Last February 14th, GOOD OL´GIRLS opened in Off-Broadway. Adapted by Paul Ferguson, the musical, written by two prominent Southern authors, Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, has songs by Nashville hit-makers Matraca Berg and Marshall Chapman. These two leading singers/songwriters redefine the modern Southern woman in GOOD OL’ GIRLS, a musical about love, loss and laughter. Through the language of five unique southerners, GOOD OL’ GIRLS celebrates childhood through old age with big hair and bigger hearts. Featured in the cast are Lauren Kennedy, Sally Mayes, Teri Ralston, Liza Vann and Gina Stewart. GOOD OL’ GIRLS runs at the Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre  (111 West 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) in NYC.

Lauren Kennedy most recently starred as Mary in VANITIES at Second Stage reprising the role she originated at the Pasadena Playhouse. Prior, she starred as the Lady of the Lake in SPAMALOT on Broadway. Her other Broadway appearances include Fantine in LES MISERABLES, Daisy Hilton in SIDE SHOW and the original cast of SUNSET BOULEVARD. She made her UK debut as Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC at the Royal National Theatre.

Also, Lauren Kennedy has released two solo albums:. An album of all Jason Robert Brown material entitled ´Songs of Jason Robert Brown´, and an album dedicated to new musical writers, titled ´Here and Now´.

On this interview, Lauren Kennedy comments on her new musical GOOD OL´GIRLS and on her professional career.

YOU’RE STARRING IN A NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL, `GOOD OL’GIRLS´. WHAT COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW SHOW?
I am very excited about this little show...It celebrates southern women...well, women in general!  Strong women. And it has about the best music I have heard in a while.

HOW HAS IT BEEN THE REHEARSAL PROCESS OF THIS SHOW? HOW HAS BEEN WORKING WITH RANDAL MYER AND THE REST OF THE CAST?
The rehearsal process was quick and a lot of fun.  Randal creates such an easy open atmosphere for actors to do there best!  We all ADORE HIM!

`GOOD OL’GIRLS´ IS FOCUSED IN THE STORIES OF FIVE WOMEN. DO YOU THINK THAT FEMALE AUDIENCE WOULD IDENTIFY EASILY WITH THE CHARACTERS OF THE SHOW?
Absolutely.  I think they will see themselves up there.

IT IS A CURIOUS FACT THAT IN MUSICAL THEATRE WOMEN USUALLY HAVE MORE CAPTIVATING CHARACTERS THAN MEN… HAVE YOU GOT ANY SPECIAL MUSICAL CHARACTER THAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO PERFORM?
I would love to play Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK...I think every musical theatre actress feels that way.  It such a funny and complexed role.  I’d also like to think that perfect role for me is still out there waiting for me to create it!!!!

YOUR LAST SHOW WAS `VANITIES´ AT THE SECOND STAGE THEATRE. WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TAKING PART OF THIS SHOW?
Well, it was such a great script I couldn’t wait to play that character.  And clearly I am all about doing shows with women, about women!

`VANITIES´ WAS DUE TO OPEN ON BROADWAY LAST FALL, THEN IT WAS POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY, UNTIL IT WAS ANNOUNCED ITS OFF-BROADWAY OPENING. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM GOING THROUGH THIS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY?
Oh yeah, that was very dissapointing and frustrating at times.  But I knew all along that our producers Junkyard Dogs had our best interest at heart.  Ultimately, it always belonged Off-Broadway.  And Second Stage was the perfect home for it.  So, things happen the way they are supposed to.

YOUR THEATRE CREDITS ALSO INCLUDE MUSICALS SUCH AS `SPAMALOT´, `SOUTH PACIFIC´, `SUNSET BOULEVARD´, `LES MISÉRABLES´, `SIDE SHOW´, `WAITING FOR THE MOON... WHICH ONE OF YOUR WORKS HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST?
There is no way to answer that question, because they all gave me something.  But I guess if you twisted my arm, I would have to say the most gratifying theatrical experience was creating the role of Cathy in THE LAST FIVE YEARS in Chicago before it came to NY.  I ended up going to do SOUTH PACIFIC in London so Sherie Renee Scott did it in NY, but working with Jason Robert Brown for the first time changed me life!

ON YOUR LAST ALBUM `HERE AND NOW´, BESIDES SONGS BY JASON ROBERT BROWN YOU ALSO PERFORM SONGS WRITTEN BY YOUNG COMPOSERS. DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH CHANCES FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS IN BROADWAY?
No, I don’t think there are enough chances for this new generation of writers.  But they are finding other avenues to share their music...like doing evenings of their music or releasing albums.  So that is proactive and wonderful I think, but I would like to see more risks taken on Broadway!!!

LAST SEPTEMBER THERE WAS A GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW LAUREN KENNEDY AND ALAN CAMPBELL THEATRE AT BARTON COLLEGE IN WILSON, THAT CULMINATED IN A WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF `DRIFT, A NEW MUSICAL´ BY JEREMY SCHONFELD DIRECTED BY YOU. WHAT IS GOING TO BE THIS THEATRE’S MAIN GOAL?
It’s main goal is to have a jewel of a theatre in the growing theatre department at a college that has been important to my family for years.  And I suppose they hope that with our names on the theatre it will help with admissions.  I have committed to do anything and everything I can to support the arts at Barton College along with in North Carolina as much as I can!

WHAT OTHER PROJECTS YOU ARE WORKING ON?
Well, I am gearing up for my theatre company’s summer season called HOT SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE KENNEDY.  We have a very exciting line up!  I am also going to Flat Rock Playhouse in Ashville to do Steel Magnolias...again...all women, about women!

Lauren Kennedy, Sally Mayes, Teri Ralston, Gina Stewart and Liza Vann in GOOD OL´GIRLS