The Friday Five: YULE Y'ALL's Bushfield and Wright

Everyone at Nashville's Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre is immersed in the trappings of the season, with the opening of Lydia Bushfield's newest Christmas-themed opus, the appropriately entitled Yule, Y'all! The show opened yesterday (nowadays, openings are two-show days at ye ol' Barn, with a matinee that's sure to pack in the audiences, followed by the official opening night just a few hours later) and continues through December 26.

Bushfield obviously has a handle on all things Christmas and/or holiday season - last year's A Country Christmas, Carol! - and we're already hearing good things about her newest show. For this week's Friday Five, we've focused our spotlight on the playwright herself and actress Lisa Marie Wright, from the show's starry cast.

Get to know them a little better, then call the Chaffin's Barn box office at (615) 646-9977 to snag yourself some reservations before they're all gone - and, trust me, they'll all be snapped up before you can say "Jack Robinson" or "Merry Christmas."

Lydia Bushfield

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? The grade school I attended would do plays for the PTA meetings every month, each grade taking a turn. When I was in first grade we were assigned the story of Snow White and I badly wanted to play Snow. We had "auditions" and I was the clear choice for the role. However when the cast list went up the little girl with the shiny black hair was cast as Snow and I was cast as a deer. It was my first taste of typecasting. I guess I was lucky I wasn't cast as the Wicked Queen.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I like to listen to music that puts me in the mood of the show. Nothing evokes emotion for me like music. Long after a show is over I can hear the music that I listened to pre-show for any given show and it will jettison me right back to that experience.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My favorite involves a pair of Dietz Osborne's "drawers" but I tell you that in private someday. A couple of Christmases ago I took a nasty spill while taking a running exit offstage involving a misplaced bean bag chair during A Country Christmas, Carol. I went down hard, but knew the show must go on. I later found out that I had separated my ribs and torn the muscle in the bottom of my foot. Amazing what adrenaline can do. I didn't feel it till the show was over and I sat down in the dressing room. As a side note I finished a week of shows after that.

What's your dream role? I absolutely loved every moment of playing Boo in The Last Night of Ballyhoo and would love to revisit it again sometime. I would relish the chance to play Eleanor in The Lion in Winter someday. Directorially, I would like to take a stab at Shakespeare.

Who's your theatrical crush? I once had the honor of seeing Ralph Fiennes play Hamlet. It is one of my favorite theatrical experiences I've ever had. I'd watch him play any role any day.

BONUS QUESTION: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I have a pillow that my Gran Gran gave me when I was 8 years old. It has been affectionately named the "woobie" by my family. I have slept with it almost every single night of my life since then. It has gone thru many incarnations. It is incased in several pillow cases, my dear sister has added stuffing to it. But, I have been faithful to the woob no matter. It is my constant, my pacifier, I don't sleep well without it.

Lisa Marie Wright

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? A program at church when I was very young. My Daddy loves to tell this story because he took me to rehearsal and apparently told me that he was going to sit on the back row and wanted to be able to hear me. I guess hearing me was NOT an issue. The way he tells it I guess maybe the whole town could hear me. I can proudly say I've never had a Director tell me to be louder.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Prayer.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Years ago at Chaffin's Barn I was actually not performing this particular night but I was working as a server and I got pulled off the floor on the mainstage in order to go on for an actress in the backstage show because she had been involved in a car accident on her way to the show. I had about 30 minutes to prepare and look over the script and mark it with blocking. Thankfully I was able to fit in her costumes but I couldn't wear her shoes because I have tiny feet; so I remember Adam Burnett going down to the costume shop to pull shoes for me. The cast was wonderful and helped me through it and it was actually quite fun.

What's your dream role? I honestly don't have one particular role; and I've been blessed with opportunities to play some great ones, but as I age and think about character roles, I would love to play Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and I would also love to play Lola again in Come Back, Little Sheba. I played her in college; when I was too young, and would love to play her again.

Who's your theatrical crush? Locally? Whoever is playing opposite me/my leading man, of course! (How's that for a safe answer?) If you mean on Broadway, there are far too many to name. I do adore Neil Patrick Harris and my girl crush would be a tie between Sutton Foster and Tyne Daly.

BONUS QUESTION: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I'm not a girly girl. Yes, I love fashion and shoes; but I absolutely abhor shopping and cannot abide "chick" flicks or romantic comedies. I would much rather be watching football or a Die-Hard style movie and drinking beer.

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