residents. I know that gives me motivation on even the toughest days to dig deeper and give each audience the best show I’m capable of every single time I step onstage.

RAPID FIRE WITH HAIRSPRAY’s PENNY PINGLETON, SCARLETT JACQUES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do we need to know about Penny Pingleton before seeing the current National Tour of Hairspray?

SCARLETT JACQUES: Although Penny may not be the brightest, she always has the best intentions. She loves nothing more than to follow around Tracy and encourage all her endeavours, being the most supportive best friend whilst only living in a fantasy life in terms of her own desire to feel wanted. Throughout the story, Penny starts to find herself when she meets her love interest, Seaweed J. Stubbs, and is finally being noticed in a way she never expected. Her

character arc is one that is so beautiful and admirable, as she goes from being content following her best friend, to falling in love and gaining the confidence to stand up to her strict, racist mother Prudy.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: How does the role of Penny Pingleton resonate with you personally?
SCARLETT JACQUES: Penny Pingleton is the most wonderful character, and I truly am so lucky to spend every day stepping into the shoes of such a fun-loving, goofy and caring person. I have so much love for her, and this role will always have a special place in my heart. She has so many amazing qualities that I admire, and it makes me so happy that I get to put a smile on so many faces.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Within the storyline, Edna is reticent to encourage Tracy to pursue her dreams of being a featured dancer on The Corny Collins Show, but Penny, being her loyal friend, encourages her to go after what she wants in life. In your own life, has there been someone who’s reminded you that You Can’t Stop the Beat?

SCARLETT JACQUES: Being from the small country of New Zealand, moving to the USA was a huge decision and one that I couldn’t do without my amazing support system that has continued to believe in me and my abilities. There are so many people I could talk about forever, but specifically I’d like to talk about Hamish Mouat. He is one of the top directors/choreographers in NZ. We first worked together when I was only 8 years old. He went on to provide me with many opportunities to grow as a performer. I have been involved in 14 productions with him. Earlier this year, Hairspray performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as Hamish was travelling to the states to perform, he decided to stop in Tulsa just to see me perform in my first national tour and professional theatre job in the USA.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Why do you think Without Love is such an important moment in the show?

SCARLETT JACQUES: Without Love follows the blossoming of relationships between Tracy and Link and Seaweed and Penny. In both circumstances, they are found in tough situations. As both couples work together to overcome these situations, the audience gets to witness innocent, young love forming between people who were not considered appropriate or fully acceptable to be together at the time. I love how Hairspray allows audiences to see the importance of love and how it has the power to go against what is expected of us, which is something that is definitely still valid in today’s society.

With the ongoing movement of the LGBTQ+ community feeling more comfortable and safer being out and honest about who they are publicly, I think Hairspray as a whole, but specifically Without Love, definitely still holds a huge amount of power. It is showing the whole audience, but particularly the younger generations, that love is a strong force, and no one should have to feel pressured to follow what anyone else says. Unfortunately, we still have a way to go in terms of accepting and loving people unconditionally.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences take with them after having seen Hairspray?

SCARLETT JACQUES: I hope that audiences take with them the knowledge of how far we have come as a society, but how there is still more we need to change. Being based in the ’60s, Hairspray expresses the important message about the racial inequality and segregation that was present at the time, as well as size-discrimination and bullying others simply due to their appearance.

A lot of the younger characters, Penny and Tracy included, are just wanting to have fun dancing together, and don’t understand why something that is seemingly so simple and easy, could be so unacceptable and difficult to achieve. It helps the audience to understand that there is this beautiful innocence that children have, and a lot of the time it comes down to nurture over nature. Tracy is blessed with wonderful parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, who teach her to lead with kindness and love, which is something truly important that she shares with the other characters in the show and the audience.

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Closing out their 2023/2024 Broadway at TPAC season, Hairspray plays Jackson Hall with shows Tuesday, June 11-Sunday, June 16. Performances time are as follows: Tuesday thru Thursday at 7:30p.m., Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8p.m., Saturday matinee at 2p.m. and Sunday matinee and early evening performances at 1p.m. and 6:30p.m. Tickets range in price from $50.90 to $164.50. CLICK HERE for Tickets.

Not in Nashville? Hairspray continues it’s current tour with a stop in Dallas June 18-30. CLICK HERE for tickets. You can also follow Hairspray on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Next up at TPAC, Mark Morris Dance Group presents The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the music of Burt Bacharach, onstage at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theatre June 28-29 CLICK HERE for tickets. With numerous special engagements and performances filling their summer calendar, TPAC’s 2024/2025 Broadway at TPAC season kicks off September 10 thru 15 with the Music City debut performance of Broadway’s Clue: A New Musical. CLICK HERE for tickets. For further details on these and more entertainment headed to TPAC, CLICK HERE or follow TPAC on Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire Q&A with Disney’s Frozen National Tour’s Olaf and Kristoff, Broadway stars Jeremy Davis and Nicholas Edwards; at TPAC May 7 thru May 18

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Since the 2013 release of Disney’s Frozen, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and the rest of the residents of Arendelle have become an undeniable part of a world-wide pop culture phenomenon. The box-office-breaking original prompted a film sequel (with two more film entries coming). There’s been a televised holiday special, a line of character costumes, hundreds of toys, books and board games, video games, even a Frozen-themed Disney on Ice…heck, you name it and it probably exists in the Frozen universe. Fans just won’t Let it Go! Of all the Frozen tie-ins, Frozen: The Broadway Musical has proven just as beloved as the original film. Frozen debuted on Broadway in March 2018 and enjoyed a popular run until March 2020 due to the pandemic. Midway through the Broadway run, a North American National Tour and several international tours began. Following a brief hiatus in 2020, the US National Tour began again in September 2021. Earlier this year, the US tour celebrated its 1000th performance.

On May 7, For the First Time in Forever, Music City will get the chance to experience Frozen: The Broadway Musical when the National Tour descends on TPAC’s Jackson Hall for performances through May 18. For the latest installment of my recurring Rapid Fire interview feature, in advance of Frozen: The Broadway Musical’s Nashville tour stop, I recently had the chance to chat with two of the show’s stars, Jeremy Davis and Nicholas Edwards, who play Olaf and Kristoff, respectively, What follows are those conversations.

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RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH DISNEY’s FROZEN NATIONAL TOUR’s JEREMY DAVIS and NICHOLAS EDWARDS

RAPID FIRE WITH FROZEN’s OLAF, JEREMY DAVIS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A quick peek at your show bio reveals you’ve been part of Frozen since the show was workshopped prior to its Broadway debut. Then you were initially part of the Broadway ensemble and understudy for Olaf. When did you first take the stage as Olaf and what do you remember most about that night?

JEREMY DAVIS: I first went on about two months after we opened. It was planned, so there was a lot of rehearsal and build-up to it. For weeks, the whole company worked to help me get ready. When the day finally came, I was on stage doing my first scene, and I looked offstage to find the whole company packed in the wings watching me. It was so galvanizing to feel such immense support, and it made my debut a very special experience.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those who’ve not seen the Broadway adaptation, rather than have you in a giant Olaf costume, Olaf is presented as a puppet with you dressed in winter wear controlling his movement and providing his voice. I understand you’d never worked with puppetry prior to taking on this role. What was your rehearsal period like prior to taking on the role?

JERMEY DAVIS: Since I started as an understudy, I had the advantage of watching and learning from Greg Hildreth, the original Olaf in the Broadway production. Greg is a true artist and comedian, and I was very lucky to be able to have him as a role model. And he was so good with the puppet! The first time I worked with Olaf in rehearsal, I couldn’t believe how hard it was. Greg made it look so easy, but I felt like I was trying to push a pile of rocks around. But like everything else, the more I did it, the easier it got. After a couple of weeks of practice, it started to feel like the puppet and I were dancing. Now, after all this time, we waltz around the stage like we were meant to be together.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Frozen wasn’t your first Broadway show… Heck, that count’s up to 10 Broadway shows if my research serves me right, 2005’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels marking your Broadway debut. What do you remember most about taking to the Broadway stage for the very first time?

JERMEY DAVIS: The thing I remember most from that night was the curtain call. I went out to take my bow, and as I looked out over the applauding audience, I was thrown back in time to my childhood bedroom where I was having a daydream that one day I would be a Broadway actor. I started crying as I took my bow for Scoundrels because I realized that a childhood dream had come true.

Jeremy Davis as Olaf (photo by Matthew Murphy/courtesy frozenthemusical.com)

JHPENTERTAINMENT: OK, I have to admit something. I’ve never seen Frozen, Frozen II, or even the made-for-tv holiday special, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure! I KNOW, I KNOW!!! But what can I say? I don’t have kids and my nieces were all grown with their own kids by the time the movies came out. That said, I’ve not been living under a rock, so of course I have soaked up some knowledge of the characters and basics of the storyline. All that to ask…what’s it like being part of such an iconic pop culture phenomenon?

JERMEY DAVIS: First of all, WATCH FROZEN! It’s a great film, and it’s not just for kids. I’m a full grown adult (allegedly), and I love it!

As for what it’s like to be a part of this amazing phenomenon, it’s awesome! Every night, I walk out on stage to a crowd that’s already in love with Olaf, and it’s an amazing feeling to be at the center of all that love. It makes the job so easy and fun!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you could incorporate one aspect of Olaf’s personality or ideology, what would it be?

JERMEY DAVIS: The thing I love most about Olaf is his perspective on the world. He sees everything that happens, every moment, as an opportunity for joy. He meets a new person, and they’re his best friend. He walks into a new place, and he sees it as a theme park. He falls to pieces, and he rolls all his parts on the ground in glee. After all this time playing Olaf, his outlook has started to become part of my real life perspective, and I can’t really put into words how much better it’s made my life to look at the world in that way.

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH FROZEN’s KRISTOFF, NICHOLAS EDWARDS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I admitted when I chatted with your Frozen co-star, Jeremy Davis earlier that I’ve never seen any of the Frozen universe of movies, tv specials or short films. So, for the uninitiated, who is Kristoff and how much fun are you having playing him?

NICHOLAS EDWARDS: Kristoff is a local Arendellian ice harvester mountain man who alongside his best friend Sven (who happens to be a reindeer), gets swept up in this majestic quest to help princess Anna climb the North Mountain and save Arendelle from the eternal winter brought on by the ice queen Elsa! I am having the time of my life! I get to help save Arendelle 8x a week!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For the stage version, Kristoff’s role has been amped up a bit, including being featured in a few new musical numbers. Do you have a favorite musical moment in the show, whether it’s one you’re featured in, or one you just enjoy from the wings?

NICHOLAS EDWARDS: I mean Let it Go is truly one of the most magical theatrical moments in a musical ever, but I really love the two sister’s duet I Can’t Lose You. It’s a new song written for the tour and it really helps flesh out the relationship between the two sisters, and of course the song itself is just thrilling! The vocals are insane!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like Jeremy you also come to the tour after having appeared in the Broadway production. With a National Tour, you’re performing on a different stage each week. To that end, I’m curious how much rehearsal or run-though you all get in each city, or do you simply adapt to each venue as you go?

NICHOLAS EDWARDS: Each city we do a sound check and quick spacing rehearsal that lasts around 3 hours the day of the first show. Outside of that we do a few lift and fight calls as a check in throughout the week, but yes- we adapt and stay on our toes as learn the ins and outs of each venue. Safety first!

Nicholas Edwards as Kristoff @nickedwardsnyc Instagram

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Between your time with Frozen on Broadway and the current National Tour, you also appeared on Broadway in & Juliet as Lord Capulet and Sly. Have your found any similarities between these characters?

NICHOLAS EDWARDS: Definitely not! Lord Capulet is a powerful father figure who sentences his daughter to life in a nunnery- Kristoff would never do that!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I like to end my interviews by asking a variation of the following…What do you hope audiences come away remembering long after seeing Frozen?

NICHOLAS EDWARDS: A lot of families who come to see Disney shows are experiencing their first Broadway musical- I can only hope that this sparks something inside them to continue to want to come back and experience more of the magic that live theatre brings to audiences.

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Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical comes to TPAC’s Jackson Hall with the following performance schedule: Tuesday-Sunday, May 7-12 and Tuesday thru Saturday, May 14-18. Tuesday-Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30p.m. with Saturday matinee’s at 2p.m. and Sunday performances at 1p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $53 to $198. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets or for more information. Follow Frozen on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Or check out their official Frozen On Tour Site.

Not in Nashville? Not to worry. As the tour continues, Frozen: The Broadway Musical is headed to Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, TX May 22-June 2, Austin, TX’s Bass Concert Hall at University of Texas at APAC June 5-16, Buell Theatre in Denver, CO June 19-July 3, Vancouver, BC’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre July 9-July 21, First Interstate Center for the Arts in Spokane, WA July 24-August 4, Boise, ID’s Morrison Center for the Performing Arts August 7-18 and San Jose Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CA August 21-September 1 with more dates expected to be added soon as the tour continues.

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook. In the meantime, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of ‘YES! The Musical’; Based on popular reality series ’Say Yes to the Dress’, new musical premieres in Nashville, April 26

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The cast of ‘YES!’ (photos by MA2LA/courtesy ‘YES! The Musical’)

A few years ago major media outlets reported the news…Nashville, Tennessee is the new official unofficial Bachelorette destination in the country. That’s right, more than Vegas, New York and Miami, it seems future brides and their entourage of woo girls discovered the fun to be had in Music City. With that statistic in mind, premiering a new musical comedy combining the two elements Nashville is now best known for makes perfect sense. To that end, YES! THE MUSICAL will be premiering in Music City at Dirty Little Secret , a popular nightlife destination inside the Dream Hotel (210 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201) with shows each Thursday thru Saturday beginning April 26 and continuing through July 13.

