The Auburn Players Community Theatre will be presenting The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown on July 17th, 18th, and 19th. The production will star Laura Kelly as Cathy and Jeff Kringer as Jamie.
This will be Kelly’s first time performing with the Auburn Players and her first show after a six year hiatus from the stage. Her stage credits include productions with Wit End Players, Rarely Done Productions, and SUNY Oswego, where she currently works as Alumni Director. We are so happy she came out for this show.
Kelly did a quick Q&A with us so we can all get to know her a little better before opening night. Thanks Laura! Also, if you missed it check out Jeff’s answers.
The Last Five Years will be presented Friday July 17th at 8PM, Saturday July 18th at 8 PM, and Sunday July 19th at 2PM at the Irene Bisgrove Theatre at Cayuga Community College. Tickets are $16 General Admission and $14 for Students/Seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by clicking here. For group rates please call 315-702-7832
Name: Laura Kelly
Where you were born/where you were raised: Born in Syracuse, raised in Liverpool/Syracuse.
What your parents did/do for a living: My dad was a General Manager at several car dealerships – currently serving that role at BMW. My mom was a stay-at-home mom.
Siblings: I have one sister who is 10 years older than me.
Who were you major mentors/inspirations when first starting out? I loved Julie Andrews and Barbara Streisand.
Special skills: I have some tumbling abilities (10 years in gymnastics), I am a 3rd Degree Black Belt in karate and I have dance training.
Something you’re REALLY bad at: Throwing a Frisbee. … The worst person you’ll ever see. (Theatre-wise? I’m NOT good with improv!!)
First Broadway show you ever saw: Truly can’t remember what my first show was that I saw on Broadway, but Wicked was pretty early on for me.
If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be? The Broadway premiere of Parade by JRB.
Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: I was recently recommending Merry Go Round’s production of West Side Story.
Favorite showtune of all time: TOO HARD! Too, too hard.
Some favorite modern musicals: The Last Five Years has been at the top of my list for more than 10 years … also Edges: A Song Cycle.
Some favorite classic musicals: West Side Story (sorry, Matt! Haha), Into the Woods, Chicago, Brigadoon … and about a zillion more.
MAC or PC? Mac for personal – but a PC user at work!
Most played song on your iPod: Of all-time? Probably Grey Street by Dave Matthews Band.
Most-visited websites: Facebook and Gmail
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: I loved playing Maggie in Lend Me a Tenor, at Liverpool High School.
Worst costume ever: An original musical production called Lost in a Viral Paradise at SUNY Oswego – I had to wear a skimpy showgirl outfit, with a large feather head dress … and dance on STILTS.
First stage kiss: Zaneeta Shinn kissing Tommy Djilas in The Music Man in high school.
Last book you read: Yes, Please! by Amy Poehler … AWESOME.
Must-see TV show(s): Breaking Bad, FRIENDS, The Office and Seinfeld.
Last good movie you saw: American Sniper
Performer you would drop everything to go see: Mumford and Sons
Pop culture guilty pleasure: I love reading “celebrity smut” magazines.
Three favorite cities: Cape Hatteras, NC, Key West, FL, and Chicago, IL. (I do love my Syracuse, though, too!)
First CD/Tape/LP you owned: Ace of Base … yup, I saw the sign – and it opened up my eyes.
Favorite pre-/post- show meal: Pre: tea, tea and more tea. Post: pizza and beer!
Favorite liquid refreshment: Fierce Grape Gatorade.
Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: Stretches and lip trills. Also – dance parties.
Most challenging role you have ever played: Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods.
Were you familiar with The Last 5 Years previously? Had you seen a production? YES! I have been SO obsessed with this show since I first heard the recording back in 2003, and I was finally able to see the 2013 revival production of it in NYC with Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor – directed by JRB. Phenomenal.
How have you been handling the hectic Last 5 Years schedule? It’s been working well – since I don’t have much time outside of work, anyway, for things like this!
What has been the most fun or fulfilling part of this project so far? Just the sheer fact that I’m performing again after a six year hiatus. It feels great to be back at it!
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: During Into the Woods, I had a scene with the Prince’s Steward – where he runs out on stage and comes to a halt when he sees me. One night, he slipped as he went to stop and ended up hanging off the stage into the pit, and also SMASHED his glass lantern on the floor on the way down. We had to spend five minutes improvising lines while we tried to clean up the shattered glass. OY.
Craziest audition story: Not really crazy, but … A friend and I drove down to NYC while in early college years just to see what an audition for a “real New York” production would be like. We waited hours in line for Hairspray and found the real truth about how much time you have to impress someone – NOT A LOT! It opened my eyes to what NYC actors truly go through daily!
Leading lady role you’ve been dying to play: Not a lie … Cathy Hiatt.
Something you’re embarrassed to admit: I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life.
Career you would want if not a performer: Since I’m not a performer for work, I already have the career I love – Alumni Relations/Event Planning.
Three things you can’t live without: Since my husband is a person, and not a thing (haha) … My phone, cereal and pasta.
“I’ll never understand why…”: There are cabinets over the fridge … who can reach stuff in there?
Words of advice for aspiring performers: Have FUN – and you should be nervous. If you’re not nervous, it probably means you don’t care enough … and is something you don’t care about worth doing?
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