Broadway favorite and country singer Laura Bell Bundy spoke exclusively with BroadwayWorld today about the upcoming release of her newest album, Achin' and Shakin' (Mercury Records, a division of Universal). Her highly anticipated sophomore disc to her previous Longing for a Place with Nobody Home, is a concept album - part soulful and sultry "Achin'" ballads and part upbeat and sassy "Shakin'" tracks. Says Bundy of the idea: "'Two records, one woman' is my motto."
Bundy's first two singles, "Giddy On Up" (on the Shakin' side) and "Cigarette" (from the Achin' side) will be released on iTunes on Tuesday, January 19. Her music video for "Giddy On Up," featuring fellow Legally Blonde tour thespian Brian Patrick Murphy and choreographed by original ROCK OF AGES choreographer RJ Durell, will premiere on CMT and CMT.com on Monday, January 18 at 7:00am. Watch Today's Best Country Music Videos' Cooter Ladies offering their unique introduction to Bundy's "Giddy On Up" here on BroadwayWorld.
BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peak preview of Bundy's exclusive interview in which she talks all things Achin' and Shakin,' her plans to write a musical, her upcoming gay bar album tour, and just how significant of an impact Legally Blonde has had on her life.
You of course have an extensive performing history and songwriting background, including the writing of nearly all of the songs on Achin' and Shakin.' Do you have aspirations to write a musical?
Yes I do! I am dabbling with writing a musical. I can't say what it's about yet (giggles), because it's too premature.
Do you have any interesting promotional appearances or tour plans for the album?
I'll let you know more specifics when they come up, but I am making dancing remixes of several of my songs from the Shakin' side of the album, and I will be making appearances at certain nightclubs in New York and around the country...and more specifically certain gay clubs. I'm sure Splash will be included in there somewhere. I'll be bringing probably my back-up singers and two of my dancers.
Check back on Monday to read the full transcript!
Laura Bell Bundy has been performing lead and feature roles in New York and in Regional Theater since the age of nine. She is most familiar to Broadway audiences for originating the roles of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, and Amber Von Tussle in the Tony Award winning musical, Hairspray, as well as a stint as Glinda in the smash hit, Wicked. In addition to her work in the theater, Ms. Bundy has also appeared as Marah Lewis in "Guiding Light" from 1999-2001 as well as guest appearances on "Cold Case," "Veronica Mars," and Comedy Central's "Strangers With Candy." She can also be found in such films as Dreamgirls, Life With Mickey and Jumanji. She covers everything from rockabilly to Dixie-flavored pop on her debut CD, Longing for a Place Already Gone, which she co-wrote and co-produced. Click here for Laura Bell Bundy's website.
In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, 10 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007.
In the fall of 2007, MTV aired Legally Blonde The Musical in its entirety starring Laura Bell Bundy to stellar ratings and was subsequently nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.
