THE FRIDAY 5 ON WEDNESDAY: Focus on Motherhood the Musical
By: Jeffrey Ellis May. 06, 2015
Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville'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. Sometimes - like today - when there's a show opening on a day other than Friday, we'll play around with the calendar and pretend Wednesday is Friday. Let's face it, in theater we are all pretending everything's something other than what it actually is!
Today, the spotlight shines on Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva, Sue Fabisch, Jaclyn Lisenby Brown and Corrie Miller, the cast of director Kim Nygren's ensemble for Motherhood the Musical, opening tonight at TPAC's Andrew Johnson Theatre. Fabisch created the show, so let's hope she's happy with the way things are going...
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I played a dove in my kindergarten play. I sang not only my line, but everyone else's as well.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I give thanks for being able to continue to work in theatre. It's a gift.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? We had a cast member not make it to the theatre in time for a matinee of Ain't Misbehavin' at Chaffin's Barn. Right before the show, the remaining cast members, our stage manager and our band quickly figured out how to make a 5 person show into a 4 person show on the fly. It ended up being one of my proudest moments because we all stepped up and did what we had to do. My fellow actors - DeVon Buchanon, Ashley Michelle Diggs and James Rudolph - will always have a special place in my heart for pulling out a great show in a stressful moment.
What's your dream role? Sadly, I've aged out of a few of my dream roles. I'd really love to play M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias. I'd also love to play Dr. Livingston in Agnes of God and Bunny in The House of Blue Leaves. Both are roles I played in college when I was way too young. I'd love to have another shot at them.
Who's your theatrical crush? I've always loved Bobby Wyckoff, but his portrayal of Vanya in Nashville Reps production of Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike was "next level" stuff. He's crazy talented.
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater The first show I ever did was Lewis and Clark The Musical. I don't remember that much about it. But there was this talent show that I was dying to be in. So I memorized my favorite children's book, and recited it! It was a very dark/magical book called Rat's Magic. The audience was confused, but I was so proud! I still have a very soft spot for that book to this very day.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My favorite thing to do before a show is to pack my show bag! I have the tendency to bring too much stuff with me, but I never worry about not having something! I love to ready my make-up case, and fill my bag with essentials. Like make up wipes, brushes, new lashes, etc. Nothing gets me fired up more than getting it all together, and then setting up my mirror station each day!
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? While in college, I was doing To Kill A Mockingbird. I was playing Calpurnia and had a terrible case of food poisoning during the middle of the run. My director and the crew were so sweet worrying over me...about how they were going to deal with it. Should they cancel the performance? Push back the performance time? If you've ever met me, you know I don't like people fussing over me. So, I just said to my director, "I need a trash can off stage right, and get me a small bucket that I can have onstage." So I sat in that courtroom scene with a small bucket between my feet, and each time I felt sick, I would quietly lean forward, and the cast around me in the box would wave their church fans and create noise so I was not heard! It was so funny! Everybody was so great about it. I couldn't have done it without them!
What's your dream role? It's always so hard to pick a favorite! I have always wanted to play Kate in Kiss Me Kate, and Madame Fosca in Stephen Sondheim's Passion.
Who's your theatrical crush? Ha! I have tons! Ok ok, here's a couple. Well I must say that I am oh so fond of Daniel Radcliffe, Jude Law, Ramin Karimloo and Bette Midler.
Sue Fabisch
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? When I was in third grade, I had the part of the rubber ducky in Toyland. During the dance break of my song, I turned around and wiggled my butt to the audience. The place went wild! So I did it again...and they went wild again! That's when I knew that showbiz was for me!
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I love praying with my fellow actors and crew before we go on stage. It allows me to put this "showbiz" thing into perspective...it's humbling...
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My high school show choir was entertaining at an all-male correctional facility and in the middle of my solo, I forgot the words. First I started making up jibberish, but then I finally admitted that I had forgotten the words. I started laughing, then they started laughing and it really broke the ice for us. We actually wound up staying there for several hours singing showtunes and Christmas carols with these guys and they were so appreciative.
What's your dream role? Slightly-overweight, playwright, housewife, lying on a beach somewhere with a smoothie in my hand...please don't wake me...
Who's your theatrical crush? Babs, of course. Funny Girl changed my life, and well, A Star Is Born, gave me a whole new repertoire. Also Bette Midler. Actually people say that I remind them of both. I think it's my hair and my nose, but hey, I'll take it!