Drawing inspiration from Say Yes to the Dress, the long-running (335 episodes and counting) bridal reality series in which future married ladies bring their Mom’s and gal pals along for the adventure of picking out the perfect wedding gown, YES! THE MUSICAL co-created by Joel Waggoner (cast member of Broadway’s Be More Chill and School of Rock) and features book and lyrics by Blaine Hopkins (co-producer of Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, A Wedding Story and more), music and lyrics by Garrett Kotecki (singer/songwriter who’s credits include Surf’s Up from Disney‘s Teen Beach Movie), and direction and choreography by Shea Sullivan (Pageant: The Musical,Last of the Red Hot Mamas).

YES! THE MUSICAL features Bradley Gale as Mister Jimmy, the bridal gown expert, Maya Kaempf as Ashley, the bride-to-be, Erin McCracken as mother of the bride and Emma Teixeira as the bride’s bestie. As the cast put the finishing touches on the show in preparation of their Friday, April 26 opening night, I recently had the opportunity to chat with them for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q. So check out those conversations, then #GoSeeTheShow!

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RAPID FIRE 20 Q WITH THE CAST OF YES! THE MUSICAL

RAPID FIRE WITH YES! THE MUSICAL’s MISTER JIMMY, BRADLEY GALE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: First things first. YES! The Musical isn’t about a certain 70s rock band, but instead, draws its title and inspiration from TLC’s uber-popular, long-running bridal reality series, Say Yes to the Dress. How familiar were you with the source material prior to auditioning for the show?

BRADLEY GALE: Are you kidding me?! Beyond familiar! I used to beg my friends who were recently engaged to apply for the show!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In YES!, you play Mister Jimmy. Who is Mister Jimmy to you?

BRADLEY GALE:  Mister Jimmy is a lot like the person I always wanted to be comfortable being when I grew up: he’s confident, he’s funny, and he’s snarky but he has a heart. He’s a Sour Patch Kid if they were sassy, then sweet.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Just between us, how much of Say Yes to the Dress’ Randy Finoli is there In Mister Jimmy?

BRADLEY GALE: Randy is incredibly stylish and also INCREDIBLY handsome…you should expect the same from Mister Jimmy.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Prior to saying YES!, you’ve enjoyed success on stage as part of the original company of Chicago’s The Book of Mormon, as well as numerous theatrical productions right here in Nashville, including roles in Beauty and the Beast, Avenue Q and Evita. How does being part of the World Premiere company of YES! compare?

BRADLEY GALE: There is really no way to compare the experiences however, Mister Jimmy is as fabulous as Lumiere in Beauty & the Beast, as sweaty as Princeton in Avenue Q, and I spend the exact opposite amount of time on stage as I did in Evita…. Also Mister Jimmy does NOT make out with Eva Peron.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In addition to Mister Jimmy, you also portray other characters in the show. What can you tell me about them?

BRADLEY GALE: I don’t want to give any spoilers, But let’s just say you’ll see me play multiple characters…sometimes all at once.

RAPID FIRE WITH YES! THE MUSICAL’s ASHLEY, MAYA KAEMPF

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In YES!, you’re cast as Ashley, the bride who’s in search of that perfect wedding dress. What’s your favorite aspect of the character?

MAYA KAEMPF: Ashley begins the show being as people-pleasing as they come. She is often ignored, overshadowed, and overlooked, especially when it comes to the BIG personalities—Linda and Kayley—that are close to her in her life. However, what I love the most about Ashley is that she has this deep desire to take the reins in her own life, particularly at such a pivotal time in her life (approaching marriage). Without spoiling anything, I will say that Ashley’s journey is inspiring and encouraging to not only the people pleasing bride, but anyone who wishes to take charge of their own life. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Being part of the debut company of YES!, you basically get to set the tone of the character. How much freedom have the creators of the musical given you in developing Ashley as a character?

MAYA KAEMPF: While there have been a lot of changes to the show throughout the process (what with rewrites, cuts, new additions, etc.), what is incredible is that the essence of the characters and the message of the story has never wavered. While I was given liberties to make Ashley what I believe her to be, it was almost unnecessary because of of clarity and mutual understand between the performers and the creative team. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You recently won rave reviews for your portrayal of Jane Doe in Street Theatre Company’s Ride the Cyclone. In that show, you play a character who lost her head in a cyclone and therefore can’t remember who she is in the afterlife. A far cry from Ashley, but I’m wondering if you’ve found any similarities between the two?

MAYA KAEMPF: Now that is a thought that hasn’t occurred to me! I typically like to make each project completely separate in my mind, as each character is different from any other I played before. However, these two are very, very different. I think the common thread I see between Jane Doe and Ashley is that their stories both heavily center around identity and how important that is for a person to establish. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand part of your creative process in getting into your current character often involves creating a playlist of songs you think that character might listen to. What’s on Ashley’s playlist?

MAYA KAEMPF: My Ashley playlist is still underway… First though is Mirrorball by Taylor Swift. Ashley and Kayley were definitely at the Eras Tour together. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Award-winning Chadd McMillan serves as the costume designer for YES!, so I gotta know, is there a dress, wedding or otherwise that Chadd has created for the show that you would indeed say yes to?

MAYA KAEMPF: Yes, any and all. I would have an impossible time choosing. There is one dress (again, I am trying not to spoil!) at the end of the show that is perhaps the winner for me… I cannot stress how mindblowingly stunning and gorgeous (or purposefully tragic and hysterical) Chadd’s costumes are. The costume rack itself looks like a work of art. We are so lucky to have him and our wonderful wardrobe supervisor, Maryn Reader. You just have to come see these costumes yourself! 

RAPID FIRE WITH YES! THE MUSICAL’s LINDA, ERIN McCRACKEN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re cast as Linda, mother of the bride in YES!. How would you describe her?

ERIN McCRACKEN: Linda is…crazy & hilarious. She has been waiting her daughters whole life for this wedding and it is finally her- Linda’s- time to shine!! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Linda, you’re sharing time on stage with Maya Kaempf as your daughter. How much fun are you having working with Maya and the rest of the cast?

ERIN McCRACKEN: Maya is a powerhouse talent. She and Emma Teixeira—both Belmont University students (!!!)—were perfectly cast. Emma really takes the maid of honor role to another level…and they both sing their faces off!  Bradley Gale is a dream. He and I are holding it down as the seasoned actors in the show and I am so happy to be acting along side him! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: So, is Linda a ‘Momzilla’?

ERIN McCRACKEN: 100%.  Absolutely. But you’ll have to come see the show to find out why! She really does mean well!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A quick perusal of your social media revealed that you said Yes just over a year ago! That dress was gorgeous, by the way. So, I’m guessing if any of the cast can relate to the trials and tribulations of the subject at hand, it’s you. How many dresses did you look at before you found the perfect one?

ERIN McCRACKEN: Thank you! I wanted something both bridal & show-stopping! I did A LOT of looking online first. I‘m actually a pretty decisive person- I think I only tried on 6 dresses. Two dress shops, one day, done & done! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The show features all new music courtesy Blaine Hopkins, Garrett Kotecki and Blaine Hopkins. Do you have a favorite among the tunes, whether it’s one you perform, or that of another cast member?

ERIN McCRACKEN: Oh don’t make me pick! Okay, fine- Linda’s song, Perfectly Perfect. And then Brilliant Bridal Whisperer, the opening number. It’s fun and sassy and the perfect way to set up the show! 

RAPID FIRE WITH YES! THE MUSICAL’s KAYLEY, EMMA TEIXEIRA

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re playing Kayley, the maid of honor in YES!. How would you describe her to someone who’s about to meet her?

EMMA TEIXEIRA: Kayley is an unhinged maid of honor! She is fun and has absolutely zero filter! She a is a love child of Melissa McCarthy and Amy Schumer!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The show’s being directed by Shea Sullivan, while Joel Waggoner serves as co-creator. In developing the character of Kayley, is there a particular piece of advice or guidance that Sea or Joel has offered to you that really stuck?

EMMA TEIXEIRA: Shae and Joel have been so fun to work with! When developing Kayley’s character it’s been fun to bounce ideas off of them! They have helped me ground Kayley and also find her contained unhinged moments. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In addition to the role of Kayley, you, like your fellow cast mates, also portray what we native Music City residents have not so lovingly dubbed Woo Girls. Not gonna lie, they’re frequently the bane of my existence when I venture downtown. That said, sell me on why I should learn to love and appreciate woo girls?

EMMA TEIXEIRA: You should love and appreciate the Woo Girls because we play a pretty hysterical version of our Nashville bridal party neighbors! My Woo Girl may or may not pass out in the bushes behind the Ryman- but….you’ll have to come see to find out!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I have to admit, of the character shots photographed by the always brilliant MA2LA, your Kayley image is my favorite! Did you enjoy your photoshoot day, and would you wear Kayley’s fit IRL?

EMMA TEIXEIRA: Ah! The photo shoot was the most fun I’ve ever had doing a shoot!!! I love Chadd’s costume vision for Kayley and I think in the summer you could catch me in Kayley’s fierce tube top & shorts fit!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Long after the YES! has been said, what do you think audiences will remember most about the show?

EMMA TEIXEIRA: I think audiences will remember the fun and heart of this show! Weddings can be such a stressful time and bringing life to the process through multi genre of songs, comedy, & dinosaurs?! What’s not to remember?

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The World Premiere engagement of YES! THE MUSICAL opens at Dirty Little Secret inside the Dream Hotel on Friday, April 26. Tickets range in price from $25 to $54. Ticket options are as follows: Bar Seating/$25, General Admission/$33, Preferential Admission/$42, Premium Table/$49 and Sofa/$54. For specifics on each ticket level, more information or to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

Be sure and check out YES! THE MUSICAL online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Interested in coverage for your latest entertaining endeavor? Click the contact page and drop me a note. You can also follow JHP Entertainment on Instagram and Facebook. In the meantime, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q (2 of 2) with cast and director of Nashville Rep’s ‘The Color Purple’ onstage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre April 5-14

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As I indicated in my first Rapid Fire 20Q featuring the director and cast of Nashville Repertory Theatre announced that The Color Purple, I’m such a fan of the show that I decided to go all in and do two Rapid Fire 20Qs to feature as many cast members as I could. Hey, my name’s on the site, so I can do what I want, right? So…here’s Part 2 of my conversations with the cast of The Color Purple. This time around, I’m chatting with Shinnerrie Jackson (Sofia), Elliott Winston Robinson (Mister), Raven Buntyn (Squeak) and Gerold Oliver (Harpo). In case you missed Part 1, CLICK HERE to check out my chats with The Color Purple’s director, Reggie Law as well as Carli Hardon (Celie), Tamica Nicole (Shug) and  Maya Riley (Nettie). Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple opens at TPAC’s Polk Theatre for performances Friday, April 5 thru Sunday, April 14.

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF NASHVILLE REP’S THE COLOR PURPLE (2 of 2)

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s SOFIA, SHINNERRIE JACKSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Before we talk The Color Purple, while researching to chat with you, I learned you are an Assistant Professor of Theatre at UT Knoxville, and you’re also a company member of Knoxville’s Clarence Brown Theatre. Because I truly love connecting the dots when folks I know, know folks I know, I’m gonna name drop…I’ve known Carol Mayo Jenkins for ages. She is the cousin of one of my dearest friends. Carol was Artist in Residence at UTK until her recent retirement. Do you have a favorite memory of working alongside the legendary actress?

SHINNERRIE JACKSON:  She taught me how to live in the truth of who I am and to be grand. I never thought of myself as grand and she gave me that lesson during a scene she taught from Heartbreak House (Shaw play). She is a phenomenal actress and teacher. I’m still learning from her.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Sofia in Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple. When I spoke with Carli, I mentioned the impressive list of actresses associated with her role. The same can be said of Sofia. From Oprah to my friend Pam Trotter, Miss Sofia is without a doubt one of the most memorable characters ever to grace the pages of a book, the stage and screen. Would you consider Sofia a ‘bucket list’ role?

SHINNERRIE JACKSON: Yes! I’ve wanted to play this version of Sofia since Felicia P. Fields originated the role in 2005. I was just waiting for my regional theatre turn. I audtioned for NashRep last year and thought it would pass me by, but fate had other plans and here I am!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like many of the characters in The Color Purple, Sofia undergoes a transformation. Is there an aspect of Sofia and her transformation that you might consider adopting in your own life long after the show closes?

SHINNERRIE JACKSON: I think we all love Sofia because, despite the difficult systemic violence she’s forced to endure, Sofia is able to come back to herself. Her inner strength, her love and her joy. That’s the lesson for me. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A catalyst for the above-mentioned transformation is Sofia finally having enough of certain situations. How do you prepare for the seriousness of such scenes?

SHINNERRIE JACKSON: The script and the book (by Alice Walker) give you everything you need. As soon as the words come out of my mouth the feeling and her personality is there, the words are that powerful. I just have to maintain my stamina throughout the run. I also am invoking the spirit of my grandmother Ernestine Jackson, a woman who never let the violence of the system deter her from her dreams. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: We touched on your Knoxville connections. Of course The Color Purple’s director, Reggie Law also hails from Knoxville as does Nashville Rep’s Artistic Director, Micah-Shane Brewer. Did one of them reach out to you and urge you to audition?

SHINNERRIE JACKSON: While it has been great to work with Reggie Law, my direct connection is with Micha-Shane Brewer. We are both alumns of the MFA program at The University of Tennessee. I saw the advert for auditions and here I am.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s MISTER, ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How would you describe Mister, the role you are playing in Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple?

ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON: It will be evident fairly quickly how horrible a person Mister is when you see the show. My challenge in portraying him is to figure out why he is this way, so I can make choices on stage that show the audience very clearly who he is. Mister is the kind of man that wants to project this great sense of strength & dominance, but he is really not very strong at all; he is just a big ol’ bully. I don’t want to give too much away, but when the people he rules over begin to question his power (Celie, Harpo), even they start to realize what the real man is all about.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Doing a little digging prior to chatting with you, I discovered this is your Nashville Rep mainstage debut. Not gonna lie, that factoid was a huge surprise to me, as I consider you to be one of Nashville’s most gifted actors. While it’s your Rep mainstage debut, you indeed wowed audiences as part of Nashville Rep’s recent stage reading Narrative of the Life of Cedric Bartholomew. What was the experience of bringing that story to life for Nashville audiences?  

ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON: Thank you, Sir, for the kind words; that means a lot! Yes, it’s my first time for the mainstage. I was welcomed into the REP family at last summer’s Broadway Brunch, then had the pleasure of being involved in REPAloud readings of The Christians and Stick Fly, as well as The Narrative of the Life of Cedric Bartholomew, in the New Works Series. Bartholomew was so powerful because it was new, but also because of the incredibly rich historical nature of the story. The process was amazing; having the dramaturg and the writer in the room while we dug into the script was fantastic! We were able to really get deep into the language, and the history. The performances were great, too, but the process was so fast, I still had questions about the story and my character even after we finished the public readings.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: During the rehearsal process, did your director, Reggie Law offer any notes on finding your Mister?

ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON: Reggie has been the greatest! He detected my nice, easy-going nature very early on (many people who know me wonder how I’ll possibly be able to play this role!), so he has [gently] pushed me and pushed me to commit to being Mister. He is my favorite kind of director, the one that will pull you aside from time to time just to give you another subtle layer to think about while building your character, encouraging all the while. I have seen him do it with each and every cast member! I feel like that keeps me more and more invested in the role, knowing he has confidence in me to make the character come to life.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: And now to be taking on the role of Mister in The Color Purple. I imagine the anger and violence exhibited by Mister would be difficult to play night after night. How do you prepare for those scenes and do you need time to compress after such a daunting performance?

ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON: There are definitely some very difficult moments, none that I’ll give away here. But, like I’ve done with other characters before (Troy Maxson in FENCES comes to mind), I’m pretty good about NOT taking Mister home with me. I know who Elliott is, and the rest of the cast understands the kind of person I am. They are very influential in propping me up, encouraging me to be as Mister as Mister can be. Only on stage, though!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Mister isn’t all anger and rage. He has his lighter moment’s too. How much are you enjoying playing opposite Carli Hardon, specifically during the Miss Celie’s Pants segment?

ELLIOTT WINSTON ROBINSON: Carli is absolutely amazing as Celie! She weathers this terrible storm of a relationship, but when she starts to realize her self-worth and her value, she confidently gives back just as much as she takes. We have a few really powerful moments on stage, and she’s great at pushing me to create more and more tension in those moments. Again, I don’t want to give away too much, but those “lighter” moments come after Mister makes a stark realization about himself, one that changes the entire course of his life.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’S SQUEAK, RAVEN BYNTYN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your portrayal of Squeak in Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple marks not only your return to the stage after a ten-year hiatus, but also your Nashville Rep debut. What prompted you to audition for this show?

RAVEN BUNTYN: My love for the original movie is what prompted me to audition. I grew up watching The Color Purple nonstop with my grandmother when she didn’t have cable. It taught me life lessons and was filled with so much beauty. That movie helped shape me in ways I’m still learning about today. It’s very dear to my heart. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Are you enjoying your time with Nashville Rep?

RAVEN BUNTYN: Absolutely! It’s been so much fun being apart of this show. It’s not everyday that I get to be around people who love to burst into random song and dance as much as I do. It’s so refreshing! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Squeak might have limited stage time, but she’s certainly memorable. Who is Squeak to you?

RAVEN BUNTYN: Squeak is a rebel! She’s loud and slightly annoying but full of heart and passion. She really just wants to be loved and seen.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Quite often, when a character doesn’t get a lot of exposition within the contest of the play, I find that actors frequently create their own backstories as they delve into the character. Have you done this with Squeak?

RAVEN BUNTYN: Squeak has always had a secret desire to sing, she emulates the likes of Shug Avery and wants to be a star. Her father walked out on her and her mother when she was very young, but her mother never failed to instill confidence in Squeak. And even though she’s very naive and inexperienced, because of her mother’s love, she won’t let anyone walk all over her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I love the scenes when Squeak asserts herself with Sofia. How much fun are you having in this scenes?

RAVEN BUNTYN: That is my absolute favorite scene! I get to be boisterous and tap into Squeak’s fire. Squeak may not be the one to beat Sophia but she still stands up for herself and I love that about her. 

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’S HARPO, GEROLD OLIVER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How would you describe Harpo, the role you play in Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple?

GEROLD OLIVER: Harpo was thrust in to a cycle of violent lifestyles. Men in that time period were innately rougher, due to the conditions they grew up with. Harpo is doing his best to slip past the tendency to fall into the same behavior perpetuated by that cycle, but that isn’t to say he’s an unflawed character.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I read The Color Purple when the book first came out, and of course I was obsessed with the original film adaptation. When do you first recall being cognizant of The Color Purple?

GEROLD OLIVER: I was young when I first saw the original film, albeit I didn’t watch the film in its entirety until I was much older. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I was made aware that there was a novel from which the film was based.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s it like having Elliott Winston Robinson play your on-stage father?

GEROLD OLIVER: Elliot is a really nice dude in real life. I’ve been lucky enough to have shared the stage with him before. It’s been a fun experience watching him push to find the places he has to go to so he can honestly portray a dark character such as Mister.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Harpo seems trapped between being bullied by his father and longing to be assertive in his relationships with Sofia and Squeak. How have you tapped into those emotions and what have you learned during the process?

GEROLD OLIVER: Harpo is lost throughout the play. He’s lost because he grew up watching a very poor representation of what marriage should look like. Though I’ve not been exactly where Harpo is, I have been lost due to the dissonance between expectations of what life should be vs what life truly is.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Over the last few years, you’ve been a frequent presence in the Nashville theatre community, having done shows at virtually every major theatre company. Any advice for those considering auditioning in and around the Nashville area?

GEROLD OLIVER: A good attitude and a friendly demeanor will get you in far more rooms than mountains of talent. That’s not to say, slack off and goof around. Do your work, and try to enter the space ready to play. Things will usually happen fo you.

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Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple opens at TPAC’s Polk Theatre Friday, April 5. CLICK HERE for tickets. The beloved musical based on Alice Walker’s classic novel will run April 5-14.  In the meantime, check out Nashville Rep online and follow them on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter. Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast and director of Nashville Rep’s ‘The Color Purple’ onstage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre April 5-14

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Last year when Nashville Repertory Theatre announced that The Color Purple would be part of their 2023-2024 Season, Alice Walker’s original source material being not only one of my absolute favorite books, but also completely being mesmerized and touched each time I’ve seen the original Steven Spielberg film adaptation and the incredibly moving Tony-winning stage musical, I knew I’d have to chat with members of their cast and crew for one of my Rapid Fire 20Q interview features. When I learned that their entire cast was comprised of some of my theatre crushes, plus a handful of new (to me) but equally gifted performers, I had a difficult time of narrowing down who I wanted to chat with. Then I got to thinking…what would Shug Avery do? Lemme tell you. She’d have them all, so that’s exactly what I did.

Instead of my usual posing of 20 questions amongst four company members, I decided to give Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple the royal treatment it deserves. To that end, as the cast and crew ready to open the show at TPAC’s Polk Theatre for performances Friday, April 5 thru Sunday, April 14, please enjoy the first of TWO Rapid Fire 20Qs!

First up, I’m chatting with The Color Purple’s director, Reggie Law as well as Carli Hardon (Celie), Tamica Nicole (Shug) and  Maya Riley (Nettie), then CLICK HERE to check out my interview with The Color Purple’s Shinnerrie Jackson (Sofia), Elliott Winston Robinson (Mister), Raven Buntyn (Squeak) and Gerold Oliver (Harpo).

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST OF NASHVILLE REP’S THE COLOR PURPLE (1 of 2)

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s DIRECTOR, REGGIE LAW

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While directing The Color Purple marks your Nashville Rep debut, you have a lengthy background in the performing arts, most notably as Executive Artistic Director at Oak Ridge Playhouse. I’m guessing East Tennessee is what connects you to Nashville Rep’s Artistic Director, Micah-Shane Brewer. How long have you known Micah Shane and how did directing The Color Purple come about?

REGGIE LAW: I have know Micah-Shane since about 2008 or 2009. We were both Artistic Directors for small East Tennessee theatre companies. We often attended each others productions but had not worked together until now. 

Micah-Shane approached me about directing the show and I said yes without even thinking.  Then had to see if my schedule would even allow it. Luckily the rehearsal period and opening fell at just the right time. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand you didn’t initially set out to have a career in the theatre, first studying architecture at UTKnoxville?

REGGIE LAW: Boy, you have done your research! How did you know that?  Yes, I came to the state of Tennessee because I had been accepted into the school of Architecture at UT-Knoxville. I had an advisor who had grown up in New York, going to Broadway shows. We used to sit in his office for hours talking about theatre. He made me realize I loved it more than architecture. I had to have the difficult conversation with my mother that was changing from a reliable major to one with little to no job security.  But she was, and still remains, very supportive. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How has your background and interest in architecture aided you as a director?

REGGIE LAW: When I left architecture I made the most common sense transition into set design and had planned to become a set and costume designer. But eventually that shifted to stage management and ultimately directing.  I guess the biggest benefit is that architecture trains you to think about systems and planning while exploring creativity.  I think it has allowed me to “speak the language” when collaborating with designers. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Anyone who reads my Rapid Fire interviews with any regularity knows I love to include a little six degrees of separation whenever I can. We have a mutual acquaintance in Dolly Parton’s Creative Director, Steve Sommers, you yourself having served as Assistant Creative Director for Dollywood Entertainment. What’s a favorite memory of your time at Dollywood?

REGGIE LAW: Steve is a great. I am so happy for his success. He was one of the most popular singer/dancers at the park while I was there. I started as a stage manager and ended up being an assistant and right hand to Michael Padgett who was creative director at the time, directing some of the productions and some writing of shows.

One of my favorite memories was when i was a stage manager. Dolly made a special appearance and was on a balcony taking to a crowd. It was so windy I had to hold on you her to help her keep her balance. But remain hidden the whole time. I was virtually lying face down while holding the hem of her skirt. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences remember most after seeing Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple?

REGGIE LAW: I want people to leave with the thought that with clarity and goodness, we can overcome anything.  

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s CELIE, CARLI HARDON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re playing Celie. I can’t imagine anyone not being familiar with The Color Purple, but just in case…who is Celie to you?

CARLI HARDON: Celie is a who goes through so many trials and tribulations and is able to find her voice, strength and power through the women she meets in her life. But she is more than that. She is also deeply loving and able to find faith through the people she meets. She is a survivor. She is highly intelligent both mentally and emotionally. She is a talented seamstress, incredibly loyal, and I think she loves to laugh. Even if the forces in her life make it difficult to do so.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Nashville Rep audiences will no doubt recognize you having previous appeared in as Joanne in Rent and as Mercy in their production of School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play. Have you discovered any similarities between Celie, Joanne and Mercy or are they truly unique in their individuality?

CARLI HARDON: That’s a really cool question! I think there are similarities in all 3 characters. For each one there is a level of insecurity they face as they move through the world as black women. For Mercy, it is her skin tone and hair while for Joanne there is this need to be successful and striving. Celie’s is in her worth and beauty in this world. When I play roles, I try to find similarities in my life so as to bring as much honesty to the characters as possible. These attributes may not be inherent in each character but they were things I found that helped me ground myself in the characters. 

Another thing they all have in common is their capacity and desire to love and be loved. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What keeps you coming back to Nashville Rep?

CARLI HARDON: The people. Every show I have worked on has been full of supportive, kind hearted, creative people who will build you up and make you feel limitless. From the administration to the cast to the costume shop to Cece DeCorte and everywhere in between, these people are all-stars.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The role of Celie has been played by some of the most legendary actresses including my friend LaChanze, as well as Whoopi Goldberg, Fantasia Barrino and Cynthia Erivo. What’s it like to join this iconic group of women?

CARLI HARDON: Woof. Ya know? Honored doesn’t really capture how I feel. It crazy because each of those women shaped my early life in different ways. LaChanze has been one of my role models from a very early age and made me believe I could also blaze a trail in this field as a dark skinned black woman. Whoopi Goldberg is a woman who finds a way to be effortlessly hilarious and switch to being so authentically moving in drama. Fantasia Barrino is a vocal powerhouse who sings from the very depths of her soul and takes each and every one of us on a journey with her as she does so. And Cynthia Erivo? I saw her play this role on Broadway and it was the only time I have ever seen a show come to a full stop for a standing ovation. She is so phenomenal and a dazzling force this world will not easily forget. My goodness these women are goddesses and I am so incredibly grateful to have had them as my guides throughout my life. I’d love to say that I have joined their group but I feel like I have so much more to learn before I’m even close. My only wish is to take what I have learned from them and let it continue to guide me on my journey. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Celie, you get to perform some of the most gorgeous songs, not just in this show, but to my estimation, in all of modern musical theatre. Who are the musical director and choreographer for Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple and what have rehearsals been like?

CARLI HARDON: Our marvelous musical director is Dion Treece and our tremendous choreographer is Joi Ware. Rehearsals have truly been a collaborative process. 

