Lora Lee Gayer
{{short description|American stage actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lora Lee Gayer
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Lorraine Lee Gayer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|04|27}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername =
| alma_mater = Carnegie Mellon University
{{small|(BFA, 2010)}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- dancer
- singer}}
| years_active = 2011–present
| spouse =
| children =
}}
Lora Lee Gayer (born Lorraine Lee Gayer; April 27, 1988) is an American stage actress. On Broadway, she originated the lead role of Linda Mason in Holiday Inn in 2016. She appeared on Broadway in the 2011 revival of Follies as Young Sally.[http://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/lora-lee-gayer/profile/ "Lora Lee Gayer Biography | Broadway.com"]. broadway.com. Retrieved on 3 January 2017.Nordstrom, Leigh (7 October 2016). [http://wwd.com/eye/people/lora-lee-gayer-irving-berlin-holiday-inn-musical-broadway-10628762/ "Lora Lee Gayer Shines in Irving Berlin’s ‘Holiday Inn’ on Broadway"]. wwd.com. Retrieved on 3 January 2017.
Early life and education
Gayer was born in New York City to Thomas and Cynthia (née Dray) Gayer and was raised in Naples, Florida. She has one younger brother, Thomas Gayer the Fourth. Her parents were jointly involved in the fashion industry. As a young child, she was initially interested in more visual arts, though she later transferred to performance. She sang with the Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorale at age 11, and began attending the Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan) summer program at the age of thirteen. Three years later, she began her full-time education with Interlochen's prep school.Chau, Joanna. [http://www.naplesnews.com/entertainment/theater/lora-lee-gayer-of-naples-stars-opposite-bernadette-peters-in-dc-revival-of-follies-ep-391523553-335427851.html "Lora Lee Gayer of Naples stars opposite Bernadette Peters in DC revival of 'Follies'"], Naples Daily News, June 9, 2011, retrieved January 4, 2017
Gayer attended the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in Pittsburgh, graduating with a major in musical theater. Immediately after college, Gayer moved back to New York and began looking for performing work.[http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2016/10/5/williamsburg-resident-lora-lee-gayer-shines-roundabout%E2%80%99s-broadway-production- "Williamsburg resident Lora Lee Gayer shines in Roundabout’s Broadway production of ‘Holiday Inn,’ the new Irving Berlin musical | Brooklyn Daily Eagle"]. brooklyneagle.com, October 5, 2016. Retrieved on January 3, 2017.
Career
In 2006, Gayer attended the YoungArts program in Miami, where she was among the students featured in the documentary short Rehearsing a Dream.[https://www.movieranker.com/movie/28htX2c3gg7ZNk6 Rehearsing a Dream], movieranker.com, retrieved January 4, 2017
Gayer made her Broadway debut in the revival of Follies as Young Sally. She had played the role at the premiere of the production at the Kennedy Center. The production ran on Broadway from September 12, 2011 to January 22, 2012.[http://www.playbill.com/production/follies-marquis-theatre-vault-0000013739# " Follies Broadway"], Playbill, retrieved January 4, 2017Bernardo, Melissa Rose. [http://www.ew.com/article/2011/09/26/follies " Follies Review"], ew.com, September 26, 2011, retrieved January 4, 2017 She performed in the production at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, in May to June 2012.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/complete-casting-announced-for-la-follies-with-victoria-clark-elaine-paige-jan-maxwell-danny-burstein-ron-raines-com-187757# "Complete Casting Announced for L.A. Follies with Victoria Clark, Elaine Paige, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, Ron Raines"], Playbill, February 23, 2012
In 2013, she made her film debut playing Lily in Towheads, which was released on March 27 of that year.Scheib, Ronnie. [https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-reviews-towheads-1200326800/ "Film Review: ‘Towheads' "] Variety, March 20, 2013
She performed as Philia in Shakespeare Theatre Company's (Washington, DC) production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which ran from November 21, 2013 to January 5, 2014.Purcell, Carey. [http://www.playbill.com/article/shakespeare-theatre-companys-a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum-starring-bruce-dow-begins-nov-21-com-211975# "Shakespeare Theatre Company's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Starring Bruce Dow, Begins Nov. 21"] Playbill, November 21, 2013, retrieved January 4, 2017 For the performance, she was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical.[http://theatrewashington.org/content/nominations-2016-helen-hayes-awards "Helen Hayes Awards, 2014"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205044126/http://theatrewashington.org/content/nominations-2016-helen-hayes-awards |date=2016-02-05 }}, theatrewashington.org, retrieved January 4, 2017
She returned to Broadway in March 2015 (previews), where she originated the role of Tonia Gromeko in the musical Doctor Zhivago. The musical closed on May 10, 2015, running for only 26 previews and 23 official performances.Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/doctor-zhivago-review-broadway-musical-1201476701/ "Broadway Review: Doctor Zhivago "] Variety, April 21, 2015Hetrick, Adam; Gioia, Michael. [http://www.playbill.com/article/with-no-tony-nominations-doctor-zhivago-is-next-to-post-closing-notice-com-348319# "With No Tony Nominations, Doctor Zhivago Is Next To Post Closing Notice"] Playbill, May 4, 2015
That same year, Gayer performed as part of Cdza in a segment on CollegeHumor's Comedy Music Hall of Fame.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5415910/ "Lora Lee Gayer"]. imdb.com. Retrieved on January 3, 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifc.com/2015/06/take-a-tour-of-the-history-of-comedy-music-with-cdza |last=Locker |first=Melissa |title=Watch CDZA Perform the History of Comedy Music |date=June 19, 2015 |publisher=IFC}}
She appeared in the original Broadway cast of the Roundabout Theatre production of Holiday Inn, playing the principal role of Linda Mason. The musical is based on the musical film of the same name, with music written by Irving Berlin. The musical opened on October 6, 2016 and ran to January 15, 2017.[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/lora-lee-gayer-490566 "Lora Lee Gayer – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB"]. ibdb.com. Retrieved January 3, 2017
In January 2019, Gayer performed "The Interview"
{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/4nvYFofAy9o| archive-date = 2021-12-09| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nvYFofAy9o| title = "The Interview" from The Pussy Grabber Plays | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} as part of "The Pussy Grabber Plays" {{cite web |url=http://www.thepussygrabberplays.com/ |title=Home |website=thepussygrabberplays.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/A-New-Trump-Play-Comes-to-THE-PY-GRABBER-P-Joes-Pub-In-January-20181212|title=A New Trump Play THE P***Y GRABBER P Comes to Joe's Pub in January}} at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in New York City. The song was co-written by Natasha Stoynoff, one of the women who accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct before the 2016 election.
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2014
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical | A Funny Thing Happened on | {{nom}} |
| 2017
| Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography | Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show | {{nom}} | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/lora-lee-gayer-490566 Internet Broadway database]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gayer, Lora Lee}}
Category:Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni
Category:Actresses from New York City
Category:Interlochen Center for the Arts alumni
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:American film actresses