BWW Interviews: Keri Pisapia, A Life in the Theatre

Keri Pisapia is one of those Nashville actors who has quietly made a name for herself in a wide range of roles and productions during her time on the Music City stage. After adding a number of shows to her burgeoning resume (including the role of Anne in La Cage Aux Folles, which I directed for Circle Players a long, long time ago), she left Nashville to pursue her career in New York City, only to find herself returning to her adopted hometown after her NYC sojourn.

Since her return, she's worked steadily for several theatre companies, proving to audiences and theatre professionals alike that she's a confident, experienced actress of considerable depth, with an amazing range. Keri Pisapia is also a joy to work with, which makes her all the more attractive to directors casting a new production. Recently, she talked to us about her career in theatre, the choices she's made and her decision to return to Nashville following her time in the Big Apple.

Read about Keri's "Life in the Theatre," and you'll see why we're so crazy about her...

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in theatre? I was an acting major in college for all of two weeks - I was fearful I wouldn't have the chops, get booted from the program, and have to "start over" and pick another major. What would've been so bad about that? Looking back, I wonder, what was the rush? So I cut them off at the pass: I graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Sociology. This was all before I realized, at least for me, what you get your undergraduate degree in is of very little consequence - so you might as well study what you love.

What was your first "taste" of theatre? I grew up in New Jersey and was bit by the theater bug from the moment I was chosen to play The Virgin Mary in the first grade Christmas play. It was the highest honor and I played the part with such reverence - I had, after all, just birthed the son of God! The musical theater flu was not far behind. Some of my most joyful childhood memories are of my mother and I singing (into hairbrushes) our favorite songs from West Side Story, Annie, Cats and any and everything by Barbra Streisand.

What was your first real job or responsibility in the theatre? I continued to act throughout high school and college. I moved to Nashville, for the first time, in 1997 and it wasn't long after that I auditioned for my first show here. I was cast as an extra in Circle Players' summer show Bye Bye Birdie. That show marked the beginning of my Nashville theater career. If memory serves, I performed in nine shows in those next two and half years.

Why did you leave Nashville? I left in 1999 and moved to New York. I didn't have aspirations of "making it big" up there. I wanted some kind of a creative outlet to grow and learn and I found it by studying improvisational comedy at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre. I didn't really pursue theater in NY. I tried to keep up with things but cattle call after cattle call left me feeling drained and uninspired.

So what brought you back to Music City? After seven years up there, I was done with New York. I hadn't planned on coming back to Nashville, but in 2006 a series of events were set in motion that resulted in my return. After getting settled I marveled, full of gratitude, at how I had more work, paid work, in my first six months back in Nashville than in the all the years I spent in New York! It was amazing.

Why do you pursue your art in Nashville? What are the best parts of working here? Nashville isn't over-saturated with actors trying to inch each other out and make it big. There are so many talented, gracious people here and a good amount of resources and theater companies. The actors I have met over the years are here because they love to perform and they have either found or created their own opportunities. There are several great things about working in Nashville. For me, the best part is the amazing community that exists around the theaters. My life is so much richer as a result of those profound and lasting friendships.

If you could play any role, direct any work, design any production, mount any production...what would it be and why? For sentimental reasons West Side Story is my favorite musical and Maria is a role that I never got to play but I would have really enjoyed. One of my favorite shows (that I have had the joy of being in) is John Cariani's Almost, Maine and I would reprise those parts at a moment's notice.

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? If someone asked my advice on pursuing their own theatrical dream: the first thing that comes to mind: enjoy every part of the process and have fun. Performing live theater is a metaphor for living a good life: you have to be honest, live in the moment, listen, be generous (to your fellow actors), and have fun.

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