Brittany Woodrow has been earning raves as the Lady of the Lake in the latest incarnation of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.” She is joined on stage by two veteran local actors, Vienna’s Arthur Rowan as King Arthur and Howard County’s Adam Grabau as Sir Lancelot and King Ni.
“I wasn’t sure what I was getting into,” Woodrow said. “I’ve never played a comedic role and hadn’t been a Monty Python fan, but I’d been performing around the world for so long that it seemed a good opportunity to return home. As soon as we started rehearsals, the show came to life for me and I knew I’d have fun.”
When the tour opened in Baltimore in October, she was lauded for her remarkable voice, great humor and stunning looks. The Pittsburgh native began performing there at age 5 and developed her operatic voice with noted coach Daphne Alderson. After graduating from Point Park University in musical theater, she was invited to join the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Her early credits include guest soloist with Marvin Hamlisch and the Temptations.
| If you go |
| Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ |
| Where: Warner Theatre |
| When: Tuesday through Sunday |
| More info: $40 and up; 800-551-7328; Ticketmaster.com; 202-783-4000; warnertheatre.com |
But along the way, Woodrow’s operatic voice became lower, enabling her to belt out songs Broadway fashion. This sound, as well as her jazz, hip-hop and Irish dancing expertise, captured the attention of Busch Gardens during an audition for its Williamsburg, Va., troupe. A year later, it hired her for her first professional position as a singer and dancer. She performed for Busch Gardens in “American Jukebox” and in the roles of Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” Hope in “Anything Goes” and Rosalia in “West Side Story.”
After becoming Infatuated with a boy in the O’Shea Irish Dance company working at Busch Gardens, she decided to follow the company to its native Ireland. Suddenly, her career began to pop. She was quickly picked up by an agent who saw her performing there as Carmen Diaz in “Fame — the Musical.” Several other shows accompanied by rave reviews led to the lead role of Sheila in “Hair” on London’s West End. Next came the lead in the U.K./Asia tour of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller Live.”
After traveling around the world to cities and countries she never dreamed of visiting, Woodrow thrives in the role of Lady of the Lake that dresses her in five couture gowns. Her favorite is the green bejeweled gown beaded with crystals.
“It’s been such fun finding myself in this character,” she said. “We have a year’s contract, so I enjoy finding something new to change in every show to keep the Lady of the Lake fresh and fun. I owe everything to my family. They have been so supportive that they flew overseas many times to see me. When I was young, they drove me 50 miles to my singing and dancing lessons to make certain I had every opportunity. My mother always wanted to be a singer and my father wanted to be a baseball player. Neither of them achieved their goals, but my brother plays baseball and I am on stage, exactly where I dreamed I’d be.”
