This Is Your Brain On Musical Theatre – 7 Questions With Lucy Maunder

Lucy Maunder won hearts all over Australia in 2011 with her portrayal of the iconic Lara in the world premiere season of DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. Playing opposite Anthony Warlow as Yuri, Maunder was nominated for both a Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award for her performance in Lucy Simon's new musical based on the famous Russian love story.

A graduate of the star-maker that is WAAPA, Maunder has performed in theatre and cabaret all over the world. Leading roles in Australia include her star turn as Lara, Polly in THE THREEPENNY OPERA, Anne in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for Opera Australia, and the younger Mary O'Hara in HARP ON THE WILLOW. She has also performed with The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra in concert and recently toured Australia with her acclaimed one-woman show Irving Berlin – SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLACK, going on to recorded an album of Berlin standards from the show.

Next month Maunder joins Michael Falzon, Geraldine Turner and Jessica Rowe for SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM at GPAC in Victoria. The celebration of Sondheim's earlier work features some of the composer's most memorable creations, including Send In The Clowns, Broadway Baby and Being Alive.

Appearing next week at the Darlinghurst Theatre in Neglected Musical's LUCKY STIFF before heading down to Victoria for SIDE BY SIDE, here is just a little of the lovely Lucy Maunder's brain on musical theatre: 

This Is Your Brain On Musical Theatre – 7 Questions With Lucy Maunder

Is there a particular show and/or person that first made you feel like 'this is what I want to do'? 

The entire original Broadway cast of Into The Woods inspired me to want to do Music Theatre and I grew up watching all the movie musicals like Kiss Me Kate and Cover Girl – and anything with Gene Kelly. 

Can you remember the moment when you first understood that you could sing the way most others can't? 

Not the exact moment but I do remember being cast in the lead role of the high school musical when I was in year 9 after my audition and the year 11s and 12s were outraged! 

Is there one night in your career that you would love to go back to and experience over again?  

I would love to go back to the Sydney Opera House concert hall stage where I performed with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra in December last year. They are an incredible 80-piece orchestra and I remember being in the spotlight singing and wanting to capture that feeling for the rest of my life, it was so wonderful. 

Is there one role that belongs to the opposite gender or a different age group that you'd secretly love to perform? 

I'd love to play Javert or any of the boys in Les Mis actually. 

What book/TV show/movie is a musical just waiting to happen?  

Beaches. One of my best friends Noni thought of it years ago and it is a genius idea!!

Do you still sing in the shower when you sing for a living?!

Absolutely!

And finally, borrowing from James Lipton via Bernard Pivot:

What sound or noise do you love? 

Stirring a saucepan full of mussels! The shells! 

Enda Markey Presents SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM starring Lucy Maunder, Geraldine Turner, Michael Falzon and Jessica Rowe

Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Monday 5^th November – Friday 9^th November

For tickets and further information click here.

Jacqueline "Rock" Bublitz is a Melbourne-based writer who saw a local production of Annie aged 5, and was never quite the same. Since that first transformative experience she has been lucky enough to experience musical theatre all over the world. Many of her favourite productions have played right on her doorstep here in Melbourne, and she loves this about her creative home town. In addition to a day job in media, Rock is currently working on her first novel, 'body, remember', where she shamelessly mines the world of musical theatre for inspiration.

More Articles by This Author...