Laura Benanti's solo show Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares return Off-Broadway May 9. The Tony winner's solo comedy, which played three nights only at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre in February, has returned to the venue through June 2.
The evening of comedic storytelling—described as "a love letter to ingenues, and recovering ingenues, and moms, and anybody working on themselves," Benanti says—features original music co-written by Benanti and Todd Almond, who also serves as music director. Annie Tippe directs.
"Getting to be a 44-year-old woman, I am now in a space where I just care a lot less about what people think of me, and I think that is a nice message to send to other women who are currently experiencing that," Benanti said in an interview with Playbill. "Also young women, who are still in that prescriptive place of, 'You've got to be a nice girl, and you've got to make people happy, and you have to smile,' because you don't."
Having played several solo concerts throughout the country, Benanti is no stranger to entertaining a crowd on her own. But Nobody Cares is a new experience, as Benanti has written her own script and music. Benanti also said she is excited for audiences to see a more personal version of her, outside of a Broadway show, a film, or her famed Melania Trump impression.
Joining Laura onstage as her “Inner Demons” are vocalists Barrie Lobo McLain and Chelsea Lee Williams. Todd Almond music directs the band, comprising Catherine Popper on bass, Clayton Craddock on drums, Edward W. Hardy on violin, Ann Klein on guitar, and Daniel A. Weiss on keyboards/guitar.
The Nobody Cares creative team includes lighting designer Japhy Weideman, sound designer Connor Wang, and scenic consultant dots. Garrett Kerr serves as production stage manager. Technical supervision is by Hudson Theatrical Associates’ Sean Gorski, with general management by Baseline Theatrical’s Jonathan Whitton.
Click here for tickets.