Nashville's FUNNY Fannys: Cori Laemmel of Keeping Scores' FUNNY GIRL

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 very different, very funny and somehow uniquely qualified women to take on the iconic role of Fanny Brice, first brought to national, then worldwide, acclaim by the inimitable Barbra Streisand. We're giving you a chance to get to know all of Nashville's Funny Fannys, one by one, so here's a chance to get to know Cori Laemmel (who's not quite the diva she'd have you believe, although she refused to answer our final question)...

Where the heck did you come from; you know, what's your hometown? Santa Cruz, California.

What song will you delight us with in Funny Girl in Concert? "The Greatest Star."

What are your three favorite Nashville stage roles? Pickles in The Great American Trailer Park Musical; Olive Ostrovsky in The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical.

Who's your personal favorite funny girl (and I don't count, I'm a boy)? I think locally Megan Murphy is a comedic goddess. Her writing, her delivery...no one makes me laugh like that girl.

Who's your favorite Fanny (don't hold back, they're all professionals; they can take it)? That is a tough one. There is a real joy in sharing the stage with friends, but something equally exciting about having a chance to perform with people you don't already know. I will say, getting ready for the photo shoot with Corrie Miller and Laura Thomas did feel like a peek into the crazy fun we will be having over the next few weeks.

What's the funniest thing you've ever done (that you don't mind revealing to the folks trolling the interwebs all over the world)? I'm not usually funny on purpose...I'm one of those people that things just seem to...happen to, and it makes for a good story later.

What's your favorite movie that makes you laugh? I usually like the ones that aren't meant to be funny, but are so terrible you just have to laugh.

What's your favorite funny TV show (choose my favorite and win a prize)? I think right now it's Modern Family, though we are also big fans of The Office and 30 Rock.

What's your favorite funny play or musical? The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There is something so fun about a show where anything can happen. The writing is brilliant, and the opportunity for improv just makes it that much better.

Who's your favorite critic? This is a serious question! Where the hell are you going?

- 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.

photo of Cori Laemmel by Rick Malkin