Spotlight On…
Leigh Ann Larkin
“Petra” in the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music
From June in the recent revival of Gypsy to Petra in the upcoming revival of A Little Night Music, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Leigh Ann Larkin gives some great advice to students looking to make it on Broadway.
Q: How did you get started in your theatre career?
A: I got started at a very young age. I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and the city has absolutely amazing programs for youths in the theater. I started in an after school program called the Little Stars and I continued through various programs, shows, performing troupes and classes all the way through high school. I loved every minute of it and there was no question in my mind that this is what I wanted to do!!
Q: Describe someone or something in the theatre community that has influenced you.
A: I was always very inspired by Patti LuPone who I was so fortunate to be able to work, with but I am also continually inspired by all of my fellow actors around me. There are so many talented people in this city and so many talented people that I have the honor of working with. I am constantly inspired and constantly challenged to do better!
Q: What was your favorite part about touring with Disney’s “On The Record,” and would you consider going back out on the road again?
A: I loved working for Disney and formed so many close relationships from that show! Touring, though, was tough and it wouldn’t be something that I would do again unless I absolutely LOVED the piece. I love being in NY and in the center of everything. It would take a lot to make me leave the city again.
Q: I’m sure everyone wants to know what it was like performing alongside Patti LuPone in Gypsy. What did you learn from being on stage with such a renowned stage veteran?
A: Patti is absolutely brilliant and hands down an idol of mine. She was so generous and giving both on and off stage. She is a force of nature!! I learned a million things from Patti. I really could go on for days about what I learned from her. I think, however, what I learned most is to never give less than 110%, never stop learning, never stop discovering and always keep exploring. She is incredible.
Q: What were some of the advantages of studying at The University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)?
A: I think that CCM is by far one of the best Musical Theater programs in the country, if not the best. They only accept the cream of the crop in their MT program and I think that is incredibly important when looking into schools. This is a very cut throat business and it’s important to be surrounded by students that are just as good as you if not better. The students at CCM pushed me to be better every day because they were all so good! The faculty at the school, as well as the facilities, are also incredible and I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without CCM.
Q: Since you aren’t in school anymore, how do you keep your performing chops up?
A: Class, class, CLASS!! I have taken classes since I left school and I think it’s imperative to keeping you and your skills in tip top shape!
Q: How did you come about getting Petra in the latest, and only, revival of A Little Night Music?
A: I auditioned along with everyone else in the city. I wanted it so badly because I absolutely fell in love with Petra as the auditions progressed! I first auditioned for Trevor and a handful of the creatives and producers. Next they added Stephen Sondheim into the mix, and for my third and final callback they actually flew our music supervisor, Caroline Humphris, out to Kansas where I was playing Maria in The Sound of Music because I couldn’t make it back to the city. I was so excited and beside myself when I found out I got the part. I cried!!
Q: How has the rehearsal process been so far for A Little Night Music? Have you met Sondheim yet?!
A: So far it has been beyond a dream come true!!! The process has been amazing because we are really exploring deep into the text. Slowly and carefully we are dissecting every moment and every line of this play. I have met Sondheim. I actually had the pleasure of working with him on Gypsy as well. He was very active in our process during Gypsy and so this is my second show working with him! I was so nervous auditioning for him for Night Music because “Miller’s Son” is the epitome of Sondheim and he knows that song inside and out!! We reconnected again during the meet and greet and when he approached me all I could think of to say was how much of a dream come true this opportunity is for me!! He is incredibly gracious. I must admit, I am star struck every time I am in a room with him. I revere both he and his work so greatly. He is, by every definition of the word, a pure genius.
Q: What advice would you give to students looking for a theatre arts school to attend? Are you an advocate of “if you can do anything else well besides theatre, then do the other thing that isn’t theatre?”
A: I would say, do your research!! Look deeply in to every school that you are thinking of applying to and go for it 100%!! I am a huge advocate for education!!
No, I am not an advocate for that saying. I think there have been a lot of people in my life who never thought that I would be where I am today. I think they probably thought that I should’ve, at the time, gone and done something else. I never, ever gave up!! I just kept working and learning to become the best that I could be. I will never stop learning and trying to be better. I am a huge advocate for following your dreams and believing that you can do anything!!!
Q: This is your second trip in a lead role on Broadway. That’s every theatre students dream! How do you keep the dream fresh once you have reached that seemingly unobtainable goal of starring on Broadway?
A: Being on Broadway never gets old!! I am as giddy today as the day I started my first rehearsal for Gypsy! I have to pinch myself everyday to make sure that this is all actually happening! I bring my camera everywhere to document every moment of this amazing journey. I screamed like a girl when the marquis went up at the Walter Kerr and I took about 20 pictures in front of it!! I think if you love something this much than it never gets old. I know that I am incredibly lucky to be where I am and I don’t take one minute for granted because I know that it can all be gone tomorrow. It is a high priority of mine to always “keep the dream fresh.” Being on Broadway and a part of the Broadway community is a gift and it is very important to always remember that. There is absolutely no where else that I would rather be and make it a point to be in the moment and enjoy every second of it!!
Leigh Ann Larkin, originally Leigh Ann Wielgus, was born on April 14. She graduated from North Hills High School and went on to study musical theater at University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Shortly after, she signed with an agent and moved to the Big Apple.
It wasn’t long before Leigh Ann was cast in her first national tour, Disney’s On the Record. In May of 2007, she returned to her hometown of Pittsburgh and performed as Belle in Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
She made her Broadway debut in Gypsy alongside Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines, Laura Benanti, and an entire ensemble of talented cast members. The show closed on January 11, 2009.
At the end of 2008, Leigh Ann booked and shot roles on two television series, “Lipstick Jungle” and “Flight of the Conchords”.
