Nashville's FUNNY Fannys: Nancy Allen of Keeping Scores' FUNNY GIRL

In the upcoming concert version of Funny Girl, set for April 29-May 1 at Franklin's 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, and here's the latest: Nancy Allen...

Where are your from - you know, what's your hometown? Waco, Texas."The Music that Makes Me Dance."Eliza in My Fair Lady with Joseph Collins as Higgins, Salome in The Robber Bridegroom (wonderful villainess, awesome cast directed by Rene Dunshee Copeland, my first show at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre) and Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray (wonderful cast, lovely costumes, evil villainess, great show with super music and a message that needs to be told).

What song are you going to thrill us with in Funny Girl in Concert?

You've been part of the Nashville theater scene for a while now: What are your three favorite roles?

Who's your favorite funny girl onstage, on TV and/or in films? My comic heroine did all three - Carol Burnett is beautiful, funny, smart, kind and fabulous in all she does!

Who's your favorite Fanny to share the stage with in this concert production? Goodness, this is a loaded question! It's like with my children, you can't pick a favorite, it's the one who needs you the most at the moment. However, most of the Fanny's are new friends to me which I am excited about, but I have a tremendous respect and awe for Bonnie Keen - she and I are probably the closest in age and we "seasoned" performers have to stick together.

What's the funniest thing you've ever done? I am not a particularly funny person in my actions, but I did drive to work one day with a dead possum in the back of my mini van.

What's your favorite funny movie? Young Frankenstein, Waiting for Guffman, Best of Show, Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, A Fish Called Wanda, Dodgeball - Oh, just one?

What's your favorite funny TV show? The Office.

What's your favorite funny play or musical? It's dear to my heart since Belmont University's Musical Theater Program just performed it: The Drowsy Chaperone.

- 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.