Heading Into Opening Week, Women on the Verge Star Laura Benanti Says, 'I'm Having a Wonderful Time'

As reviewers begin heading to the Belasco Theatre to pass judgment on the new musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, cast member Laura Benanti tells Broadway.com, “I’m having a wonderful time. Opening week always feels a little scary because you’re putting yourself out there to be judged, but audiences have been responding beautifully and everybody [behind the scenes] has stayed really calm. I feel like we have a really good show on our hands, and it’s only going to continue getting tighter and better and deeper as we go along.”

Benanti plays Candela, a gorgeously daffy model who discovers that the guy she’s been sleeping with may be a terrorist. Her tour-de-force musical number, “Model Behavior,” which incorporates panicked phone messages to her best friend, Pepa [Sherie Rene Scott], has been an Act One highlight from the beginning. Benanti explains that changes made during the week of October 26, including shifting the song “Madrid” from Act Two to the top of Act One, have been aimed at strengthening the overall storytelling. “We’ve been tightening up some stuff internally as well as the ending," she says. "Sherie's got a little bit of a song now to say goodbye to the audience.”

The Tony-winning actress sounds a wistful note when asked if she’s ready to face the critics. “You always wish you had more time,” Benanti admits. “But no matter how much time you have, you could fill it. Given the time frame that we’ve had, I think we’ve done a really great job. I’m proud of us!"

Directed by Bartlett Sher, Women on the Verge is set to open on November 4. In addition to Scott and Benanti, the cast includes Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Danny Burstein, Justin Guarini and Nikka Graff Lanzarone.