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I sang "Rubber Ducky" from Sesame Street in my church's talent show when I was three years old. My Dad, Jeff Lisenby, accompanied me on the piano. I'm pretty sure I was the star of that show, though from cuteness, not talent!
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I'm a stickler for warming up vocally, which I usually do in the car on my way to the gig. I once had people applaud me from their cars as I rehearsed "The Star Spangled Banner" at a stoplight.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? In the seventh grade at Wharton Arts Magnet School in Nashville (now I. T. Cresswell Arts Magnet), played Lady Larkin in Once Upon A Mattress, under the direction of Daron Bruce. There's a scene at the end of the show where Prince Dauntless (played by Derek Pell, now a well-respected studio session fiddle player) pulls all of these crazy things out from under the mattress and tosses them offstage. I wasn't paying attention and got smacked in the face with a flying rubber chicken. Amidst huge laughter, I took the chicken with me onstage for curtain call.
What's your dream role? It used to be Cathy in The Last 5 Years but I'm kinda over that show now. Unrealistically, I'd love to sing Maria in West Side Story, but ain't nobody gonna cast a plump 30-year-old blonde girl in that role. Realistically, someday I'd like to age into singing Mrs. Potts in Beauty And The Beast.
Who's your theatrical crush? Jef Ellis, duh
What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My family has always been very theatrical. When I was two years old my siblings used to put me up in front of their friends and dog and pony me, then when I was about five years old, my brother and sisters were performing in their high school pops concert my sister pulled me up on stage to be in one of their numbers. I was hooked and it's all been downhill from there. No, but seriously, I knew I always wanted to be onstage.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Hot green tea with honey and stretching
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Hmm...so many to choose from: One is the first night I was going on as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Boiler Room Theatre. There is a very quick costume change into the ballgown. Well, let's just say the gown wasn't completely fastened and when I went out onstage it came completely open in the back. I had to adjust my blocking to keep by back constantly away from the audience as much as possible. But it was gaping very noticeably - as in falling off if I didn't keep my hands on it!
What's your dream role? I have never just had one and have been really fortunate to get to play several of them already. I think this is a really fluid list as you age and grow as an actor. Annie Oakley was one I already got to play and I could play her for the rest of my life. Others are now Diana in Next to Normal, Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Donna in Mamma Mia, Sally in Cabaret, Fiona in Shrek, Inga in Young Frankenstein and Polly in Crazy For You... still too many to list!
Who's your theatrical crush? Ooh...hmmmm...so many, but I'd say Meryl Streep probably tops my list. I aspire to be even half the actor she is. Love her. I don't get star struck very easily, but she is one of the very few who I believe if we were ever to meet, I would turn into a pile of mush.
ABOUT MOTHERHOOD THE MUSICAL: Starting tonight, Wednesday, May 6, the international sensation Motherhood the Musical comes home for a run at TPAC's Andrew Johnson Theatre. The show first debuted as a workshop at the Darkhorse Theater in November 2008 and was picked up by several producers by the end of that year.
Motherhood the Musical is a four-woman show from author, songwriter and Nashville mom Sue Fabisch, who tapped into the country market with her wildly successful parody The Mom of Constant Sorrow. Sue performed her songs about motherhood as a one--woman show for years in the Nashville area before rewriting it into the four-woman format that Motherhood the Musical is today.
The musical, which has 18 original songs, all written or co-written by Fabisch, includes the hilarious Billboard Top 10 comedy hit, "The Kids Are Finally Asleep"; the rousing call-to-shoppers "Costco Queen;" and the tender ballad "I'm Danny's Mom."
Motherhood the Musical shares the humorous, loving journey of Amy, a soon?to-be first-time mom; Barb, an over-worked, underpaid, stressed-out mother of five; Brooke, a lawyer who works too much and barely sees her kids; and Tasha, a single mom struggling to balance work, family and a divorce. The cast is full of local talent, most of them moms as well: Jaclyn Lisenby Brown, Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva, Corrie Miller and Sue Fabisch. The company is directed and choreographed by Kim Nygren, with Production management by Cecelia Lighthall, two more local talents and moms. The award-winning Johnny Rodgers supplies music direction and supervision, arrangements and orchestrations.
Motherhood the Musical is the rare show that audiences not only relate to - they actually can 'see' themselves on stage through the cast's portrayal of common experiences all moms have. From being pregnant to succumbing to driving a minivan, from facing an empty nest to anxiously awaiting one's first grandchild, the musical really covers the entire wonderful, crazy journey of being a mom. Anyone who has ever been a parent - fathers as well as mothers - can relate to this show.
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