A Raven Rises
No doubt about it: the part of Paradice is a huge step up from playing one-third of Caroline Thibodeaux's radio in last season's love-it-or-hate-it Caroline, or Change, a fact that Keller doesn't take lightly. In fact, after close to 20 years as a professional actress, she knows that flashy roles like this don't come around often, if ever, for aspiring divas like herself. "Everyone tell me this is the role of a lifetime," she said. "I feel very fortunate." Asked if she was aware of how juicy it was when she first landed the part back in early 2003 for a pre-Broadway run at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Keller laughed. "Well, I knew she would stand out. You can't help but notice Paradice!"
Straight out of high school, Keller landed a leading role in off-Broadway's Mama, I Want to Sing, a show she wound up touring with for a good four years. Regional productions of Beehive, Little Shop of Horrors and Dreamgirls (playing Lorell opposite both Jennifer Holliday and Frenchie Davis) have followed over the years. Keller made her Broadway debut as a standby to Brenda Braxton, B.J. Crosby and Pattie Darcy Jones in Smokey Joe's Cafe, after having first appeared in the national tour. Keller landed her Smokey Joe's break thanks to good friend Rosalind Brown (Footloose, One Mo' Time), who she happened to bump into at the Equity building on the day of Brown's audition for the show. "She said, 'Why aren't you going in for it?' So she took my picture and resume and brought it in with her and told them that I was someone they should see."
Certainly Brown's behavior is light years away from the catfight mentality that fuels Keller's onstage rivalry with Eden Espinosa in Brooklyn, which the actress says she tries to keep out of her personal life. "I know people like Paradice," she offered. "But I have a great group of friends in the business. We all support each other. If we get calls for gigs we can't do, we recommend one another and help each other out." Many of Keller's friends actually had multiple callbacks for the role of Paradice, a fact that humbles her. "These ladies are divas in their own rights," she said. "I felt very honored to get the part over some of them."
[PAGEBREAK]As Brooklyn attempts to build an audience, Keller is looking forward to the release of the original cast recording in November as well as Ramona Live!, a CD she made of a Joe's [IMG:R]Pub gig earlier in the year. And in case you were wondering, the songstress is single. "I choose right now to work on myself and my career," she said. "If a wonderful man comes along the way that can understand what I'm doing, then great." Keller is also looking to move from her home in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. "I live in a two-fare zone! You have to take a bus to the subway, so I drive everyday. I need to find something closer." Something straight outta Brooklyn? "No," she laughed. "I don't see myself leaving Brooklyn anytime soon."
HOW MAMMA GOT HER GROOVE BACK
I've had a love/hate relationship with Mamma Mia! since I first saw the West End production five years ago. At the time it was love--love for the fact that an unknown creative team took a ridiculous premise and made it work thanks mostly to a sense of playfulness and a keen eye towards camp. By the time it got to Broadway, Mamma Mia! had conquered the world and arrived feeling uninspired. Don't get me wrong--there were some good performers in the original company and subsequent casts, but it never felt like the producers were digging into the Broadway talent pool for the lead roles.
The trio of female leads may be top-notch, but there are also new male counterparts that are worthy of mention: Daniel McDonald has palpable chemistry with Carmello as Sam, David Beach is probably the most engaging Harry I've seen and Mark L. Montgomery is making a auspicious Broadway debut as cocksure Bill, who makes McCarney's Rosie understandably weak in the knees. But there are also some new kids on the block--Sara Kramer and Aaron Staton are also making confident debuts as Sophie and Sky.
If you're a Mamma Mia! fan, be sure to check out this new cast and if you just didn't get the hype the first time around, be a super trouper and make a return visit. You may just find yourself thanking me.
[PAGEBREAK]IN BOX
Dear Miranda: That's it for now. Talk to you next time. Please e-mail me any of your questions, comments or critiques!
Paul Wontorek
Dear Paul:
I wanted to write and tell you about an amazing experience. I got to see Little Women while it was in previews at Duke. Oh my gosh it was "astonishing." I had front row seats so I could see everything perfectly! It was my first time seeing Sutton Foster perform and she was everything that I had imagined. [IMG:R]She is so funny and she brings such life to the character of Jo. I would highly recommend everyone to go see the show when it opens in New York. It is an inspirational show that any person, young or old, can relate too! Last year, I watched the Oprah show when she was making dreams come true. After the show I wrote down what my dream would be--to see Sutton Foster in a show and get to meet her afterwards. While I was watching Little Women, I started crying because it hit me that I was seeing Sutton performing just a few feet away from me. I hoped that I would get to meet her, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. After the show, Jenny Powers, Megan McGinnis and Sutton came out! I was so nervous when I got to meet her, but she was so nice! I gave her the scarf that I knitted for her, and then we started talking. I told her that she answered my question on Broadway.com and she remembered my question. Anyway, I just wanted to share my story with you. Sutton Foster is amazing and everyone needs to go see Little Women!
----Miranda Lowder
----Yadkinville, NC
I'm thrilled to hear you liked the show so much. I think it may come into town and surprise a lot of people. And yes, Sutton is a good bean! So glad you got some one-on-one time with her.
Editor-in-Chief
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