THE FRIDAY FIVE (on Thursday): Fossee and Chambers

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville's latest installment of The Friday Five on Thursday: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state. Today, our spotlight focuses on Rosemary Fossee and Megan Murphy Chambers, two of the powerhouse talents slated to appear in the world premiere of Geoff Davin's original show The First Church of Mary, The Repentant Prostitute's FIFTH ANNUAL Benefit Concert, Revival, and Pot Luck Dinner, directed by nine-time First Night Award winner Martha Wilkinson and starring Davin, Fossee, Chambers, Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva and Brooke Leigh Davis (the latter two recently took part in Friday Five festivities, leading to today's subjects Fossee and Chambers).

The show debuts tomorrow night, May 29, at BLDG Nashville in Five Points/East Nashville, so we're giving you a head start so you can get to know more about two of Davin's leading ladies.

Rosemary Fossee

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? When I was eight, I saw a high school production of Guys and Dolls, and I distinctly remember feeling a magical energy at the end of "Marry the Man Today." Something about the harmony on the word "tomorrow" that ends the song just hit me the right way. I was so sold I asked to go see the show again the next day, specifically to hear that song. I can undoubtedly say that moment changed how I experienced theatre. I really started paying attention, wanting to feel that same magic again, and it was not long after that I realized I could acquire that same positive energy by being onstage and not just watching.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? What I do before each show changes depending on what the show calls for physically, vocally, or emotionally. I generally spend several hours before I go to the theatre thoroughly warming up and staying by myself. Other than that, I am sure to show up at the venue with coffee and my train case. There is a sense of comfort is that constant.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? There is absolutely nothing like a good wardrobe malfunction in a dance show when you're only wearing lingerie. I was Lulu in Nashville Repertory Theatre's production of Cabaret, and was smitten with a beautiful set of pink lingerie that was my costume. One evening during "Mein Herr" while laying over a cabaret chair singing, and dancing, I took a deep breath that was too much for adorably period, but very fragile vintage buttons that held my bra together. Needless to say, I kept my upper arms pinned to my side for the rest of the number. That would have been a very different kind of show. Thank god for dressers and safety pins.

What's your dream role? My dream role has not changed since I was 15. I would love to be Luisa in The Fantasticks.

Who's your theatrical crush? This question has to go back in time. My theatre crushes are a young Paul Newman, Robert Redford, or George Peppard.

Megan Murphy Chambers

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I'm going to reach deep into the cliche bucket - my first leave-a-whopping-impression piece of theatre was a tour of Cats. I remember being wowed while simultaneously experiencing the third-grader version of "WTF...?". My sister and I elbowed each other so much when we weren't too busy loving it.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Different little routines become rituals for me depending on the show, but the one constant is dressing room conversation. Nothing makes me feel more ready to perform than those 30 to 60 minutes. The discussion is usually hilarious, often insightful, sometimes trivial; but it always leaves me energized and feeling like my soul's been fed. I can't imagine wanting a private dressing room - I'd miss too much.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Demolishing my ankle during the final preview for Sweeney Todd last October. When I knew there was no way I was walking anywhere, Patrick Waller picked me up and carried me to my next entrance, and then Galen Fott and Nathan Meyer carried me off after the finale. Not the best night of my life. A much more fun example was having too many pre-matinee backstage mimosas with Sondra Morton during Nuncrackers. The champagne hit both of us like a ton of bricks right around places, when it was far too late to rethink our choices. We spent the next two hours like Elaine Stritch and Judy Garland in habits. So unprofessional, so f-ing fun.

What's your dream role? Mama Rose in Gypsy (someday), Sylvia in Sylvia and Hildy in On The Town (today), Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac (after some major life changes), pale, lovable street-racer with a taste for younger men in Fast and Furious 8 (forever).

Who's your theatrical crush? My endlessly inspiring fellow MAS ladies and Sam Whited.

About the show:

Directed by nine-time First Night Award winner Martha Wilkinson, The First Church of Mary stars an impressive cast of Nashville favorites, including Megan Murphy Chambers, Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva, Brooke Leigh Davis and Rosemary Fossee, in addition to the versatile and imaginative Geoff Davin (whose previous onstage forays, if one needs further proof of his range, include the critically acclaimed role of Dr. Frank N Furter in Boiler Room Theatre's The Rocky Horror Show and Nashville Rep's productions of Death of a Salesman and A Christmas Story).

Working with Wilkinson and that starry ensemble has allowed Geoff Davin, writer, to gain a different perspective on his creation. "As the writer...you live so long with these words and voices in your head. You hear them a certain way. But I love it when the actors discover aspects of the character that you (the writer) didn't even know were there."

Davin's newest character study - Adamenses Huckster - is described as an over-the-top, gregarious, completely unfiltered, and generally inappropriate preacher for the "First Church of Mary, the Repentant Prostitute."

The show takes place on the evening of First Church's fifth annual benefit concert, revival and pot luck dinner. Audiences can expect a concert of 11 exciting soul/gospel infused songs written and/or arranged by Davin with additional contributions from local songwriters Nicole Boggs, KelleyAnn Hocter, and David Mescon.

"Audiences can expect plenty of laughs, some highly irreverent preaching (not for the faint of heart), some great music backed by a fantastic seven-piece band, and some good food from Drifters BBQ. Plus there will be cake! So really...how can you not come to this?" Davin exclaims.

Davin's irreverent reverend will offer up some preaching that's not intended for the faint of heart, accompanied by a dinner of barbecue from Drifter's that includes both meat and vegetarian options (hey, the show's being performed in East Nashville, so what else could you expect?).

Performances take place at BLDG Nashville, located in the Five Points area of East Nashville, with performances set for May 29-31. Tickets are $38 and the ticket price includes a full barbecue dinner (vegetarian options available as well) catered by Drifters Nashville. The dinner includes pulled pork or barebecued chicken, macaroni and cheese, and slaw. The vegetarian option substitutes fried tofu for the pork or chicken. And like every good church potluck in the South, there's plenty of iced tea to be had, and you can even sneak in a bottle of your favorite libation, without fear of any church roofs falling on your drunken head. Go to www.repentantprostitute.com for details and to purchase tickets.

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