South Pacific Star Laura Osnes Shows Off Some Enchanted Keepsakes

Laura Osnes is enjoying her second stint as cockeyed optimist Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater’s Broadway revival of South Pacific. It’s a demanding role, for sure, so it’s important for Osnes to get comfortable in her underground dressing room at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The charming star surrounds herself with homey touches, keepsakes and a favorite snack food that wouldn’t seem to be the ideal choice for a singer performing half a dozen Rodgers & Hammerstein classics eight times a week! Read on as Laura describes a few of her favorite things.

Photo by Jenny Anderson for Broadway.com



"I keep a journal of every show I’ve done—I’ve gone through probably eight of these since middle school. I write about inside jokes that accumulate backstage, rituals that I do before the show, things that went wrong onstage—all kinds of little memories. I’ve gone back and read some of the early ones, and they’re so special to have. But I hope they never get published!"



"I really can’t live without my peanut butter. My dresser, Tammy, and I like to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on graham crackers at intermission. I have a spoon of peanut butter or peanut butter crackers almost every day. All of my difficult singing is over by intermission and I’m done with the swimsuit, so it’s my treat."



"My grandma was a nurse right after World War II, and I have her framed picture to remind me every day of who I am playing in this wonderful production. She came to see me in the show last summer, and that was super-special—she cried a lot! If I ever don’t feel like doing the show, I look at her picture and do it for her."



"These are my fuzzy ducky slippers, which [director] Bart Sher says I should be embarrassed to wear around backstage. Laurissa [Romain, who plays Ngana] gave them to me for my first performance, and they’ve become my trademark. I slip them on after ‘Wonderful Guy’ and wear them all over the place. They’re really comfy."



"My wonderful little sculpture was made for me by [Grease co-star] Max Crumm’s mom. She has a business called Desert Divas that makes these beautiful glass things with crosses on the top. I have quite a few of them. I keep this one in my dressing room because it reminds me of Max and of my faith. It’s very special."