BWW Interviews: BONNIE KEEN Tackles The Friday Five (And Lives to Tell About It)

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com's latest installment of The Friday Five: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state.

Today, the spotlight falls upon Bonnie Keen, one of Nashville's most beloved entertainers, who this weekend lends her estimable talents to the staged reading of Christopher Davis and Frederick Richardson's Punchinello, a new family-friendly musical based upon the children's books of Max Lucado. The staged reading of Punchinello is set for Friday and Saturday nights, March 16 and 17, with a 7:30 p.m. curtain, in Wallace Chapel at Christ Church Nashville, 15354 Old Hickory Boulevard. (Tickets are $10, $5 for children under 12.)

Throughout her storied career (Oy! Does she have stories!), Bonnie Keen has captivated audiences, whether as a concert artist, as an amazingly adept musical comedy performer or as a serious actress. She's one of those rare performers who instantly engages her audiences and whose wit, charm and genuine sincerity typify her as someone very, very special.

Find out what makes Bonnie-well-Bonnie in today's installment of The Friday Five and then go to Christ Church Nashville this weekend and watch her and an all-star cast of Nashville favorites in Punchinello…

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My first onstage taste of theater came at the age of 11 when I was cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland at Nashville Children's Theatre. I was 11 years old when I played Alice. From the second I walked into the theatre I was captivated by the smell of the room, the lights and colors of the costumes, the bigger than life sets,  and the magic of working with a cast of seasoned professionals, learning so much from their generosity.  I was also very lucky to have one of the kindest directors who took me under his wing, patiently taught and allowed me to explore the joy of acting. I fell hook, line and sinker in love with theatre and have never recovered.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I am one of those obnoxious people who try to get away with peeping through any slit in the curtain to see who might be in the audience. It's shameful. I should be horse whipped. Seriously, before any performance I have to be completely alone to say a prayer of gratitude, thankful to the core for the chance to do what I love. My fallback ritual is kind of spastic; shaking out my arms, legs, pacing and muttering. It's strangely comforting and when combined with peeking through the curtain, quite satisfying.

If I'm in a musical, my favorite pre-show ritual is to find a dark space back stage and listen to the orchestra or band warm up. Hearing the cacophony of the instruments playing all at once is both symbolic and deeply moving. 

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? How to pick one? Impossible! In the top five was opening night of a production in upstate Michigan, making up lines as Mary (the sister of Lazarus). Lazarus was literally wrapped head to toe, couldn't see a lick and stuck in his tomb, repeatedly bumping into the back of the set which was not on its mark and about to fall into the pit. When the time came for his resurrection, no Lazarus came forth. There was just a lurching tomb inching toward The Edge of the stage. With no good choice I went in to drag him out saying, "I know he's alive...Where is he? I hear something...Is it? Could it be?" All the while "Jesus" stood center stage arms raised, music blaring, fog machine on stun, waiting...waiting....on the miracle...but I digress.

It had to be when I worked as a singer/dancer at Opryland USA. I was in a Broadway revue which debuted in the brand new Roy Acuff Theatre. Our first number involved a quick few lines from "Another Opening, Another Show" downstage and a lightning quick dash upstage  to crawl through sparkling massive letters that spelled "ON WITH THE SHOW." The silver costumed number centered on a classic dance using top hats. One fateful day, the set that held our hats was stuck in the fly space. Running in the dark, all it took was one cast member who fell.

Our 20-member cast dog-piled onto each other, hatless and mortified. One by one we untangled ourselves and tried crawling through the letters, attempting to mime the hats and go 'on with the show'.  The audience looked mortified which made it even more hilarious. It's the only time I recall an entire company laughing so hard onstage and no one could recover. We were in hysterics.  The brave soloist continued alone belting out "If They Could See Me Now," in spite of it all. Truer words were never sung. 

What's your dream role? Dream roles change with time. Dot from Sunday in the Park With George will always be a fantasy role along with Desiree from A Little Night Music. Present dream role: Mama Rose in Gypsy who is my mother (sans the daughter who strips for a living).

Who's your theatrical crush? Mandy Patinkin…finishing the hat.

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