INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BENANTI FROM TheCelebrityCafe.com ARCHIVES
DM) The "Sound of Music" is your first Broadway Show. How did you get the part?
LB) Jay Binder called Papermill Playhouse and asked if they would recommend anyone for the part of Liesle. They suggested me. I went in, and they immediately told me I looked too old. However, they called me in four more times to audition for a nun slot. At the last call, they asked me to read of the Maria understudy - and I got it!
DM) You got the role rather suddenly, then. How has the fame hit you?
LB) Well, I haven't really felt a difference in my daily routine. But it is nice when you see how much people enjoy the show. I'm trying to keep everything in perspective. The highs are very high in this business, and what goes up eventually comes down.
DM) What type of work did you do in acting before this?
LB) My professional experience was at Paper Mill Playhouse (Antonia in "La Mancha", Mary Rivers in "Jane Eyre"), and a lot of work at The Barn Theater in NJ.
DM) What are a few of your favorite things?
LB) Composing, reading and writing, spending time with family and friends. Just normal stuff.
DM) Richard Chamberlain has been called a living legend of the theatre. What was your reaction when you learned you'd be acting with him?
LB) First excitement, then fear, then both... and now elation.
DM) How is it working with the children in the show?
LB) I adore every single one of the children. They are very special and talented people with a tremendous amount of love in their hearts. They are the highlights of my day!
DM) Everybody seems to remember watching the movie, "Sound of Music" while growing up. What are your fondest memories of the movie?
LB) Julie Andrews doing, "Confidence", wow! She's just genius.
DM) What is your favorite scene in the show?
LB) "Favorite Things" and "Something Good".
DM) What aspects of the character Maria most resemble you?
LB) We are both at the cross roads of being a girl and being a woman. Maria never had an easy time of it, but she tried to deal with things in a positive way. I try to be that way as much as possible.
DM) The performance schedule is pretty exhausting. What do you do in the time you have off?
LB) Right now I'm doing a workshop of "Time and Again" so I don't have any time off. But usually I collapse at home (NJ) with my family.
DM) When I went to review the show, I noticed there were lots of children who were looking to get your autograph. How did it feel the first time that somebody asked you for one?
LB) I was, like, "Me? Why?" I was really taken aback.
DM) What is the most difficult scene in the play for you to perform ?
LB) The first number "Sound of Music". It's just me and a stage and my imagination. Some nights are better than others.
DM) What type of music did you grow up hearing as a child?
LB) All kinds, everything from Mahler to Billy Joel. Music--it's just a huge part of my life.
DM) What was the first Broadway show that you remember seeing?
LB) I don't remember. I think it may have been "Tap Dance Kid."
DM) Where do you hope to take your career after this?
LB) I would love to do another Broadway show. But who wouldn't? I just hope to keep working.
