The first time Carmen Cusack knew she had the performing bug was when she was 5 years-old and singing at church. In fact, what first really motivated her was chocolate. When asked to sing "Amazing Grace," the very shy Cusack negotiated that she would do so if she could have first dibs from the preacher's box of chocolates.
But she soon discovered that the sweet motivator wasn't just candy. "They clapped and smiled," she recalls. "I knew I had something to do with that." She was further inspired after watching Calamity Jane on TV with Doris Day. Cusack longed to be her -- especially since Jane seemed so happy and free.
After majoring in opera at the University of North Texas, Cusack got a job singing and dancing on the MS Queen Elizabeth 2 which took her to England and transformed her career. She ultimately made her West End debut as Fantine in Les Miserables and appeared in the original West End productions of The Secret Garden and Personals. After living in London for over a decade she headed back to the States and earned raves playing eclectic parts like Elphaba in Wicked, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Dot and Marie in Sunday in the Park with George
And then came Bright Star, a heartfelt and soulful foot-stomping bluegrass musical from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell.
Three years ago she and her husband had moved to L.A. "I wasn't actively pursuing musical theater work. I was working on my own stuff and nesting for a bit," she explains. "But if I saw something that piqued my interest, I'd go after it hard." She did some fantastic readings and workshops, focusing almost exclusively on new material. "I really entered into one of the most rewarding creative periods of my life," adds Cusack. "Bright Star was the very first of those readings. I immediately knew that the role of Alice was one of those roles I would go after hard."
Mission accomplished. In 2013 she would play Alice, a southern literary magazine editor in Bright Star's workshop production at New York Stage and Film at Vassar. In fact, for 32 years, the nonprofit company has been devoted to helping artists develop new work for theater and film and many productions (think Hamilton, Humans, Doubt and more.) "It was crazy, living in these dorms in Vassar, but then going to rehearsal and there's Steve and Edie!," she recalls. "I had no expectation that they'd be present. But they've both been constantly at hand, and open to everyone's contribution. Without ego throughout. I love them."
And last week, Cusack, in her Broadway debut, was nominated for a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. The actress recounted her busy "roll your sleeves up, full of responsibility and reward" day. As the title song goes, "Bright Star, keep shinning for me. And one day I'll shine for you."
Carmen Cusack shared her busy day with NewYork.com. Get the full story here.