Laura Benanti Embraces Stand-Up Comedy in New One-Woman Show ‘Nobody Cares’

Broadway veteran Laura Benanti is stepping away from her musical theater roots to explore the world of stand-up comedy with her latest one-woman show, “Nobody Cares.” While she technically categorizes the performance as a solo show rather than strict stand-up out of respect for weekly comedians, Benanti channels her natural comedic timing through quip-laden personal storytelling.

The production, which runs at the Wallis in Beverly Hills through Sunday before moving to South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa on October 11, features five original songs co-written with Todd Almond. Benanti emphasizes that the show contains adult content and foul language, deliberately distancing it from her reputation as a classic ingenue from hits like “The Sound of Music” and “Into the Woods.”

Benanti noted that audiences sometimes arrive expecting traditional Broadway numbers and are initially puzzled by the shift in tone. However, she reported that even skeptical attendees, including those dragged along by partners, tend to be won over by the end of the performance. The show tackles universal themes such as divorce, postpartum depression, and perimenopause, aiming to reach an intergenerational audience beyond her core musical theater fans.

The concept originated from an Audible commission for an autobiographical piece. Initially hesitant due to imposter syndrome, Benanti found confidence after friends encouraged her to share her self-deprecating humor. Her experience portraying Melania Trump on “Late Night With Stephen Colbert” also helped broaden perceptions of her comedic abilities, proving to many that she could handle sketch comedy and impressions.

“I’m a person telling you stories about my life — which, unfortunately, are not actually that exaggerated. The stories you hear in my show, sadly, are true,” Benanti said, highlighting her goal to use the show as a Trojan horse to introduce broader audiences to her versatility.