Nancy And Beth are probably better known to the world as Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt.
Between the two of them they have appeared on television programmes 'Will & Grace', 'Park And Recreation' and 'Californication', as well as appearing in Broadway productions and movies.
But as the focal points of punk/ vaudeville outfit Nancy And Beth, they showcase a different side to their personality and talent with a stage production that encompasses blues, jazz, country and a dash of the defiant punk ethos.
Nancy And Beth will bring their stage show to Australia for the first time this June, but don't make the mistake of underestimating their commitment to music. “It's important to make the right distinction that it is a band rather than a show,” Megan corrects, “but it's kind of also like a show so we can't get too picky about it (laughs).
“Basically, it's just me and Stephanie and we have five musicians behind us and every song is choreographed top to bottom so the songs are really tight together, and in between all hell breaks loose.”
That tongue-in-cheek humour permeates throughout the remainder of the chat, with both ladies struggling at times to give serious credence to their responses. “The show is hard to understand unless you see it,” Stephanie interjects.
“We can say as many words as we want, but the whole thing is... much of it is spontaneous and in the moment and we don't even know what it's gonna be,” she adds accompanied by more laughter.
“There's a risk factor that we like to highlight,” Megan continues. “There's an emotional risk and danger because every song is different, so it's like there's nothing to grasp on to or settle in to completely as an audience member because it's always shifting and changing. It's an all-encompassing celebration of music.”
By putting their own spin and flavour onto songs from artists as diverse as Rufus Wainwright to George Jones to Gucci Mane, Nancy And Beth take the audience on a musical journey punctuated by choreographed dance moves and harmonies that promises to entertain as much as enthral.
“We do everything from a song that was written in the 1920s to a Gucci Mane song that was written in the last four years or so,” Megan says. “It's all different periods and genres, so it's hard to pin it down because each song is not only from a different era, but each song is also its own little world.”
“We choose them based on our instincts and what our gut is saying would be an amazing song,” adds Stephanie, “but it's pretty much exactly what we wanna do, which doesn't adhere to any rule or structure.”
By choosing older artists and more obscure songs, Stephanie says the band are able to avoid excess scrutiny when applying the Nancy And Beth treatment to existing material. “Most people don't know the songs so that helps,” she laughs, “but I feel like people somehow just magically get on board, even if they don't know anything about the band going in.
“We've played all over America and the UK, and now we're coming to Australia. We've played radically different venues – everything from jive bars to the Royal Festival in London and everything in between – and every audience we've ever had has seemed to go apesh.t over the band.”
With such a decorated career in the entertainment industry, the question remains as to why Megan and Stephanie would trade it all in to become musicians? “I have been playing music since I was a kid,” Stephanie begins, “and Megan has always played music and sung.
“So I wouldn't say we're trading anything in, but it's so much fun to be able to perform and have artistic control over a show and an entity, and for us to do whatever we want.”
“I love acting,” Megan continues, “but music is different from anything else. It's the kind of thing when Stephanie and I are working together – we could be in a choreography session or a rehearsal or picking new songs for the set – we really go into a zone where you don't realise how much time is passing and that's when you know you're doing the thing that you really love.”
Nancy And Beth 2019 Tour Dates
Thu 6 Jun - Wrest Point Entertainment Centre (Hobart)9-10 Jun - Adelaide Cabaret Festival
12-13 Jun - Melbourne Recital Centre
Sun 16 Jun - Sydney Opera House (two shows)
Tue 18 Jun - Lizotte's Newcastle
Wed 19 Jun - QPAC (Brisbane)