Dion, truly feels the soul of the music and allows the freedom of your expression to help motivate how the music flows. He has this way of seeing the music and coloring it in such a creative and  beautiful way. Not only that, he is one of the BEST cheerleaders in the world. He encouraged me to feel what the moments call for and then takes those same moments to a whole new level based off of what he sees and feels from me.

Joi is truly a wonder to work with. She is able to see what is already being brought to the table and finesse it to being a stunning work of art. From the incredible dance numbers to small moments in scenes that make all the difference in further expanding the world that we are in. She has such a stunning eye for detail. She is such a skilled teacher. She will continue to find ways to help with getting concepts or movement until one sticks. 

Working with both of these titans (go football) has been such a pleasure.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s SHUG AVERY, TAMICA NICOLE 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Shug Avery…Shug Avery! Dang, do I love that character! How much fun are you having playing her?

TAMICA NICOLE: I am having the most amazing time playing Shug Avery. She represents many aspects I see in myself, such as self-determination, self-love, and free spiritedness. She also represents things that one may not want to associate with, such as selfishness and arrogance. What I love about her character, be it positive or negative attributes, she allows the audience,

as well as the actress to embody what it means to be human; not perfect, but real, relatable, aiming towards being a better person.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the 1985 film, when asked where her much younger male companion is, Shug slyly grins and says, “He went to college”. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the musical, but I can’t recall if that line made it into the stage adaptation. Nonetheless, the show is full of quick quips. Do you have a favorite line, yours or someone else’s, that makes you giggle every time you hear it?

TAMICA NICOLE: My favorite line/scene is when Shug is trying on a pair of Miss Celie’s pants, overhearing a phone conversation of which Celie is being told her Pa died and left her the store and house he owned. She finds out the man she thought was her Pa was actually her step-Pa, who had been raping her from the time she was 12 in that house. Because of this, Celie did not want the house. Shug cannot believe what she is hearing. She feels Celie should be happy her step-Pa is dead, and her real Pa left her everything. The sassy Shug snaps at Celie and says, “What you talkin’ bout you don’t want a house? Your real Daddy left it for you. That dog of a step-Pa just a bad odor passing through. Gimme that.” (Shug snatches the phone from Celie and says), “Celie want that house. And the store too! And she comin’ home tomorrow to sign the papers. (Shug hangs up the phone and says to Celie) Come on. Get Packed. You get there in time, you can make it to the funeral. Maybe you like him better dead!” This scene cracks me up, and the audience laughs every time they hear it. Shugs no-nonsense attitude towards Celie is so funny. She practically tells her what she is going to do. And the last line, about liking her step-Pa better dead, followed with my sinister laugh, makes for a great chuckle moment.    

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You, like myself, are a Nashville native…we’re rare unicorns, you and I. People love to grumble about ‘New Nashville’, but what I want to know is…what’s your favorite aspect of the changes you’ve seen in your hometown in recent years?

TAMICA NICOLE: I LOOOOOOOVE my city! Nashville is one of a kind. It has that good old home feel about it. I particularly love the growth in population. Now, I know some may think I’m strange for saying that, as I’ve heard many say the opposite. Let me explain. I believe growth indicates life, evolution, progression, and transformation. When things are stagnant they become lifeless, stale, dead. Growth is part of being a living, breathing organism in the world we live in. We must learn to embrace it, as we have been equipped as human beings with a natural, innate intelligence to adapt to new situations. So, I welcome growth in my life, in Nashville, in population, new experiences, love, opportunities, good health, in my bank account lol, etc.    

JHPENTERTAINMENT: It would seem you’ve fully embraced Nashville’s Music City moniker, considering you’re a singer/songwriter, an artist with Nashville Opera and a member of the W. Crimm Singers, TSU’s Big Blue Opera Initiatives’ ensemble in residence. How vital is it to you to showcase the fact that Nashville being referred to as Music City reaches far beyond country and Americana music?

TAMICA NICOLE: Well, I would have to say I go through life relying on a phrase I heard some time ago, “life takes care of life.” All things are life, including the music we create. For me, I feel things happen in perfect timing. Regardless of the style and genre of the creative works, I think music gets to the listeners in a naturally, perfected way. Through the many avenues of technology music is able to be received all over the world. Music City, in my opinion, is more and more being known for the diversity in music from its creators. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Shug, you no doubt get to wear some fabulous wardrobe pieces. Who’s the show’s costumer and do you have a favorite Shug look?

TAMICA NICOLE: The costume designer is Nia Safarr Banks. She is amazing! Her concepts and ideas for how to portray each character are so detailed and precise. My favorite Shug piece is the costume for Push the Button. It is the dress she wears at the juke joint. The colors are so vibrant and beautiful. The dress makes me feel sexy, yet it’s tasteful. Shug has style honey! Lol! And let’s not forget about the head piece Nia designed for this look. It is simply stunning.

I won’t give away too many details. The people will have to come to the show to see it. But I will say it truly is a statement look, and I am definitely going to give a Shug Avery kind of performance in it! Hope to see you there!

RAPID FIRE WITH THE COLOR PURPLE’s NETTIE, MAYA RILEY

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The last few years continue to be MAYA’S YEARS…how many show’s have you been involved in since returning to Nashville and how much are you loving this time in your life?

MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY: Haha yes! Performing for my Nashville theatre family is my favorite thing, and I’ve had the privilege to work with all the professional theatre companies that I admired growing up. I’ve done around 10 shows (a mix of full productions and staged readings) with Nashville Repertory Theatre, Studio Tenn, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Children’s Theatre, and I most recently did a cabaret with Street Theatre Company. I’m having a great time sharing amazing stories with the community that raised me, and I’m so excited for what’s to come!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How would you describe Nettie?

MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY: Nettie is a vivacious and bright person. She’s deeply curious about the world, and has been afforded the opportunity to go to school and pursue education. Mostly due to Celie’s protection and sacrifices. I think Nettie serves as a pillar of faith for Celie throughout the show. When Nettie is gone, hope seems lost. When her letters are found, hope is renewed. She is sunlight on a stormy day. And a righteous, upstanding, educated woman. Which of course, in the world of The Color Purple, could be seen as very threatening. But she remains hopeful, optimistic and brave despite this.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Some of the show’s most beautiful moment typically involve the reading of Nettie’s letters. To that end, who’s the show’s set designer and is there a particular moment audiences should look forward to involving the set, whether one including Nettie or another moment you witness from the wings?

MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY: Our fabulous set designer is Joonhee Park! She’s worked with the Rep before. Actually, I had the pleasure of working with her on The Cake in 2022. The set immediately immerses the audience in a rustic, grounded experience. I think the most unique aspect of the set for this production is the spareness. It forces the audience to really engage with the subject matter of the story. No frills, no distractions. Just the bones – reckoning with the full weight of the story. And what’s great about that for an actor is that it really gives you the opportunity to imagine these spaces/places and rely on your senses and emotional instincts to breathe the world to life.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of Nettie’s letters. You, yourself are a writer, having shared some of your poetry during your recent cabaret performance. Have you been working on any new material lately and when can we expect to see or hear more from you?

MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY: Yes! I’m trying to practice writing at least 3 times a week. I have plans to publish some of my poems, so I’ll be submitting those to literary magazines and things in the next couple months. And I’ve been doing a lot of dramatic writing as well. I hope to have a reading later this summer for a project I’ve been working on. I want to hear it aloud to help me continue editing it. Hopefully, you’ll see some of my written work onstage or on screen somewhere soon!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What themes explored within The Color Purple do you think audiences will contemplate long after the final curtain call?

MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY: Some of the biggest themes of The Color Purple are resilience, spirituality and love. Alice Walker has spoken in interviews and writings about Celie’s journey with faith. Not in the sense of religion, but the unnamable sense of a higher power, a higher meaning. I hope that people leave feeling empowered by Celie’s resilience and revelations. Empowered to have highs and lows, to live the full range of the human experience, to make mistakes, and love themselves throughout all that. Empowered to discover their own greatness and the sanctity of all people and things around them.

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Nashville Rep’s The Color Purple opens at TPAC’s Polk Theatre Friday, April 5. CLICK HERE for tickets. The beloved musical based on Alice Walker’s classic novel will run April 5-14.  In the meantime, check out Nashville Rep online and follow them on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter. Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire Q&A with Rainey Trevino, Stefanie Londino, Charlotte Woertler and Christopher Swan from National Tour of ‘Annie’; Limited Engagement at TPAC March 27-30

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March 27 is World Theatre Day and I can’t think of any better way to celebrate than chatting with members of the cast and crew of the current National Tour of Annie, one of theatre’s most beloved and enduring musicals. As the company readied for their March 27-30 Music City tour stop at TPAC‘s Jackson Hall, I recently had a chance to pose a few questions to members of the company including: Rainey Trevino, who stars as Annie, Stefanie Londino, the show’s deliciously villainous Miss Hannigan, Sandy’s handler, Charlotte Woertler and Christopher Swan, who plays Oliver Warbucks for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20Q.
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RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH ANNIE NATIONAL TOUR CAST AND CREW

RAPID FIRE WITH ANNIE STAR, RAINEY TREVINO

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’ve been with the current tour since it began in the fall of 2023. How did you find out you would be playing the title role in Annie?

RAINEY TREVINO: The audition process was fairly long. I sent an audition tape in March 2023 and was called to an in-person callback in NYC in the middle of June. A couple of days later I was visiting family in Washington State and my manager called to tell me that I had booked the title role. That was the best moment of my life and I think I was in shock. This has been a dream of mine as long as I can remember. I had the summer off to get everything in order like switching to homeschooling, hanging out with and saying goodbye to friends and my younger sister, and I even had to get my braces removed after only having them on for four months. Then on Labor Day we started a month of rehearsals before hitting the road.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I love that the current National Tour of Annie is being directed by Jenn Thompson, who at age ten, appeared as Pepper in the original Broadway production of Annie. During rehearsals, did Jenn tell you and the other young actors anything about her experience with the show back then? AND…did she offer any advice on doing the work, but enjoying yourselves in the process?

RAINEY TREVINO: Jenn is such an amazing director and she has a unique perspective on the show having worked with Martin Charnin, lyricists and the original director of Annie! She shared a lot of insights and advice with the entire cast and a lot of the history of the show and history of the time period that Annie is set. She emphasized the significance of hard work and dedication while also encouraging us to have fun and find joy in the work.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of the original Broadway production, as your time with the tour began, you received a video message from Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie on Broadway back in 1977, How cool was that?

RAINEY TREVINO: The message from Andrea McArdle had me star-struck. I have listened to her Broadway version of the Annie soundtrack a million times and it was crazy that she was talking to me! I still watch the video every week when we sit in a new city to get ready to play this iconic character.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Annie you share the stage with several other young actors who play Annie’s pals and fellow orphans. I’d imagine you’ve all become very close, celebrating birthdays on the road and exploring cities together when there’s an off-day. Are you enjoying getting to know your fellow young cast members?

RAINEY TREVINO: The other girls on this tour are my best friends and I can’t imagine what this tour would be like without them. We are like one big family. We do almost everything together. We are so close in age 10 and 11 and we are doing this unique thing of traveling the U.S. playing in over 50 cities for more than 200 performances this year, and being with other kids who have similar experiences makes this crazy life seem more normal, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Not only do you share the stage with several young actors, you also share several scenes with Seamus and Kevin, the two pups who alternate in the role of Sandy. I’d imagine they each have their own personalities. What’s your favorite thing about getting to work with the two of them.

RAINEY TREVINO: Working with the two dogs that play Sandy is a dream come true. I am an animal lover and have three dogs and so many other animals at home. Seamus and Kevin are the most professional actors on the stage and they do have very different personalities. You might even be able to see some of those differences on stage if you come to the show on different nights as they each have a slightly different take on their version of Sandy. I love that I get to rehearse their scenes when I first arrive at the theatre and get to cuddle and play with them. I have some moderately quick changes and hair fixes where I get to have bonding moments in the wings with them before heading back on stage. I really love this part of the job.

RAPID FIRE WITH ANNIE’s SANDY BY WAY OF TRAINER, CHARLOTTE WOERTLER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: First off, thanks, Charlotte for interpreting Seamus and Kevin’s answers. I understand this is your first national tour, after more than two decades of training animals for the stage. When did you first know this was the career for you and how did you yourself ‘train’ for this gig?

CHARLOTTE WOERTLER: I knew I wanted to be an animal trainer when I was about 8yrs old. I grew up in Los Angeles going to live tappings of tv shows and was enthralled by the incredible animals on I’d see on set. They always connect so strongly with the audience. To prepare for Annie I familiarized myself with the show both from an audience and backstage perspective so that I could begin breaking down the behaviors that would be necessary to deliver each scene. Next it was about acclimating both myself and our wonderful dogs to the sights and sounds of a live theater environment. 

 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Charlotte, what are some of the challenges working with Seamus and Kevin on tour as opposed to being on a movie or TV set or at one venue for a stage show?

CHARLOTTE WOERTLER: Tour is an exciting new challenge! Both Seamus and Kevin have been so adaptive and assured in navigating this new chapter. The biggest difference is how we’re able to communicate with the dogs as trainers. In a live theater setting you don’t want to see or hear the trainer cueing the dogs so we’ve had to be creative in developing new subtle ways to work with them. We also spend lots of quality time with the actresses who play Annie. This helps to foster a strong relationship between them and allows them to step into the role of “trainer” while onstage with the dogs. They make a great team!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Seamus is a Wheaten Terrier mix, while Kevin is a labradoodle. Aside from breed, what’s another distinct difference between these two dog stars?

CHARLOTTE WOERTLER: They each definitely have their own personality. Kevin is more of the class clown and loves to play ball while Seamus is the consummate professional and his favorite game is tug-o-war. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Are there particular scenes that Seamus and Kevin each seem to enjoy performing in more than others?

CHARLOTTE WOERTLER: They both really look forward to taking their bows. The whole cast has a great relationship with the dogs and they get so excited to run out on stage with all their friends. Waiting in the wings they’ll see Annie coming down the stairs for her bow and the dogs simply light up with excitement and can’t wait to get out there and soak it all in. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s your favorite aspect of life on tour with Annie?

CHARLOTTE WOERTLER: Meeting so many kind people and getting to experience so many new places has been an absolute treat. The dogs and I will go explore local sights and everyone always loves meeting Sandy.

RAPID FIRE WITH ANNIE’s MISS HANNIGAN, STEFANIE LONDINO

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You are back as Miss Hannigan after having toured with the show during its 2022 season. This time around you’ve got Rainey as Annie. How much fun are you having being back in the role and back on tour?

STEFANIE LONDINO: Yes, it’s my pleasure to be back with a whole new batch of chickens in the orphanage. I’m honored to step back into those snakeskin pumps for a second season of Annie!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Researching to chat with you, I discovered that in addition to your work in theatre, you’re also a personal trainer. While I’d imagine the show itself is quite the workout, do you try to work in a workout during your downtime?

STEFANIE LONDINO: Yes, definitely. Workouts are a regular part of staying healthy on the road— I’m so glad for my training and time as a CPT, for all it brought into my life and all I was able to share with my clients.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Vaudeville comedian W.C. Fields famously said ‘never work with children or animals’, yet here you are…I won’t ask the worst, but what’s the best part of working with the young actresses who play the orphans and the dogs who play Sandy?

STEFANIE LONDINO: Well I don’t know about Mr. Fields, but kids and dogs are some of the best coworkers I’ve ever had. They bring an incredible authenticity and an infectiously joyfulness to our tour family. I’m so grateful for the pups and my chickens every day!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I think it’s safe to say audiences have a love/hate relationship with Miss Hannigan. She’s just so terrible, but it’s terribly fun to watch her. Over the years, she’s been played on stage and screen by everyone from Dorothy Loudon, Nell Carter and Jane Lynch to Carol Burnett, Kathy Bates and Cameron Diaz. How are you putting your on spin on such an enjoyably wicked character?

STEFANIE LONDINO: Oh, she’s the best. It’s an honor to stand in this line of legends and give new life to such an iconic character. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to play her real, a human, not a caricature. Her struggle is real, her rage comes from that pain. And the comedy hits harder for that balance, the dark justifying the light. It’s been humbling to have the response be that she’s deeply relatable.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Among your adult co-stars are Christopher Swan as Oliver Warbucks, Julia Nicole Hunter as Grace Farrell, Jeffrey T. Kelly as Rooster Hannigan and Samantha Stevens as Lily St. Regis. Using one word for each, describe your co-stars. 

STEFANIE LONDINO: That’s an impossible distillation! All I can say is that I’m honored to share the stage and the road with them. I learn from them each every day. Tour life has made us family.

RAPID FIRE WITH CHRISTOPHER SWAN, OLIVER WARBUCKS IN ANNIE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Just prior to chatting with you, I had the chance to pose a few questions to your Annie co-star, Stefanie Londino. Both you and Stefanie are on your second season of the Annie tour, so I’ll start by asking you a similar question to one I asked Stefanie. What is it about Warbucks that prompted you to come back for another National Tour? AND…how much fun are you having with Stefanie back as well?

CHRISTOPHER SWAN: Simply…it’s a great job. Singing, dancing, acting…Warbucks has it all. And as you get older in this business, you don’t get as many opportunities to stretch ALL your skills in one role like that.  And a chance to spend this much time with a character is rare. Three months in and you suddenly have a new thought or a take on moment, and that would never happen on a three week regional contract. And having a lot of principles return has really strengthened the frame of the show; given us confidence that we know it so well that we can just be in the moment as real people. Steph and I have shared a wish that Warbucks and Hannigan had more stage time together. We pretty much have separate shows. But I enjoying hearing her performance every night as I’m getting ready in the dressing room. She brings such life to this show. Really embraces this role and the audience and they absolutely love her. Glad she’s back.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of previous roles…I gotta ask…how was it sharing the stage with Nina West during the Hairspray 20th Anniversary Tour?

CHRISTOPHER SWAN: A highlight of my touring life. Nina…Andrew Levitt in real life..is truly a magical being. I hadn’t followed Drag Race before Hairspray and was a little nervous about working opposite a popular drag queen in their first big touring role. How do you address them? Will they be demanding? But Andrew was the sweetest. Kind, humble and nervous.  He was so thrilled and honored to be playing Edna and nobody in the cast was more committed to working hard and doing their best than he was. He LOVED performing the show. We had so much fun together doing the love duet, You’re Timeless to Me; Andrew’s joy and energy leapt off the stage every night. Nina/Andrew are the real deal and I’m honored to call them a friend.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Annie debuted as a comic strip in 1924…What’s it like to think you’re part of an American institution that’s celebrating its 100th anniversary this year?

CHRISTOPHER SWAN: Well, needless to say it’s an honor. The musical will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary next year and love for the show is as strong as ever. I can’t think of any musical from that era that has had this kind of staying power. But you feel it every night on the road. And I’m so happy that I’m part of it.  We met Annie’s composer Charles Strouse when he saw the show in New Haven, and that really brought it all home for me. The time, the talent, the history behind this show is immeasurable.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Obviously Warbucks has chanced a bit over the last 100 years. For one, I’ve noticed he’s no longer referred to as Daddy Warbucks, but rather, simply Warbucks. On a more personal note, are there aspects of your portrayal of Warbucks that have morphed or changed since you first stepped into the role?

CHRISTOPHER SWAN: Well, he has to earn the title of “Daddy” Warbucks, as he does over the course of the show. But when we meet him he is Oliver Warbucks, dissatisfied multi-millionaire. His journey through the show is very moving for me. He would never have predicted what ends up happening to him or how it would make him feel. Annie has a strong sense of self from the very beginning, but Warbucks changes. He doesn’t really know who he is until he meets Annie. And working on this role hasn’t actually been a straight, steady line. It’s strangely cyclical. Some weeks he’s the gruff business man who fights against his own feelings and then there’s some weeks where I find he’s more eager to change but doesn’t know how. It’s probably only a subtle difference that may not be noticed by most, but for me it helps keep my performance fresh.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What theme, idea or sentiment seen within Annie do you hope audiences reflect on long after seeing the show?

CHRISTOPHER SWAN: There’s so many wonderful elements to Annie. I would say, pick your favorite. Family, openness, optimism, perseverance, love. And cooperation. Whether it’s political cooperation in FDR and Warbucks working together, or Warbucks’ staff all pitching in to help Annie. Look for the helpers in Annie; they’re there.

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The National Tour of Annie begins its Nashville tour dates on Wednesday, March 27 with a 7:30p.m. curtain at TPAC’s Jackson Hall and continues with 7:30p.m. performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday. March 28-30. On Saturday, March 30, there’s also a 2p.m. matinee. Tickets for Annie at TPAC begin at $50.90. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

For more information on Annie, or to catch the show in another city during the tour, CLICK HERE. Upcoming tour stops include: Pensacola, FL, Orange, TX, New Orleans, LA, Sacramento, CA, Bozeman, MT, Casper, WY and more. You can also follow the tour on their official socials: Instagram, X and Facebook.

Following Annie, TPAC plays host to a full slate of entertainment for the whole family including Nashville Opera’s upcoming performance of The Magic Flute, Nashville Repertory Theatre’s The Color Purple and Nashville Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet. TPAC will also serve as the venue for a number of acts hitting Music City as part of Nashville Comedy Festival. April will also see TPAC hosting three Arts Adventure youth workshops: one featuring Moana (for ages 7-12), one featuring Beetlejuice (ages 13-17) and the third, an all ages (9-17) titled Let’s Dance, featuring choreography from shows in this season’s Broadway at TPAC series. Speaking of Broadway at TPAC, next up is Disney’s Frozen, taking to the stage at Jackson Hall May 7-18. For further details on these and more entertainment headed to TPAC, CLICK HERE or follow TPAC on Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire Q&A with ‘Girl From The North Country’ cast members Matt Manuel and Jeremy Webb; National Tour plays Music City January 30 thru February 4

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Girl From The North Country, written by Conor McPherson, and featuring nearly two dozen tunes penned by legendary singer/songwriter, Bob Dylan is a musical that takes place in midwest Duluth, Minnesota during the fall of 1934. While the show features Dylan’s music and is set in the musician’s hometown, it’s not a jukebox musical and certainly not a bio-musical. Instead, the plot introduces audiences to the Laine family, proprietors of a local boarding house that, like the rest of the country, has fallen on hard times. Among those taking up residence with the Laine family are a Preacher and a Boxer, played in the National Tour of Girl From The North Country by Jeremy Webb and Matt Manuel, respectively. As the tour cast and crew prepared for the show’s debut Nashville dates at TPAC’s Jackson Hall January 20-February 4, I recently had the chance to pose a few questions to Manuel and Webb for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire Q&A. What follows are those conversations.

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RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY’s MATT MANUEL

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Girl From The North Country takes place in Depression Era Duluth, Minnesota in the fall of 1934 and centers ‘round the inhabitants and visitors of a run-down guest house. The national tour kicked off at The Orpheum (a theatre Dylan one owned), not terribly far from Duluth, which also happens to be Dylan’s birthplace. Was it surreal to open the tour in this way?

MATT MANUEL: It was VERY surreal to open the tour up this way. I can’t think of a better way to have opened up this tour. The audiences really didn’t disappoint. They were with us in every show. From the moment we opened our mouths to sing the first song, to the moment we took our bows. If anything, I feel a bit spoiled by that experience!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In Girl From The North Country, you play Joe Scott, an ex-con/boxer. What more can you tell me about Joe?

MATT MANUEL: Joe was actually always a boxer! He had a promising boxing career until his wrongful arrest which caused him to lose everything. By the time you meet him in the boarding house, you see a man who is determined to rebuild his life. He stays to himself. He is incredibly respectful, but definitely not someone whose bad side you should ever end up on as audience members will see. There is also no coincidence that the softer side of Joe comes out in the presence of Marianne. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When Joe shows up at the house, he’s traveling with a seemingly unlikely companion, the Reverend Marlowe, played by Jeremy Webb, who I’ll be chatting with as the second part of this Rapid Fire Q&A. What’s Jeremy like as a scene partner?

MATT MANUEL: Jeremy is one of the best humans in this business! On and off stage, we have a very close relationship. I can ask him advice or guidance on anything, and he will make time to sit with me. On stage, we have so much fun together playing off of each others acting choices. He is ever present and always ready for the curveballs we like to throw at each other. Offstage, we look out for each other and are very protective of each other, and when we hop on stage, we enjoy our very tennis-esc scenes where we volley our lines and physical choices back and forth to try and throw the other off. I could not have prayed to God for a better scene partner than the one I have been given in Jeremy Adonis Webb. Also, that is not his middle name. I just made it up!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While doing a little digging prior to our conversation, I discovered you and I share a degree of separation….American Idol! I was an assistant to the coordinating producer during the first two seasons back in the day, while you were a contestant in 2013. Stick with me here…How did trying out for Idol prepare you for auditioning and landing later gigs like Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud and your experience on tour with Motown the Musical?

MATT MANUEL: Wow! That is a cool degree of separation!!! American Idol actually helped me with my camera awareness as well as my mindfulness as a performer. There is so much more to being a performer than singing. A fun fact is I booked all three of those things in my hometown of Detroit at open calls. Playing David Ruffin in Ain’t Too Proud really made me put those things into practice. I had to learn how to be comfortable commanding a space and being front and center.

Matt Manuel in the GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY North American tour (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade).

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of your previous experiences, the upcoming Nashville leg of Girl from the North Country won’t be the first time you’ve appeared onstage in Music City. You were one of the stand-out performances just two short years ago as Dustin, in the premiere presentation of May We All, which had it’s National debut at TPAC. What was your favorite aspect of that experience? AND…now that you’re familiar with Nashville, are there any things you’ll insist your fellow cast mates check out while in Music City?

MATT MANUEL: My favorite aspect of doing May We All was truly making friends. We had such a great cast! We enjoyed building that world together through our story telling and to this day, our group text thread is still active. Now that I am going back, I will definitely be getting some hot chicken and I encourage my cast mates to do the same! I may take a trip up to carter vintage and play some guitar as well!

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY’s JEREMY WEBB

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In researching to chat with you, I read one review of a previous production of Girl From The North Country that describes the character you play, the Reverend Marlowe as “non-practicing’. That made me laugh. Is that a fair assessment of the character’s current religious conviction? AND…what more chan you tell me about the Reverend?

JEREMY WEBB: Thank you so much for having me and for asking to do this interview about Girl From The North Country by Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan. I love your question about the character I play, The Reverend James Marlowe and the assessment suggested above! I like to think about James as a person who is doing what he must do in order to survive. We are in 1934, it’s the height of The Depression and there is no social safety net. James has had a tough life and selling Bibles is a transactional means to an end. And as I see him, he also has an authentic connection to the mystic and to spirituality. And while I agree that he is maybe not the most devout man of the cloth you have ever met, we have to remember the dire and strained circumstances of the play.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Girl From The North Country, at least in story and character, seems to be getting a bit of comparison Thornton Wilder’s Our Town…how do you describe the play yourself?

JEREMY WEBB: It’s the week before Thanksgiving at a boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota and a group of restless Americans gather by necessity and circumstance to share community, food, warmth and shelter. No one wants to be there, but everyone has a strong need that connects them to the boarding house. What transpires is a tale of love, jealousy, graft, mysticism and at its core, a perfect miracle.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I have a confession to make…generally speaking, I’m not exactly a huge Dylan fan. I KNOW…I KNOW…but, Will I be after seeing Girl From The North Country?

JEREMY WEBB: Of course you will! He is America’s troubadour! His lyrics won him a Nobel Prize IN LITERATURE! What a treat to get to experience Dylan’s remarkable gift for storytelling and his gut-punch lyrics in a fresh setting and sung by this astonishing company. Especially with these Tony Award-winning orchestrations and arrangements sung by Broadway’s Best! Wait until Matt Manuel sing his heart out and watch him act his face off! It is as if Dylan (who is all about reinvention anyway) has been reborn through this material.

Jeremy Webb in the GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY North American tour (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you could adopt one aspect of the Reverend’s personality and character into your own life, what would it be and why?

JEREMY WEBB: James’ badass hairstyle is key for me. I started out as a young actor in Drama School as very method-oriented and have become much more “outside in” as I have progressed through the many roles I have played in my career. When I settled into James’ badass hairstyle, something clicked for me. There is something telling and unique about the person who never feels the need to run a comb through his hair (we all know one!). So if I had to say, I’d say James’ badass hairstyle. It’s freeing! Less combs! More tangles!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I frequently like to end these chat with this…what do you hope audiences take away with them after having seen Girl From The North Country?

JEREMY WEBB: I know that this musical provokes conversation. On the way home from the theatre and the next morning as well. Don’t try to “get” it all: there is a lot coming at you from this boarding house… sit with us for 2 + hours and feel Dylan stir your soul. And then go away having one of those juicy conversations with your seat mate or family member that only a brilliant piece of theatre can inspire! 

Thanks for the great questions.

See you at the theatre!

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Indeed they will see me there, as I look forward to attending Opening Night of Girl From The North Country’s Nashville dates. Girl From the North Country plays TPAC’s Jackson Hall Tuesday, January 30 through Sunday, February 4 with evening performances Tuesday-Sunday and additional matinees both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information.

Can’t make it to Nashville for these dates? Catch the show as the National Tour continues with upcoming stops in Greenville, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Tampa and more. Be sure and check out Girl From The North Country’s Official Site at North Country Tour, or follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Following Girl From the North Country , TPAC‘s HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC season continues with TINA-the Tina Turner Musical, February 13-18. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Be sure to check out TPAC online and on socials by clicking any of the following:  TPAC.org,  TPAC on Instagram,  TPAC on Facebook, TPAC on Twitter and TPAC on YouTube.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Rapid Fire 20Q with Cast of ‘The Cher Show’; on stage at TPAC’s Jackson Hall as National Tour Continues

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With a career spanning seven incredible decades (and a number-one chart-topping single in each of those seven decades), Cher continues to break records, kick ass and take names. A 2018 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, as well as garnering a multitude of awards throughout her career, including an Emmy, an Oscar and a Grammy, everything Cher touches seems to turn to gold. Proving, as Cher herself might sing that, The Beat Goes On. A prime example of Cher’s lasting mettle comes in the form of The Cher Show, the recent Broadway hit jukebox musical, currently on a cross-country, tune-filled journey as the show embarks on its first-even National Tour.

Knowing that The Cher Show was coming to Music City for a limited two-day engagement, January 19 and 20 at Jackson Hall inside Tennessee Performing Arts Center, I knew I just had to reach out and pose a few questions to the cast. The Cher Show presents Cher in three distinctive eras. There’s Star—Cher in her modern era, played on tour by Morgan Scott. Then there’s Babe—Cher as a young woman in late teens and early Sonny and Cher years, played by Ella Perez. Rounding out the trinity of Chers is Catherine Ariale as Lady—revealing Cher as a solo artist, actress, business woman and mother. If you read my column with any regularity, you know my recurring interview feature is called Rapid Fire 20Q. Seeing as how 20 doesn’t easily divide by three, I soon realized I needed to choose a fourth interview subject. A little research of the show quickly revealed that the choice for a fourth interviewee was obvious when I discovered that among the supporting cast of characters a member The Cher Show ensemble not only appears as Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt, but also as Cher’s mentor and friend, Lucille Ball…that’s right, my celebrity obsession! Done…Lucy Werner , who appears as both Georgia and Lucy, would be my fourth interview for this edition of Rapid Fire 20Q featuring the cast of The Cher Show.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH MEMBERS OF THE CAST OF THE CHER SHOW

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CHER SHOW’s MORGAN SCOTT

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the National Tour of The Cher Show, you play Star, Cher in more recent times. What is one aspect of Cher’s current persona that you’d like to mimic in your own life?
MORGAN SCOTT: Her never quit attitude! She just got ANOTHER #1 Hit which means she has a charted a #1 hit for 7 straight decades. That’s just incredible and goes to show, it ain’t over til Cher says it’s over!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand you have ties to Tennessee, Any plans to catch up with former classmates and friends while so close during your Nashville tour stop in Nashville at Tennessee Performing Arts Center?

MORGAN SCOTT: I grew up in Memphis and then went to college at the University of Tennessee Knoxville where I received my BA in theater. I have many family and friends coming to the Nashville shows!! One of my college theater friends is actually flying down from New York (where he lives currently) to stay with his family here in Nashville so he can come support and see the show. Another close college friend who I traveled cross country with 20 years ago, is also coming with his family. It’s going to be a really magical experience here back in my home state.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of Tennessee connections, we have a mutual acquaintance…my friend Carol Mayo Jenkins. Not Cher-related, I know, but anytime someone knows or has worked with Carol, I have to ask…what do you remember most about working with Carol in a theatrical production?

MORGAN SCOTT: Oh my goodness, Carol Mayo Jenkins is my hero. Anyone who went to UT with me, involved in theater, knows that she was my mentor and completely took me under her wing. I was fortunate enough that during my time at UT, she created a new master class for a select group of undergrad theater students. She then made sure I was introduced to all the resident guest actors and teachers that came in. Her words of wisdom, quickly followed by her iconic “Do you know?” live with me on the daily. I distinctly remember being overwhelmed with fear/nerves before presenting a monologue and she looked at me and said, “You did the work. Now just let it happen. It’s there.” …Also, going back to the never quit attitude: CMJ lives and breathes it. She is still absolutely crushing it on stage.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Can we just take a minute to gush about Bob Mackie? Cher’s celebrated long-time costume designer recreated numerous iconic looks for the Broadway run and the tour. Do you have a favorite costume, whether it be yours or that of one of your fellow-Chers?
MORGAN SCOTT: How does one even choose between these works of art!!? I think I can speak for most of us that during our costume fittings core memories were unlocked. If I had to choose… one of my finale looks, that is the “Goddess Warrior” concert look, just makes me feel incredible. I think it will always rank as one of my favorites because it just represents everything that was just accomplished.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Star, you share stage time with Mike Bindeman and Gary Paul Bowman as Cher’s second husband, rocker, Gregg Allman and younger boyfriend, Rob Camilletti, respectively. Of course the tabloids gave a version of both relationships, as does The Cher Show, but what about the men behind the roles? Describe each of your two leading me using only one word each.

MORGAN SCOTT: Mike Bindeman – Enigmatic Gary Paul Bowman – Pure

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CHER SHOW’s CATHERINE ARIALE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In The Cher Show, you play Lady, as Cher navigates the post-Sonny & Cher years as a solo artist. What more can you tell me about the role?
CATHERINE ARIALE: Lady steps into the spotlight when Babe (youngest Cher) freezes in front of a crowd – being too nervous to continue. Lady is a confident version of the younger Cher the audience sees in the beginning of the show. She comes into the story during peak Sonny and Cher success. She is witty and commanding in front of a crowd. We see Lady at a major crossroads in her life – tension in her work and love life is getting to be too much, and we watch her make choices that will affect her personal and professional life moving forward. I love getting to play Lady because she bridges the gap between the naive young cher and the confident, iconic, diva we all know and love today.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A little pre-chat digging revealed that you received your BFA from New York’s Pace University in 2019, then made the move to NYC where you’ve appeared off- Broadway at Triad Theatre and Theatre Four and now you’re playing Cher in the first National Tour of The Cher Show. Was getting cast as the iconic songstress a “pinch me” moment?

CATHERINE ARIALE: One hundred percent! It was a “pinch me” moment and more!! Leading a national tour has always been a dream of mine, so to officially get the offer was surreal. I remember feeling a bit stunned when I first got the call, it didn’t really sink in until the next day. I went to a little cafe by myself to get breakfast and watch the bootleg on my laptop, and I remember tearing up at the Vegas sequence because that’s when Lady takes over the story for a bit. I couldn’t help but feel so excited and grateful that that was going to be me. I’m sure the patrons around me in the cafe thought I looked crazy!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The National Tour of The Cher Show kicked off back in November and is set to travel to 57 cities. This being your first National Tour, what’s been your favorite aspect of life on the road thus far?
CATHERINE ARIALE: By far my favorite aspect of tour life has been getting to explore the cities we visit. There are so many parts of the country I have never been to, so the fact that I get to travel for my job and take time to explore cute little towns while performing every day is a gift. I always make a point to find a cute local coffee shop, bookstore, or thrift store!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: With Cher’s career and life divided so clearly between Babe, Lady and Star, there are very distinctive looks for each character. While the bangs of Babe and the straight raven tresses of Lady are indeed iconic, to me, it’s the bigger than life bouncing curls of Star that are my favorite Cher look. What can you tell me about Roxanne de Luna’s wig designs and the how donning the wig aides you in your transformation as you prepare for each night’s show?

CATHERINE ARIALE: It is surreal going from a rehearsal room without costumes or wigs, to performing the show at full speed with all glitz and glam on stage. I felt quite connected to the material and my character beforehand, but let me tell you – it completely changes and transforms once you put those costumes and that wig on! Our head of hair and makeup, Lisha Michel, informed me the other day that everytime she puts my Lady wig on, she notices my whole demeanor and body changes – she says I sit up straighter and my face gets longer. This all must be subconscious, because to me, it just feels as though my character is truly complete and I am ready to go onstage! The wig really is the perfect cherry on top.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Lady, you share a scene and musical number near the top of Act 2 that’s of particular interest to me because I’m completely obsessed with all-things Lucille Ball. In the scene Cher gets a little advice from the legendary comedian, played by Lucy Werner. First of all, how surreal is that scene, bringing two of the most recognizable women together on stage for the audience and secondly, how is Lucy Werner as a scene partner?
CATHERINE ARIALE: Getting to do that scene is so much fun – it’s two of the most iconic women ever! The crowd always gets a kick out of the aside Star gives to the audience, “Hand to God guys, this conversation actually happened”, because it really is wild to think of these two women chatting it up and helping one another out during this crossroad in Cher’s life. I couldn’t ask for a better scene partner than Lucy Werner. She comes on with such energy, generosity, and incredible talent every single night. She never fails to bring the house down with her grit and sparkle.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CHER SHOW’s ELLA PEREZ

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You play Babe in The Cher Show, 1960s era Cher. Who is Babe to you and what are her strongest characteristics?
ELLA PEREZ: Babe is Cher’s inner child, who comes back throughout the show to remind us of the little girl with big dreams who got her to where she is today. She’s shy but very spunky, she’s passionate, she’s driven, and she’s going to get what she wants no matter what. I just love her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A quick peek at your performing resume reveals you’ve had extensive dance training. While Cher herself seems to have certain signature moves, The Cher Show, as choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropo is packed with choreo. Is there a dance sequence in the show that you’re particularly fond of?
ELLA PEREZ: I might be biased, but definitely The Beat Goes On. I don’t know how else to describe it besides “So Broadway”.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of dance, during the rehearsal period, what was a typical day like for you and your fellow Chers?
ELLA PEREZ: For me, it started out on the Long Island Railroad, with an iced latte and breakfast sandwich. Initially, we would break up into two different rooms- one for scene work with our fabulous director Casey Hushion, and the other for dance numbers with our choreographer Antoinette. After a few hours of the ensemble and principals working separately, we would merge and put pieces together, which was always so much fun. Eventually we would just run the show once in the morning, take a lunch, and clean specific spots in the afternoon. They were long days, but we had so much fun.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Babe, you share the stage with Lorenzo Pugliese as Sonny. A couple years ago, I had the chance to chat with Lorenzo when he was starring in SpongeBob: The Musical. What’s he like as a scene partner?
ELLA PEREZ: Lorenzo is SO much fun to work with. He definitely keeps me on my toes, and is so giving with his energy and charisma on stage. Working with him felt so natural from the jump.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: With Babe firmly planted in the 60s, Cher presents what would be the first of many iconic looks. If you could time travel, do you think you’d have fared well in the 1960s and what do you think you would have enjoyed from that time period?
ELLA PEREZ: Absolutely. That hair? The crazy eyeliner? I would have thrived back then. I think I would have loved the music the most. It had such a unique sound, and brought about so many musical trailblazers. And I definitely would have been a crazy Beatles fangirl, considering my passion for One Direction growing up.

RAPID FIRE WITH THE CHER SHOW’s LUCY WERNER

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Alright, I’m just gonna admit it…when presented the opportunity to chat with some of the stars of The Cher Show National Tour, Yes, I wanted to chat with the three actresses who play Cher during various parts of her life, but I also wanted to talk to you…because not only do you play Cher’s Mom, Georgia Holt throughout the show, but you also play Lucille Ball in a very telling Act 2 scene. And yes, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that this dual casting is very meta considering Georgia appeared in a 1956 episode of I Love Lucy as a fashion model in the hilarious Lucy Gets a Paris Gown episode, but I digress. How much fun are you having in this show?

