Tony AwardsGentleman's Guide Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham Shares Her Big News and Bonds with a Stranger on the SubwayLast week, Lauren Worsham — a 2014 Tony Award nominee for her performance as Phoebe D'Ysquith in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder — experienced one of the most nerve-wracking days of her life. Like most, she de-stressed from the Tony nominations by having a long conversation with a friend — whom she met that night on the subway.
By
Michael Gioia
May 06, 2014
Lauren Worsham
Photo by Monica Simoes
"I sat next to this very drunk, maybe homeless guy on the train last night, but he was exactly what I needed because I needed to process it," Worsham explained to Playbill.com at the April 30 Tony Award nominees press junket. "I was reading Bon Appétit, and he looked over, and he said, 'Oh, that looks good.'"
A fast friendship formed between Worsham — the opera-turned-musical-theatre star, who took on her first big Broadway role in this season's critically acclaimed new musical — and the subway rider. After some back-and-forth banter (about work, fun and daily stresses), "I kind of confessed to this guy randomly," she confided.
That morning, while she was sleeping, Worsham was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical in a season filled with standout performances from both featured and leading ladies. Aside from her husband, who broke the big news, Worsham hadn't discussed her nomination with anyone until her train ride home.
"I said [to him], 'You know what, I was a little stressed today because I got nominated for a Tony Award,'" she confessed with a laugh. "He was like, 'What?! Really?' I said, 'Yeah, do you know what those are?' And, he was like, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah…for singing.' And then he sang to me for a while. He was listening to R. Kelly, and he shared his headphones with me. We listened to R. Kelly for a while. He told me all about his wife — he's been married 30 years."
Worsham admitted to being asleep on purpose the morning of April 29, when the Tony nominations were announced. The actress, who is making her official Broadway debut in Gentleman's Guide — having only understudied in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — said that her journey to Broadway has been quite a ride. "Honestly, before this show, I had always wanted to do musical theatre growing up, but I didn't think that musical theatre really wanted me very much. Specifically, I didn't think that I was cut out for Broadway or Broadway was interested," she said. "I had auditioned for a bunch of shows and never gotten cast. I had started doing more opera and new music, and I really found a family there and a home, and I thought that's the direction I was going, and then this show came along. It changed everything.
"[When] I told him that I'd been nominated for a Tony, he was like, 'Girl, you just got to be yourself. You just got to be yourself. You're lucky. You're a lucky person. Be yourself. God is good.' And, I [thought], 'You know what? You're right,' so that was very helpful. But the point is: Be yourself because you were made the way you were for a reason. Be exactly who you are, and that's perfect because that's who you are."
As for her newfound friendship, she said, "It made my night."
(Playbill.com staff writer Michael Gioia's work appears in the news, feature and video sections of Playbill.com as well as in the pages of Playbill magazine. Follow him on Twitter at @PlaybillMichael.)
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Killer Two-Show Day at A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Killer Two-Show Day at A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Killer Two-Show Day at A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham
Lauren Worsham, a recent Tony Award nominee for her performance in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, documented a two-show day spent with the loving, murder-obsessed company of actors this winter. We take this chance to look back.
41 PHOTOS
Yet another morning where I awake bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to take on the day.
Lauren Worsham
We're hosting a holiday party in a week so I spend my mornings baking and freezing, stockpiling pound cakes. This one is an eggnog pound cake with bourbon glaze. Yum!
Lauren Worsham
A little more presentable and heading into work with a few yummy snacks for the theater.
Lauren Worsham
It is really cold out!
Lauren Worsham
Upon arriving at the theater I first run into Eddie Korbich who may or may not be allergic to my wreath. Jury is still out.
Jane Carr (Miss Shingle) and Bryce Pinkham (Monty Navarro) stop by my dressing room for a brief chat.
Lauren Worsham
First step, putting my hair into pin curls.
Lauren Worsham
Second step, arty photo-taking.
Lauren Worsham
Wig caps make everyone look really sexy.
Lauren Worsham
The lovely Monica helps me into my Phoebe wig while training swing Emilia. Lots of pins!
Lauren Worsham
Fully made-up, wigged and mic-ed and still taking arty photos.
Lauren Worsham
Compare and contrast? My face with the beautiful makeup plot done by our designer Brian Strumwasser.
Lauren Worsham
Scandalous, uncomfortable, I-love-you and I-hate-you, devil corset shot. Getting ready to go on stage! Do the show and then lunch!
Lauren Worsham
One show down, the beautiful Lisa O'Hare and I meet for lunch at Ippudo. Here she is standing in line outside on 50th street.
Lauren Worsham
The line is long but we really wanted ramen!
Lauren Worsham
Lisa was so hungry she almost ate her own nose.
Lauren Worsham
Bryce Pinkham joins us for lunch. He's incognito.
Lauren Worsham
Bryce and I having a very intense discussion about pork buns.
Lauren Worsham
The ramen arrives piping hot and absolutely delicious.
Lauren Worsham
Lisa tests the ramen. It is good.
Lauren Worsham
We shared a pork bun and left a little show lipstick on the edge.
Lauren Worsham
I was ravenous.
Lauren Worsham
After lunch Lisa and I did a little shopping. Stopping by Domus for gifts, Schmackery's for cookies and finally Delphinium Home for a little wrapping paper.
Lauren Worsham
Two show days really bring out the love and murder in our group. Here, dance captain Mark Ledbetter schools Joanna Glushak while also threatening to kill her. That's how he keeps us on our toes.
Lauren Worsham
We are a very lovingly lethal cast. Eddie Korbich fondly embraces Price Waldman…with a garrote.
Lauren Worsham
The sublime Catherine Walker and I looking like precogs from "Minority Report."
Lauren Worsham
The mischievous Jeff Kready threatens to poke Lisa O'Hare with a hairpin.
Lauren Worsham
After her harrowing encounter, Catherine Walker comforts Lisa with some cake.
Lauren Worsham
Sometimes you drop 25-pound weights on your stage managers. Brian Rardin seems unwitting.
Lauren Worsham
Our amazing dresser Tree Lonon calms me down with a choke-hold.
Lauren Worsham
Meanwhile, Jane Carr and Jefferson Mays are trading stories way up on the fourth floor, above the fray.
Lauren Worsham
Uh oh, stage manager Rachel Zack found Tree's scissors. This may not end well.
Lauren Worsham
You would never know that Lady Eugenia was such a minx under all those dead foxes. Here the kittenish Joanna Glushak seduces the steamer.
Lauren Worsham
Unfortunately, Aimee has decided to try to kill Joanna via death-by-corset.
Lauren Worsham
Ms. Texas herself, Jennifer Smith is friendly with everyone, even the stuffed animals.
Lauren Worsham
However, sometimes even the animals are obsessed with murder.
Lauren Worsham
Jefferson dies eight times per show. All that dying makes him want to kill someone… namely me. Death by anti-dust spray?
Lauren Worsham
There is a lot going on here. We are clearly ready to start the second show but we can't seem to quit giggling and dying.
Lauren Worsham
Bryce Pinkham and Jeff Kready share a naughty secret that I cannot tell you, but it's good.
Lauren Worsham
Finally, our stage manager Susie Cordon calls us to order! It's time to start the show!
Lauren Worsham
Two shows done, makeup off, train ride back to Brooklyn and I am out like a light.
