BWW Interviews: Nashville's FUNNY Fannys: Bonnie Keen

In the upcoming Keeping Scores' concert version of Funny Girl, set for April 29-May 1 at Boiler Room Theatre, director Scott Logsdon has cast 12 different, yet very funny and somehow uniquely qualified actresses to take on the iconic role of Fanny Brice. First brought to national, then international, acclaim by the legendary Barbra Streisand, the role of Fanny Brice is a coveted role among musical theater performers. The buzz from rehearsals tells us that things are going swimmingly, egos are being kept at-bay and all the cast members gather around the campfire to toast marshmallows and sing "People" at the end of the evening (thus proving untrue my contention they were singing "Kumbaya" every night). The dozen Fannys, of course, are my current 12 favorite singing actresses (I remind you, gentle reader, that I am contractually required to make that statement at least 12 times a day), and as you've gotten to know each Fanny one-by-one, we continue that tradition, today offering up the case of one, Ms. Bonnie Keen (who really is my favorite, but please don't tell Cori, Corrie, Sondra, Laura, Heather, Erica, Catherine, Alex, Nancy, Lindsay or Stephanie Jones-Benton, the newest Fanny, they'll take it personally). So, here is today's interview with a Funny Fanny who, interestingly enough, has a funny fanny...read on to find out what I mean...

Just the facts, ma'am: What is your name? Bonnie Keen ( Except for the brief time as an eight-year-old when I chose to write songs under the pen name of "Julie Rose." I have absolutely no idea why I chose that name. Years later, I named my publishing company after my imaginary friend: Julie Rose Music. Tellers at the bank now call me "Julie" or "Miss Rose." It's wonderfully confusing.)

Where did you grow up? Nashville Tennessee: I'm a majorette-fire-baton-twirling veteran of John Overton High School

What song do you perform in Funny Girl in Concert? "Don't Rain of My Parade" Reprise Finale (gulp!)

Looking over your lengthy, I daresay "impressive," resume, what are your three favorite Nashville stage roles? Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream; The Witch in Into the Woods; and Grace in Cinderella. My husband says I'm a great bunch of girls.

Oh, perhaps we're discovering the secret to your success. Who is your comic heroine in film, TV, theater? Film: Carnelle in Miss Firecracker; TV: Eunice (Carol Burnett) "Feeelinggs....Whoa Whoa Whoa" episode; Theater: Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

Now, take those velvet gloves off, and tell me this: Who's your favorite Fanny you're sharing the stage with? I'm not onstage with any of the other Fannys so this leaves me blissfully able to say ALL! Honestly, this is going to be such a treat to see how the pieces of the puzzle come together. Our rehearsals have been, for the most part, completely separate.In a sense we're all part of the audience within the show itself.

What's the funniest thing you've ever done? Anything you can share with us - and please give us some dirt! During a long history of falling down onstage (accidentally) which always makes me laugh no matter how badly it hurts, I fell backwards over the stage monitors at the close of a performance during the applause at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. When you're 5'12" falling down takes on a whole new meaning....it's an 'event.' I couldn't stop laughing which, perhaps, kept me from being completely mortified.

What's your favorite funny movie (please, oh please, don't pick anything with Adam Sandler in it)? Waiting For Guffman.

Aww, the perfect answer. So, what's your favorite funny TV show? A tie between I Love Lucy and The Carol Burnett Show.

And now, for $64,000, what's your favorite funny play or musical? I'd have to say Into The Woods, which is both funny and poignant. I'm incurably drawn to a mixture of angst and hope - which would describe Funny Girl as well.

- Funny Girl in Concert. Music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. Book by Isobel Lennart. Directed by Scott Logsdon. Musical direction by Jamey Green. Choreographed by Laurie Gregoire. Presented by Keeping Scores Concerts at Boiler Room Theatre, Franklin. For reservations, call the box office at (615) 794-7744.

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