LUCY WERNER: Oh my goodness, I need to watch that episode! Did not know this fun fact. I am having an absolute ball, especially playing my namesake. I have always strived to be like Lucille Ball – she was undeniably confident, unapologetically fearless and most of all she was absolutely real. Her timing was impeccable. Watching tv interviews of her astounds me with how authentic she was, which is why she was so funny. Playing her feels very right, I’m so grateful to get to draw on those lips every night.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Georgia, you get to perform one of the show’s lesser-known Cher tunes, You Better Sit Down Kid, which Cher originally released in 1967 as part of her With Love, Cher album. While modern audiences might not be that familiar with it, the song broke the Top 10, become Cher’s second hit. What’s your favorite aspect of performing this particular song?

LUCY WERNER: Yes, I had never heard this song before. Something I love about Chers earlier music is how she’s always telling a story. This song feels so poignant to this plot point in the show that I wasn’t sure it was a real song! It just goes to show she was always a remarkably authentic artist in her own way. She told stories through her songs that she could relate to, or even very personal to her life. I enjoy singing this song because it really has an emotional depth. A father figure leaving the home is a very difficult thing for a child to go through, as well as the single mother left behind – especially during that era. Cher and her mother Georgia went through it many times together I believe.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As mentioned above, you also play Lucille Ball. Talk about icons…Cher and Lucy! As portrayed within the contest of the show, Georgia and Lucy give Cher advice and encouragement. Who in your own career has played the role of mentor and advisor?
LUCY WERNER: I love this question! Most certainly my mother has always been an amazing advisor for me, a sounding board. What you need most from an advisor is empowerment and honesty. Someone to tell you that you are actually doing a good job and to just keep going. To take the scary leap of faith, someone who encourages you to jump! As for a mentor I try to find mentorship wherever I can. Try to learn from all the people that have come in and out of my life, and as someone who has performer for the past ten years that has been many many people! I would love to find one serious mentor though, I think that would be really special. Maybe if I could just stay still for a few years I will find them 😉

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Can you share with me the logistics and backstage goings-on of transforming into Georgia for the top of Act 1, then to Lucy for the beginning of Act 2 and back to Georgia for the end of the show?
LUCY WERNER: Getting into the first Georgia look really just involves some light blush and my favorite wig. As you mentioned I come in and out of the show so I have plenty of time backstage to meander about and slowly change into my next costume. But going from Georgia to Lucille requires a bit of a lipstick exaggeration and a little more blue eye shadow. I love putting on Lucille’s bling, it’s an outside-in transformation for sure. Add a faux cigarette and Lucille is complete! Once again I just need to transform my face and wig to get back to being Georgia. And I have at least 30 minutes for that one so you can imagine it’s nice and relaxed transition!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Lately, I’ve ended most of my interviews by asking one final question. Since you’re my last interview for The Cher Show, I’ll ask…What do you hope audiences remember most about The Cher Show?
LUCY WERNER: I hope audiences walk away empowered! I hope each individual feels that if Cher could accomplish what she did despite the adversity she faced as a woman in a “man’s world” then it should go to show that anyone with such commitment, determination and gusto can make their dreams happen too. Regardless of what she was told and experienced repeatedly Cher declared it is actually a Woman’s World and that might be true today in great part because of her. To quote the show: “It’s about being shit scared and facing it anyway.”

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With that, my conversations with the cast of The Cher Show concluded, but as Cher might lyrically put it, you better Believe, you haven’t seen the last of them. I got you, babe, because the beat goes on when The Cher Show takes to the stage of TPAC’s Jackson Hall Friday and Saturday, January 19 and 20 as the National Tour continues. Nashville performances of The Cher Show are Friday, January 19 at 8p.m. and two shows Saturday, January 20, a 2p.m. matinee and an 8p.m. evening performances. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Following the Nashville tour stop, The Cher Show heads to Conway, Arkansas’s Reynolds Performance Hall on January 21; Muncie, Indiana’s Emens Auditorium on January 23, The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth, Ohio on January 25; Lexington Opera House in Lexington, Kentucky on January 26-28; E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall in Akron, Ohio January 30&31; The Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, WV on February 1 and many more cities across the US through Spring of 2024. CLICK HERE for the full tour schedule and to purchase tickets in a city near you.

You an also follow The Cher Show on socials. CLICK HERE to check out the official site, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Folowing The Cher Show, TPAC‘s HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC season continues with Girl From the North Country from Tuesday, January 30-Sunday, February 4. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Be sure to check out TPAC online and on socials by clicking any of the following:  TPAC.org,  TPAC on Instagram,  TPAC on Facebook, TPAC on Twitter and TPAC on YouTube.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

Theatre Review: National Tour of ‘Funny Girl’ playing Jackson Hall now thru January 7 as TPAC says “Hello Gorgeous” to second half of their 23/24 Broadway Season

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Telling the highly fictionalized story of vaudeville queen Fanny Brice, the National Tour of recent Broadway revival musical Funny Girl opened the Nashville tour stop Tuesday night at Tennessee Performing Art Center’s Jackson Hall, not only kicking off the new year, but also the second half of TPAC’s 23/24 HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC season.

While there’s definitely a percentage of the audience who are no-doubt devotees of the original 1964 Broadway debut of Funny Girl, it’s subsequent 1968 film and Barbara Streisand, who starred in both, it’s been more than half a century since Streisand laid claim to Fanny Brice. There’s likely just as many who are experiencing this show for the very first time, thanks to 2022’s Broadway revival that features a reworking by Harvey Fierstein of Isobel Lennart’s original book of the musical. I count myself among the latter. At the risk of having certain ‘memberships’ revoked, I’m just gonna admit it from the get…I’ve never been the biggest Streisand fan. There. I said it. Heck, I wasn’t even 100% sure I’d ever seen the film adaptation of Funny Girl and I’d certainly never seen Funny Girl on stage. Being a fan of Brice’s era of vaudeville, in particular Ziegfeld and his follies—mostly because of my obsession with Lucille Ball and the comedic similarities between Ball and Brice—I have fallen down more than one internet rabbit hole searching out the few rare clips of Brice, so I was familiar with her story and  I knew the songs from Funny Girl. I mean how can you be a theatre nerd and not know the music of Jule Styne and lyrics of Bob Merrill featured in one of the most beloved musicals of all time, right? Here’s the thing though. None of that mattered once the familiar notes of the Overture began to swell from the orchestra pit as conducted by Elaine Davidson. With each note, my anticipation grew and I somehow instinctively knew I was in for a grand night of musical theatre.

From the moment Katerina McCrimmon takes the stage, she IS Fanny Brice. She’s got the period-authentic New York dialect, the exaggerated facial expressions, but most of all, she’s got the voice. Ok, so the voice might be more what audiences expect thanks to the aforementioned Streisand portrayal, but I’m here to tell you McCrimmon makes the character her own while carefully maneuvering through, and well beyond what could easily be brushed off as an impression. Throughout the show, including more familiar territory of musical moments like I’m the Greatest Star, Don’t Rain on My Parade and People, and my personal favorite, His Love Makes Me Beautiful, McCrimmon vocal range, strength and ability prove time and time again she’s the perfect powerhouse to introduce Fanny Brice to a whole new generation of musical theatre fans.

It’s not just McCrimmon’s talents as a singer that reels you in, as she equally adept showcasing the funny and the girl. When scenes call for McCrimmon to honor Brice’s physicality as a comedic entertainer, her facial expressions and body language rival those of greats of the craft like Ball and Carol Burnett. When the plot goes deeper, McCrimmon steps it up and evokes emotion, not only in her performance, but in the audience reaction. Case in point, at the end of Act 1, when McCrimmon exquisitely belts out the show-stopping Don’t Rain on My Parade, I was frankly surprised the entire audience didn’t bound to their feet for a pre-intermission Standing O.

While I would be satisfied to sit in a theatre and just witness McCrimmon in a solo performance and be completely satisfied, of course she isn’t alone. Guess what? The entire company is quite brilliant. While the real Fanny Brice was thrice married (I told you I’ve been down my share of Fanny Brice rabbit holes) Funny Girl takes place after husband number one and focuses on Brice’s life and tumultuous relationship and ultimate marriage to husband number two, Nicky Arnstein, played handsomely by Stephen Mark Lukas. I say handsomely because…have you seen his social media? Thanks largely to the way Funny Girl is written, and the ‘character’ of Nicky, in particular, we are to believe that Arnstein was matinee-idol good-looking, giving dual meaning to the infamous line, “Hello, Gorgeous”. In reality, Arnstein was tall, lanky and not what you’d call traditionally handsome. But back to Lukas and his matinee looks. Like his leading lady, he’s also go talent to back it up. Under the show’s director, Michael Mayer’s watchful eye, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of Lukas’ portrayal of Arnstein. Not only does he look like an Old Hollywood movie star, he even sounds like one. His vocal delivery, in speaking and in song, sound as though you’re hearing him through a megaphone, with a deep, pure and enchanting vibrato.

Izaiah Montague Harris plays the always in-step and dependable Eddie Ryan, a dancer/choreographer friend of Fanny’s who’s always there to help her with her career and pick up the pieces when Nicky is out of step. When I say Harris’ Eddie is in-step, I mean it. One of the best non-Fanny-centric moments of the show features Harris in a tap-tactic dance sequence. Which reminds me, kudos to the show’s costume designer, Susan Hilferty. Yes, all of Fanny’s period-perfect costumes are fabulous, but it was during Harris’ tap number that I notice a wonderfully clever costuming detail. Hiferty has sewn the occasional rhinestone throughout the pant legs of Harris costume, which catch the light of his fancy footwork and draw the eye throughout the dancer’s entire body, allowing those of us who picked up on this seemingly random detail the joy of watching the full mechanics, precision and skill of the dance.

While the entire ensemble is simply marvelous, other stand-out performances come courtesy a trio playing slightly older characters: Mrs. Brice, Mrs. Strakosh and Mrs. Meeker, played respectively by Barbara Tirrell, Eileen T’Kaye and Christine Bunuan. Tirrell, (who’s stepped into the role of Mrs. Brice while original tour cast member Melissa Manchester recuperates from recent surgery) is the perfect mensch of a mom to McCrimmon’s Fanny. She gets her comedic time to shine in scenes with T’Kaye’s Mrs. Strakosh and Bunuan’s Mrs. Meeker as three old-neighborhood friends who spend their time playing cards, gossiping and bragging about their children’s accomplishments. In their memorable stage-time, T’Kaye and Bunuan charm the audience with their relatable portrayals of ladies everyone grew up knowing. The trio get their own musical moment early on with the mother-knows-best, albeit antiquated tune, If A Girl Isn’t Pretty.

Walter Coopage as Florenz Ziegfeld and David Foley, Jr. as Tom Keeney, two men instrumental in Fanny’s stage success each show different sides of men in power, Foley’s Kenney presented as a bit hard-nosed and doubting Fanny’s appeal, while Coopage’s Ziegfeld is seen as the nurturing father figure Fanny seemed to be missing. More potentially useless/useful rabbit hole info…Fanny’s father was a good provider, they didn’t live on seemingly downtrodden Henry Street as one tune suggests, but he was a bit of a drunk and her mother ran the family saloon businesses. What’s more…the notoriously hilarious Follies scene in which Fanny’s bride apparently got the marriage and family order confused…never happened. As I previously admitted being a Lucille Ball fan, something tells me that sequence was created more for laughs a la the I Love Lucy ‘showgirl’ sequence, than based in reality, but I digress.

In addition to the showgirl bridal number, the ensemble proves their mettle as they tap their way to thunderous applause, with another comedic turn by McCrimmon in yet another tap number, the all-in Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat midway through Act 2. Who are You Now and You’re a Funny Girl see Lukas’s Nicky in a more mature light than the devil-may-care flamboyant gambler he’s playing earlier on, and his voice is up to the challenge.

McCrimmon also gets the chance to show her character’s maturity in the show’s closing number, The Music That Makes Me Dance, during which we get another chance to witness McCrimmon’s vocal goddessness. That lasting final note! Wow…just wow!

Sorry to end my review with a bit of a Spoiler Alert, but during the curtain call, the whole company breaks out into one last chorus of People, and as they gesture towards themselves and then the audience during the lyrics “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world”, they reveal an all new meaning to those words…as performers, they need the audience, and therefore feel lucky to have us there. Guess what, Funny Girl? We, the audience are the lucky ones.

The National Tour of  Funny Girl at TPAC’s Jackson Hall continues with shows through Sunday, January 7. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. You can also follow Funny Girl on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook or visit The Official Funny Girl site for more info on the show or future tour stop details.

Following Funny Girl’s January 2-7 Nashville tour stop, next up for Broadway at TPAC is a limited two-night engagement of the National Tour of The Cher Show with performances January 19 and 20. CLICK HERE for tickets or more info. Be sure to check out TPAC online and on socials by clicking any of the following:  TPAC.org,  TPAC on Instagram,  TPAC on Facebook, TPAC on Twitter and TPAC on YouTube.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!

 

Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of Nashville Rep’s ‘9 to 5: the Musical’; onstage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre September 8-17

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Alright, Y’all KNOW I’m obsessed with any and all things Dolly Parton, so when I heard that Nashville Repertory Theatre was presenting 9 to 5: the Musical, based on Dolly’s 1980 film and featuring songs written by Dolly, I knew I’d have to chat with some of the show’s stars for one of my Rapid Fire 20Q interview features. What follows are my conversations with Megan Murphy Chambers, Allyson A. Robinson, Mariah Parris and Geoffrey Davin.

