BWW Interviews: Cori Laemmel, A Life in the Theater

Cori Laemmel is one of those actresses you're instantly drawn to onstage: When she comes on, there's an indefinable quality about her that rivets your attention to her, regardless of the role she's playing. Offstage? Well, you find yourself in that same, almost indefinable, realm of being unable to stop watching her: She's charming, as sweet and disingenuous as anyone could possibly be, funny and slightly goofy - and absolutely, completely, no-doubt-about it a star-in-the-making. Seriously, she's got mad talent and remarkable skill. The fact that she is pursuing her theatrical dreams in Nashville is just so much luck for those of us fortunate enough to revel in the spectacle that is she.

Last year, following her star turn at First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors (she closed the show with the equally amazing Laura Thomas Sonn - but that's another story altogether), she went into rehearsals for her Nashville Children's Theatre debut in Seussical the Musical - the definitive and unparalleled rendition of that recently over-done show in Music City (in other words, after at least six productions in the past year, let's just hope local theater companies are over that particular trend; NCT does it best and that's that) - moving on to her Tennessee Repertory Theatre debut in Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern, affording her fans and new audiences alike, the chance to see an entirely different and, perhaps surprising, side to her tremendous talents.

Married to Tyson Laemmel, the recent star of Circle Players' The Wedding Singer (playing opposite the aforementioned Sonn) and Street Theatre Company's Macabaret, Cori is in-demand and, clearly, her star is on the rise, which is exemplified by her burgeoning resume and inability to schedule lunch with the theatre critic determined to hear a thank-you speech from her on a future Tony Awards telecast.

Before that, however, she now finds herself - along with four other friends and bright, young lights of Nashville theater - in rehearsals for FIVE, an evening of cabaret performances presented by MAS Nashville, featuring in addition to Cori, Erin Parker, Laura Matula, Melodie Madden Adams and Megan Murphy Chambers. It's an eagerly anticipated night of song and spectacle that's already sold out - and a harbinger of bigger things to come, we suspect, for all the young women starring in that particular showbiz diversion.

Luckily, for us, Nashville's wacky winter weather recently gave Cori Laemmel a rare day off to consider our questions and to give us some insight into her personal and unique "Life in the Theater." Read, enjoy and you can tell people someday that "you knew her when..."

What was your first taste of theater? When I was a toddler my parents spent some time at a Hindu Commune called "Mount Madonna" (Yes, I am from Santa Cruz, California). My Papa was in a staged version of The Ramayana that they produce every year and I went to see him. Generally, I was just nuts about performing. I used to write songs about my cat to the tune of old Buddy Holly songs and sing them for show and tell...you can only imagine how cool and popular I was. Even if it didn't earn me popularity points, it did inspire my teacher to talk with my Mama about putting me in theater.

What was your first real job or responsibility in the theater? I had grown up in several children's theater programs, and when I got into my early teens, one of the groups allowed me to work with the younger kids on their projects as a way to pay for my tuition to the program. That was a huge landmark in my life. It fostered both a love of performing, and a love of teaching that would follow me through my whole life. There is something so magical about being a part of someone's first steps on to the stage. It makes you fall in love all over again.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in theater? I can't remember a time where I wasn't pursuing performing it in some form. I didn't realize until I was older how special it is to know what it is you want to do as a child. That love never changed for me. I grew up in theater, spent a little time doing television work, and then dove head first into music. Writing and singing was my focus all the way through college, but theater would always be my first love. The best people are in theater. There is no other place where you build a family, quite like you do there.

Why do you pursue your art in Nashville? What are the best parts of working here? I came here for a job in the music industry, and was going to stay six months. It's been five years. I was taking voice lessons with this amazing woman named Phoebe Binkley. She cut out an ad for auditions for Oklahoma with Circle Players. I didn't know anyone here, and she thought it would be a good way to meet people. I met my husband, and some of my closest friends because of that show, and I haven't left Nashville stages since. You can't find people like this anywhere else, I really do believe that. To have both the talent level and heart that Nashville theater has is nothing short of magic.

If you could play any role, direct any work, design any production, mount any production...what would it be and why? Oh, goodness. I think some of my favorite roles have been in shows that I had never heard of and fell in love during the process. I would love to keep that sort of thing coming. I would love to play Cathy in The Last Five Years, it's my favorite show and I just adore the music. I love to write for kids and teens and have a few scripts that I cannot wait to stage with my kiddos. The Wizard of Oz was my first show and I've done it 5 times throughout my life. I think staging that with The Theater Bug [Laemmel's theater workshop/academy for younger performers] someday would be a really cool "full circle" kind of thing.

Who would play you in the film version of your life story? [Nashville actress] Anastasia Teel. She would make me look better.

What's your favorite play/musical? The Last Five Years and The Wizard Of Oz hold special places in my heart for different reasons, but if I thought about this question too hard, you'd never hear the end of this list.

If you could have dinner with any three figures (living or dead, real or fictional) who are a part of the theater, who would you choose and why? Audrey Hepburn, right after she premiered Gigi on Broadway....after that....well...how do you top that?

Imagine a young person seeing you onstage or seeing a production in which you played a major role coming up to you and asking you for advice in pursuing their own theatrical dream...what would you say? Be easy to work with, I don't care how good you are, if you are a jerk no one is going to want to hire you. Never stop learning, there is always room to grow and that may be one of the coolest parts of what we do. Be supportive and loving of people with your shared dream. Either someone is going to cast you, or they aren't. Better to be in an audition room with friends than competitors don't you think? We work in a completely unique, and wonderful, and crazy difficult industry. I think creating a community based on love and mutual respect is the only way.

Cori Laemmel headshot by Bella Flora Photography/Nashville; Cori as Audrey photograph by Anthony Matula/Nashville

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