Following a sold-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti makes her London debut with her 5-star one-woman comedy show Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on 2 September for two performances only.
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| Photo by Avery Brunkus |
Known for her dazzling leading-lady roles on Broadway and television, Benanti shows off a new side: serious comedy chops in her debut show that blends side-splitting storytelling with original songs.
Musical theatre fans familiar with Benanti’s Broadway performances, including Louise in Gypsy alongside Patty LuPone (for which Benanti won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical), Cinderella in Into The Woods alongside Vanessa Williams, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and Amalia in She Loves Me alongside Jane Krakowski, will get a special treat to see Benanti in such an intimate space, showcasing her star power and disarmingly funny personal side.
International audiences are no stranger to Benanti’s razor-sharp wit, with her iconic impression of Melania Trump immortalised as a recurring guest on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Other major TV roles include multiple seasons of Nashville, Supergirl, Younger, Gossip Girl, and the second season of HBO drama The Gilded Age.
Laura spoke to us ahead of the London performances.
What can you tell us about Nobody Cares?
The most important thing I want audience to know in advance is that I will not be singing songs from Broadway. All the songs are original comedy songs written with the brilliant Todd Almond. The show is most akin to stand up comedy. Cheeky and irreverent, with heart. It’s not suitable for people under 14, and there are adult themes and language.
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| Photo by Avery Brunkus |
What inspired you to write this show?
Audible theater commissioned me to write the show and all I could think while I was writing it was “who cares?? Nobody cares!” Once I moved past the fear that writing the show made me an out of touch narcissist, I realized that I had an opportunity to make people laugh and feel good about themselves. And that’s worth doing.
How do you reflect on your career to this point and did that help shape the show?
The show is a reflection of my life as a recovering ingenue and people pleaser. I began starring on Broadway when I was 18 years old playing Maria in the Sound of Music. I was thrust into an adult world as a teenager and spent a lot of time trying to be more grown-up than I was. The stories I tell in the show are very much about that journey.
How did you approach bringing the comedy out of the moments of your life that you’ve chosen to share?
Time and distance has made it possible for me to look back at some of these moments in my life and see the humor in them. I’m so grateful to have that perspective and be able to laugh at myself!
What do you hope someone takes away from seeing Nobody Cares?
First of all, I hope they laugh a lot. That’s my ultimate
goal. It’s been really nice to hear from so many audience members that while they might not have had the exact same experiences as me, they relate to a lot of the same feelings. And that feels really good. But mostly, I just want people to have a good time.
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares plays at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on Tuesday 2nd September at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are available from https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/laura-benanti-nobody-cares/
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| Photo by Avery Brunkus |
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