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Rapid Fire 20Q with cast of Nashville Repertory Theatre’s 9 to 5: the Musical

Rapid Fire with Megan Murphy Chambers, Doralee in 9 to 5

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You‘ve played Dolly’s Steel Magnolias role of Truvy on stage and now you’re appearing in Nashville Rep’s 9 to 5 as Doralee, another Dolly film role. Are there similarities between the two characters?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: Definitely!  Dolly herself radiates such tremendous sparkle, humor, and humanity, it’s nearly impossible to separate her from her more iconic characters.  So not only was she beautifully suited for the roles and their accompanying words on the page, but she imbued them with such a unique style and appeal, you can’t help but find similarities.  Being cast in these two parts has been such a joy and honor, particularly if it means that anyone draws even the smallest similarity between me and Ms Parton herself.  

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Not only are you two-for-two with Dolly’s iconic roles, you’re also two-for-two with Beki Baker, who directed you in Steel Magnolias for Studio Tenn and is now directing Nashville Rep’s 9 to 5. What’s an aspect of Beki’s directorial style that you appreciate?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: How many words am I allowed?  🙂  Beki is such a gift in the room – so enthusiastic, so prepared, so supportive, such an easy leader to follow.  I love the way she comes in with a clear plan and lots of problems solved before we even encounter them, which leaves her designers and performers so much room to play and take big swings.  Beki values the product AND the process, and every minute of it has been a delight and an inspiration!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you were to exact revenge on a chauvinistic boss, which of the tactics from 9 to 5 would you likely choose? Or have you thought up your own revenge scheme?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: This is my favorite question ever, and I’d like to dedicate it to a former supervisor who shall remain nameless.  It would be delightful to brand his ass, Doralee style, and that thought alone will keep me boosted up as we slog through the last of tech.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I often use the phrase “Only in Nashville”. Earlier this week Nashville Rep posted an “Only in Nashville” type post when Dolly herself sent a video message to the cast and crew of 9 to 5. In the message she not only drops the possibility that she might attend a performance, but also mentions that Gregg Perry, who arranged and associate produced (an apparently provided the iconic opening typewriter sounds) for the original recording of 9 to 5 is part of this production’s orchestra, music directed by Randy Craft. How’s it been working with Randy on this show, and do you have a favorite musical moment?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: I LOVE Randy, and the show is sounding absolutely incredible.  I look forward to singing the end of Change It every night, and look forward to hearing Heart to Hart even more.  But nothing gets my blood moving more than the end of the opening number, 9 to 5, when everyone is finally onstage and singing together. Iconic!!!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As mentioned earlier…Truvy…CHECK! Doralee…CHECK! So, any plans or hopes of playing Miss Mona in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas? Until then, what’s next for you following 9 to 5?

MEGAN MURPHY CHAMBERS: I was literally just talking to someone about my Miss Mona dreams just the other day, so SIGN ME UP.  In the meantime, I have a season lined up that I’m so eager to tackle – I’m heading to Nashville Children’s Theater next to play Mrs. Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Foofinella in The Gingerbread Kid, after which I’m heading south to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Studio Tenn!

Rapid Fire with Allyson A. Robinson, Violet in 9 to 5

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If my research in preparing to chat with you proves correct, having a lifelong history of performing from an early age, you’re a Detroit native whose passion for the arts really took wing during recent years in Atlanta, is that right?

ALLYSON A. ROBINSON: It is! I was born and raised in church, which meant that I was doing all the plays and cantatas. My family is also full of musicians so it wasn’t hard to get into the same flow and onto the same path they’d been carving for years. But the full transition into performing didn’t come until high school, when it was brought to my attention that I could sing classical music and opera. So I stepped into that and it took off from there! Went to Kentucky State University for music and then attended the University of Kentucky for a few years. During my first year there, I discovered I had nodules and a month after that my dad passed away. So I was dealing with a lot of identity issues because singing was who I was, but my relationship with it was more for the benefits of being well known and praised, not for the passion of performing. So I stepped away from music for a decade. I became a teacher and taught here in the states and then in Abu Dhabi, and then once we returned back to the states, I became a set teacher for kids in TV/Movies. Watching all the actors and actresses perform on camera awakened something inside of me and I wanted to take advantage of that feeling. I started taking acting classes and book a few short films, got an agent, and then booked a role on a feature film as well! It felt so good to be back!

Then after moving to Nashville in July 2022, I started working at a tech company here in town, who happened to be putting on a Black History Month program. Randomly during lunch, a short clip of a voice recording of my singing started to play because I hit the wrong button. Erika, who was in charge of the program, happened to be sitting next to me. She looked at me and said “I didn’t know you could sing! You’ll sing for our program!” So I was volun-told. I called my friend Ron, who’s an amazing voice teacher and performer from graduate school and told him what happened. So we decided to start up some lessons to prepare for the program, and I discovered that my voice was in pretty good shape! After the program, I told him that I wanted to continue singing and finding opportunities in the area if I could. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand 9 to 5 marks your Nashville Rep debut. How did landing the role of Violet Newstead come about?

ALLYSON A. ROBINSON: So after doing the program with my job, I realized that I wanted to keep this momentum going. I was loving where my voice was, I had fallen back in love with performing, and I didn’t want to lose it. So my friend and I started to research things happening in the area and came across Nashville Rep’s audition season. I was terrified because I hadn’t done this in over 10 years, but I was willing to just go in and get an audition under my belt, and have fun doing it. So we prepped my music and I already have some monologues from doing auditions. I went into the audition room with no expectations of booking anything. I just wanted to go in and say I did it after so long. Prove to myself that I could still do it after all this time. 

A few weeks later, I received three emails for callbacks, one of them being Violet. My mind was BLOWN. 

I took some time, looked through the music and the scenes and just had fun building this character. I was in this to have fun, not prove anything to anyone but myself. We had a dance call first, which I was freaking out about because I’m 34, a mom of twins, and had just started to build a workout routine. I didn’t feel as if I was in ANY shape to get up and dance. And add onto that of course, that I hadn’t done this in 10 years. BUT I made it through!

When we got to the scenes, I was excited to simply work with the others in the room. Nashville is full of so many talented artists and being new the scene, I was interested in meeting and experiencing their talents… and I was blown away. There are so many talented artists here in Nashville, and they’re triple threats! Dancers, singers, and actors, and some of them have even more in their toolbox than that!

When I made it through cuts, I was in complete shock. They had chosen only three people to move forward for my role, and my name was the last one they called. 

When I left the auditions, I smiled. I cried. I had so much fun and in reality, I wasn’t expecting much…and then I was at work and my phone rang. Ms. Yolanda Treece from Nashville Rep asked if I was sitting down. When she let me know that they wanted to offer me the role of Violet, I jumped out of my seat and just cried. I’m crying typing this story out all over again! It was hands down, one of the best days of my life. It was such a beautiful surprise and I am forever grateful to Beki Baker for this opportunity, 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Violet, you share a few scenes with one of Nashville theatre community’s rising young stars, Jalen Walker, who plays Violet’s son, Josh. A mother of twins in real life, has your maternal instinct benefitted your working relationship with Jalen?

ALLYSON A. ROBINSON: Oh absolutely! My maternal instincts kick in whenever there is someone under the age of 18 around. Honestly, it never really shuts off! But when I first met Jalen, he and I were excited because of how much we actually look alike! (Shoutout to Beki for her phenomenal casting). There have been times on set that he’s practiced skateboarding and my eyes are immediately latched onto him to make sure he doesn’t fall. When he comes to rehearsal from school, one of my first three questions is “How was school?”. 

Being a former set teacher, it adds another layer of a protection and a care for any minor whose a performer. They are some of the most courageous artists because they have to balance school and being a performer, while also trying to have a social life and deal with raging hormones all at the same time. I admire him for the amazing work he’s doing with the show and outside of here. He’s definitely one to watch.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you hadn’t been cast as Violet, what other 9 to 5 role might you enjoy playing?

ALLYSON A. ROBINSON: Roz, hands down. Roz is a complex, but incredible character built to weave such an amazing element of joy and entertainment throughout the show and it’s such a breath of fresh air. But there’s no way I could replace the incomparable Evelyn O’Neal in our show as Roz. She is one of the most talented artists I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with. Her songs and scenes are consistently getting funnier and funnier. I can’t wait for the Nashville and beyond to experience her on stage in this show.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’m just gonna be honest, when I first saw the film version of 9 to 5 back in 1980 (yes, I’m that old) the themes of workplace inequality were lost on my teenage mind. Is there a scene in the stage musical or even a passing line of dialogue that addresses that theme that you hope audience pay particular attention to?

ALLYSON A. ROBINSON: The last scene of 9 to 5 is such a powerful scene. My character Violet takes the time to call out the inequalities in the workplace between those at the top who take all the credit and the “little guy” who does all the work that those at the top take the credit for. This scene reveals the realities of the workplace that we are still dealing with today in 2023. I believe it’s a moment that the audience can take in at the end as a revelation that things in our current world still need to change and adjust because the “little guy” is still being stepped on for other to make their way to the top. I hope that during this scene, audience members feel seen and affirmed in their own “9-5” journey and experience in the workplace and will empower them to speak up be out against injustices they and their co-workers experience on a day to day basis. 

Rapid Fire with Mariah Parris, Judy in 9 to 5

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Before we get started, I just have to say how much I enjoyed you as Jen in Nashville Rep’s The Cake. How excited are you to get back at The Rep for 9 to 5?

MARIAH PARRIS: Thank you so much! That show was such a special experience. In fact, every time I’ve get the opportunity to work at The Rep I have an amazing time. It is not lost on me what a privilege it is to work here and I feel so lucky every time I get the call saying that I get to!

I was specifically excited to get the call for 9 to 5 because I have admired Beki Baker for years (over a decade at least?) and this is my first time getting to work with her as a director. She is an awesome human and an excellent leader.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is your favorite aspect of playing Judy Bernly?

MARIAH PARRIS: My favorite aspect of Judy Bernly is her courage. She really starts the show from such a broken place and surprises herself at so many points along the way that she is stronger and more capable than she ever realized. I think we can all relate to feeling scared and doing the scary thing anyway, and I really enjoy stepping into that energy.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Judy, you’re teamed with Megan Murphy Chambers and Allyson A Robinson. Describe your 9 to 5 cohorts using a single word each.

MARIAH PARRIS: Ooof this is hard. How to sum up such kaleidoscopic women? Allyson: Wisdom. Megan: Excellence. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’m totally an attention to details kind of guy, so…The show takes place in an office setting during the late 70s/early 80s. With a set designed by Gary Hoff and props from Lauren Yawn-Kell, is there something about the set or a particularly period-authentic prop that you’re just really into?

MARIAH PARRIS: Gary Hoff is a genius and every set he touches is magical. This is my first time working with Lauren and she has absolutely crushed it.

For me it’s the set color scheme: avocado, harvest gold, and….more avocado. My favorite props are probably all the made up accolades adorning Franklin Hart’s office bookshelf… they are hilarious.   

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Long after the tap tap tap of the typewriter from the show’s title tune is just a distant memory, what do you hope audiences will remember about this production of 9 to 5?

MARIAH PARRIS: I hope this show inspires the audience to consider the dynamics in their own lives- be it home, workplace, or otherwise- and consider where people are perhaps being held back from their fullest potential because of outside forces keeping them down. I hope people consider how they can be less of a hindrance or more of a help to others finding their own ways to shine.

Rapid Fire with Geoff Davin, Mr. Hart in 9 to 5

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about Mr. Hart, as far as your perception of the character?

GEOFF DAVIN: Well, Mr. Hart has been a challenge. Of course you never want to villainize a villain when you’re playing the antagonist. Your goal is always to empathize with them and try to see how they’re right. But gosh, Mr. Hart makes it awfully hard. He’s just such a deliciously sleazy fellow. He always says the most terrible things with absolutely no concept of how terrible his comments are. And he’s his own greatest fan. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Mr. Hart is the show’s villain. How much fun are you having playing the baddie opposite your three leading ladies?

GEOFF DAVIN: I’m having an absolute blast. I couldn’t have asked for a more gracious, talented, fun, and giving trio of power houses to play opposite of on stage. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Even the chauvinistic Mr. Hart has his admirers. What is one aspect of Mr. Hart’s character that you see as possibly redeemable?

GEOFF DAVIN: Well Violet says that she’s never seen someone leap frog to the top as quickly as he has. So he’s certainly tenacious and wildly driven. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: With 9 to 5 being set in the late 70s/early 80s, I’m guessing Mr. Hart’s wardrobe, as envisioned by costumer Lori Gann-Smith, might consist primarily of leisure suits. They say all fashion is cyclical. Is it time for the return of the leisure suit, and do you think you could rock it off stage?

GEOFF DAVIN: I would 100% wear my opening suit it in real life. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: There’s long been talk of a 9 to 5 sequel, at least for the original film adaptation. If there were a sequel, where do you see Mr. Hart in the future?

GEOFF DAVIN: I think Mr. Hart stayed on the island. He now works for the Amazonians, harvesting coffee beans. They’ve even given him a little nickname. I’m not sure how to write it in their language. But it roughly translates to “skinny and sweet”. 

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Nashville Repertory Theatre’s 9 to 5: the Musical plays TPAC’s Polk Theatre September 8 through 17 with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2p.m. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Following 9 to 5, Nashville Repertory Theatre rings in the holidays with A Christmas Carol onstage at TPAC’s Polk Theatre from December 1-17. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information.

In the meantime, check out Nashville Rep online HERE and follow them on Facebook,  Twitter,  YouTube and Instagram.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram  and JHPEntertainment on Twitter. Got an event or show we should know about, drop us a line at the Contact tab. Till then, #GoSeeTheShow!