FRIDAY 5 (+1): LUCKY STIFF's Bruno and Kramer
By: Jeffrey Ellis Mar. 17, 2017
Street Theatre Company forges ahead in its 2016-17 season with its latest musical production: Lucky Stiff, the rollicking musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, opening tonight at Holy Trinity Community Church on Charlotte Pike in West Nashville.
Cast members - the hardest working man in Music City show business Patrick Kramer and the outrageously funny Katie Bruno - from director Jason Tucker's cast found time from their rigorous rehearsal schedule to take on our Friday 5 (+1) questions to offer us some insider information about the show and what makes them tick, after a theatrical fashion.
Our advice: Read this interview and make your reservations sooner rather than later so you, too, can embark on the comedic, musical and not to be believed theatrical adventure...
Katie Bruno
What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? My first "live onstage" taste of theater was a production of The Nutcracker I did when I was in the third grade. It was a surprise introduction to improv theatre as I played Judge Drosselmeyer and forgot to bring the Nutcracker with me onstage. Oops!
What's your favorite pre-show ritual? My favorite pre-show ritual is rubbing a few drops of eucalyptus oil between my palms and breathing it in.
What's your dream role? My dream role is Fantine, with Kate Monster in close second.
Who's your theatrical crush? My theatrical crush is Jonathon Groff. Come on!
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My most memorable "the show must go on" moment was on tour with the Merry Go Round Playhouse in a production of Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling and playing the ukelele, singing and dancing inside of a huge whale puppet with a solid case of the stomach bug.
Why should people come see your show? People should DEFINITELY come see Street Theatre Company's Production of Lucky Stiff because it is fresh, funny and in-your-face. Also, for the dogs.
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theatre? I was raised on movie musicals and cast recordings as a little kid. On top of that I was infatuated with movie musical cheese like Grease and Xanadu. Then in the fourth grade I started doing school musicals and never looked back.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I tend to listen to listen music that is very incongruous with whatever I'm working on. Lots of metal and '90s hip hop. I can't honestly give a reason why...it's just something that puts me in a certain zone.
What's your dream role? I would love to play Moss Hart in James Lapine's Act One. It's just a brilliant, touching and hilarious script and after seeing Tony Shalhoub in the role it just spoke to me.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? While doing Sweeney Todd 13 years ago, I stumbled running a flight of stairs doing "City on Fire" and dislocated my shoulder during the performance. I didn't realize I had do it at first and it was only when I let go of my throbbing shoulder on stage and my arm started sliding down my body I realized something was amiss! Regardless I held my offending appendage in place to finish the moment then ran off stage when a fellow actor slammed it back into socket and I went right back on stage.
Who is your theatrical crush? I have to be honest when I say I don't really keep up with current "star" musical performers. I love the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds. Oh! And Olivia Newton-John...because well that whole Grease/Xanadu thing!
Why should people come see your show? Lucky Stiff is just fun! It's a light, whimsical and hilarious musical farce with memorable songs...relatable characters and a level of energy that will leave the audience as breathless as the cast once they finish the ride!
About the show: Following the tremendous success of Street Theatre Company's Street Corner Concert season opener Jekyll and Hyde, the company that Nashville audiences known for its thrillingly edgy performances will open its first mainstage production on March 17 with the Off-Broadway musical Lucky Stiff.
With music and lyrics by the dynamic Broadway duo (Once on this Island, Ragtime, Anastasia) Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the hilarious Lucky Stiff tells the story of a hapless shoe salesman who suddenly finds out he will inherit his rich dead uncle's money... for a price of his own. Mayhem ensues as a gaggle of colorful characters cavort through this wacky tale of murder, inheritance, and a dead body!
The musical farce opened with critical acclaim off-Broadway before moving to London's West End, and garnered multiple theatrical awards. It was revived in 2003, delighting audiences and critics alike.
"I chose Lucky Stiff because now's a good time for some laughter," says Street Theatre's Artistic Director, Jason Tucker. Tucker will be directing and choreographing the musical.
"Lucky Stiff is smart, witty, and zany," Tucker promises. "This amazingly talented cast will keep STC audiences in stitches every night!"
Lucky Stiff will be staged at Holy Trinity Community Church, 6727 Charlotte Pike March 17 through April 2. Tickets are $24 for adults and $20 for students and seniors (plus a $3 processing fee), with pay-what-you-can performances on Thursdays (March 23 and 30).
Photo of Lucky Stiff's Jack Chambers by Nathan Zucker
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