Nashville's FUNNY Fannys: Stephanie Jones Benton 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. For the past year or so, we've been giving you a chance to get to know each of Nashville's Funny Fannys, one by one, starting with Alex Maddox, and continuing through the whole list of Fannys, including Cori Laemmel, Corrie Miller, Bonnie Keen, Erica Haines Cantrell, Lindsay Terrizzi Hess, Catherine Mai Holder, Nancy Allen, Sondra Morton, Heather Trabucco and Laura Thomas Sonn. But today, gentle readers, with the curtain about to go up on Keeping Scores' Funny Girl in Concert, I'm delighted to introduce you to the most wonderful Fanny of them all...the one and only Stephanie Jones Benton. She's bright, beautiful and, I daresay, brilliant, particularly when it comes to sucking up to the guy at the keyboard. Read about her and you will understand exactly what I mean...

Where are you from, dear one? Franklin, Tennessee.

What song will you mesmerize us with in Funny Girl in Concert? "People."

You've done so many wonderful roles, I just have to ask: What are your three favorite Nashville stage roles? That is a hard one. I loved playing Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde with Circle Players. My other two? Probably because they are fun silly roles: Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense and Sally in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Of course, I think there's no one as wonderful as you, but who is your comic heroine in film, TV, theater? If I said Fran Drescher, I wonder how many people would laugh. But I do love her as The Nanny. It's that wonderful laugh and endearing tone in her lovely voice. My true heroine in comedy is Sandra Bullock. She has the best comedic timing. But, I also love Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, and Sarah Silverman for their wonderful contributions to comedy. Clearly, in theater it would be Sutton Foster!

You know, you're really brilliant and the answers you've given me to my questions are so much better than everyone else's. Really. So be honest, Stephanie, who's your favorite Fanny you're sharing the stage with? Hmm. Aren't you an honorary Fanny, Mr. Ellis? So, of course, being the suck-up that I am, I will say you. I was looking at the cast list for the Fannys when I joined the show and they are some of the top female performers in this area, so I am honored to be on the same list as them.

I love your honesty and sincerity, it's so rare and refreshing in someone so beautiful and talented. I'm wondering, thought, what's the funniest thing you've ever done? Well, this one time....oh, wait, that's inappropriate. I am such a klutz that I could tell a million embarrassing, funny stories about falling on my face (sometimes onstage - including my most recent tumble down the stairs of Nine at Boiler Room Theatre). This story was not funny to me, but everyone else thought it was hilarious. So, I was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Franklin Rodeo. Usually ,we get to stand up top with the band, but this year they thought it was a great idea to put the singer in the arena. Well, my boots were covered with horse...for days after that...and did I mention that there were horses running around me flinging poo? Awesome. Best night ever.

Oh, you poor thing, we'll get you some new Manolo Blahniks when we're finished - my treat! Until then, what's your favorite funny movie? Blazing Saddles. I cannot tell you how many times my father and I watched it when I was a kid.

That's an excellent choice! You really are brilliant! What's your favorite funny TV show? I have gotten obsessed with 30 Rock recently, but I always love my favorites The Office and Family Guy.

I love Family Guy! You really are so supremely intelligent, so I have to ask: What's your favorite funny play or musical? Out of shows that I have done I would say that I love Nunsense. I will always have the best memories from doing that show with some of my favorite actors in theater. Of shows I want to do, it is a perfect match between Young Frankenstein and The Drowsy Chaperone. Love me some Sutton Foster!

I absolutely adore Sutton Foster, but I really wish she'd wear make-up more often offstage, that way she'd be more beautiful like you. I hate to even ask, but who's your favorite critic? It's you, Mr. Ellis. I know how to suck up.

- 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.

photos of Stephanie Jones-Benton by Rick Malkin

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