Keri René Fuller

US Tour 6 - 01/2019 - Grizabella

National Tour Debut! Previous credits - Broadway: Waitress (Francine & Jenna u/s).

Regionally, she has appeared in Murder Ballad (Sara), Les Misérables (Eponine), Lizzie Borden (Lizzie), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Dogfight (Rose), A Chorus Line (Maggie), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Rachel), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), Titus Andronicus (Lavinia).

Proud BM Baldwin Wallace University Alumna and member of the Actor’s Equity Association.

Endless gratitude to CGF, Lindsay from Tara Rubin, Trevor, Andy, Brian and Kristen, and the magic that is this Creative Team for this life altering experience. Love to BWMT’15, Mom, Dad, and Michael. For KJB and Tiff.

'Cats' tour coming to Bushnell in Hartford Posted Jan 23

By Cori Urban

Special to The Republican

No one is going to nip Keri Rene Fuller's enthusiasm for her role as "Grizabella," the "Glamour Cat," in the national tour of the musical "Cats."

Speaking from Providence, Rhode Island, the day before the cast began its technical week adding lighting, costumes and makeup to their rehearsals, she said, "I'm sure it will take my breath away" to see fellow cast members in their makeup and costumes. "Thinking about it makes me so excited."

The new national tour of "Cats" will open at The Bushnell's Mortensen Hall on, Jan. 29.

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," the record-breaking musical spectacular has captivated audiences in more than 30 countries and 15 languages.

For Fuller, 25, it will be a first to play a character that lives more in the past than the present. "Time has taken a toll on her," she said of Grizabella. "What keeps her going are her memories of how glamorous she used to be."

The old cat used to be part of what Fuller called a "tribe of cats," but Grizabella made choices and left, a departure the others saw as a betrayal. "When she returned she was not welcomed with open arms," Fuller said. "She is met with disdain."

But what is beautiful in the story is how the character brings to life the quality of redemption, she continued. "She is just the most beautiful, flawed and stubborn character I've ever come into contact with. ... She just keeps going. She is unstoppable and resilient and tenacious and very brave."

Fuller majored in drama at a performing arts high school in Oklahoma then earned a bachelor's degree in music from Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio. She has performed at workshops and readings in New York City, acted in regional theater in Idaho and Ohio and was in the Broadway cast of Waitress.

She considers herself "lucky and blessed" to make a living performing and finds theater a way to channel emotions. She also wants to help audience members become better people by "putting a mirror up to society and nature (so they can) grow and evolve into more compassionate people."

Eventually she would like to return to a home base in New York City, work on Broadway and perform in new musicals. Ultimately, she would like to originate a role.

This is Fuller's first national tour, and she looks forward to seeing the country; the production is scheduled for two dozen cities through August.

The original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. "Cats" returned to Broadway in 2016 at the Neil Simon Theatre. It played its final performance in 2017 after 593 regular performances.

The musical won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.

More than 150 artists including Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis have recorded its hit song, "Memory."

"Cats" is now on tour throughout North America, featuring new sound design, direction and choreography.

The production runs in Hartford through Feb. 3.

Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $23. Tickets are available online at bushnell.org, by phone at 860-987-5900 or at The Bushnell box office, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford.