BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's ALLISON LITTLE Comes Home To Tackle THE NUTTY FIVE

While the city of Nashville has officially adopted the moniker "Where Nutty New Musicals Are Born" (well, not really, but we're trying to make it happen!), the streets of downtown Nashville are being overrun by the tremendously talented, awesomely attractive and preternaturally energetic members of the Broadway-bound company of The Nutty Professor Musical, the Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes musical being ushered to the stage under director Jerry Lewis, "the king of comedy."

Based on the 1963 comedy film classic that has won Lewis legions of fans over the past 50 years, the musical-an obvious labor of love for everyone on the creative team, including JoAnn Hunter, the choreographer whose first professional gig was at Nashville's late and lamented Opryland USA theme park-the musical begins its journey to Broadway with a multi-week tryout at The James K. Polk Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, with previews kicking off Tuesday, July 24, with the show's official opening night set for Tuesday, July 31 and the run continues through August 26.

Since the company's arrival in Music City last week, they've been hard at work working out the show's kinks, perfecting the musical numbers and learning Hunter's eye-popping choreography-and spending time exploring the city, no doubt led by some ensemble members who have a close connection to Middle Tennessee…like Allison Little, who's a swing in the ensemble, and who grew up in nearby Franklin and is pretty darn familiar with everything that goes on in Nashville. She even spent summers as a young child enjoying all the fun and frivolity of Opryland-which makes her a Nashvillian through-and-through.

We've been introducing the company's members to Nashville over the past several days and today it is Allison Little's turn to take on our five Nutty questions so that when you see her, you'll feel like you already know her. Or, if you actually do know her already, you can just puff out your chest and say, "I knew her when…"

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? Performing? It would be my dance recital when I was 5 doing a tap dance on the TPAC Andrew Jackson Hall stage to the Mary Poppins' song, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." Watching? Seeing American Ballet Theatre perform a ballet in New York City when I was in the third grade.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I always do a little excited/nervous dance that lasts about 5-10 seconds right before I go onstage. It helps me release that last bit of nervous energy I have.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?I was touring with Cats and we were at the point in the show where Mr. Mistofelees uses his magic to bring Old Deuteronomy back. Old Deut is under the red silk drape and Misto is supposed to only grab the silk drape and pull it off. Well, this particular night our Misto accidentally grabbed the silk drape and the top of Old Deut's wig. So when Old Deut stood up for the grand reveal, drum roll please…there was a big, furry, grey, old cat with nothing but a wig cap (pantyhose) on his head. It was priceless!

What's your dream role? Anything in Wicked and Roxy in Chicago.

You grew up in these parts, so I bet you have a lot of Music City memories you've shared with your castmates, but what's your favorite? Well, I was born and raised in Franklin, so I have a lot of Nashville memories! Some of my favorite would be coming to TPAC to see all the Broadway tours that came through. My second would be going to Opryland Theme Park in the summer when I was little!

• Tickets for The Nutty Professor are on sale now at www.tpac.org or by calling the TPAC box office at (615) 782-4040.

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