Reviews
“With Joseph, which opened last night at Franklin’s Jamison Theater inside The Factory at Franklin, Studio Tenn further establishes its brand: presenting exceptional musical theater with production qualities that might rival Broadway, performed by a cast (a dream cast, if you will) made up of actors from Nashville, New York and various and sundry points in between. Studio Tenn’s de facto leading lady Laura Matula (wearing an inexplicably blue wig and towering, bedazzled stilettos) returns to their stage to take on the role of the Narrator, who guides along the action with dexterity...”
— BROADWAYWORLD.COM, May 2019
“Studio Tenn and Franklin Theatre created heavenly magic on stage this past week, playing to sold-out houses March 13-17 as they put seven very talented singers on stage to celebrate the music of Frank Sinatra in ‘The Sinatra Legacy: A Musical Tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes.’ It was magic brought about by a very talented cast, many familiar to Studio Tenn regulars. Performers included Laura Matula (a truly incredible voice)...Once again, Studio Tenn, under the direction of Matula and Benji Kern, put on an amazing production with help from music director Stephen Kummer. And Franklin Theatre was the perfect location, not only because of its art deco look but also because of its excellent acoustics. Truly, heaven never sounded so good.”
— WILLIAMSON HERALD, March 2019
“Directed by Interim Artistic Director Benji Kern and Studio Tenn veteran performer Laura Matula, this phenomenal music experience features more than 35 beloved Sinatra songs. Music Director Sandy Tipping leads the tight, 11-piece band backing the singers...Seven abundantly talented singers bring the songs to life....Bravo to Studio Tenn for delivering such a magnificent, memorable entertainment experience. ”
— NASHVILLE PARENT, March 2019
“...the Pink Ladies and Danny’s T-Birds gang were all truly blessed, with not only great voices, but each one brought a great depth to their characters, that had in other productions, seemed more caricatured. Especially, Marissa Rosen as Jan, whose face was so adorably lost in her thoughts, and Laura Matula, as Rizzo’s whose soft side was heartbreaking...”
— WILLIAMSON HERALD, May 2018
“One of the great things about “Grease” is that each character gets to enjoy a moment in the spotlight. Laura Matula is excellent as Rizzo, offering just the right blend of venom and vulnerability in the familiar “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”
— THE TENNESSEAN, May 2018
“Among the Pink Ladies, Laura Matula shines as Betty Rizzo...Under Logan’s direction (and wearing his completely stunning and fashionable costumes), the women show off their mean girl bona fides all the while providing some pretty nifty musical interludes along the way.”
— BROADWAYWORLD.COM, June 2018
“The immensely gifted Laura Matula is accorded the juicy role of the inspirational Lady of the Lake, and she’s a luminous and soulfully self-absorbed diva, delivering big-time in numbers such as “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Find Your Grail” and the mirthful “Whatever Happened to My Part?”
— NASHVILLE SCENE, May 2017
“Then there’s Laura Matula as Lady of the Lake. Matula’s voice is an etherial cross between Sarah Brightman and Amy Winehouse, with a quirky bit of Macy Gray thrown in for good measure. She’s just as adept at belting out classical, technically spot-on notes as she is stirring emotions in herself and the audience as she wraps each lyric in a cocoon of feeling. ”
— NASHVILLE ARTS CRITIC, May 2017
“Matula makes the most of her time as the spirited Lady in the Lake, performing her songs with her requisite theatricality and self-assurance, and she commands the stage with as much stage presence as the venue can possibly withstand. ”
— BROADWAYWORLD.COM, May 2017
“...in “The Song That Goes Like This,” Mike Baum (the “dashingly handsome” Sir Galahad) and Laura Matula (the mystical Lady of the Lake) turn a generic Broadway ballad on its ear with hammy brilliance — and several key changes. Matula is perfectly cast as Lady of the Lake, vamping it up with powerhouse vocals in “The Diva’s Lament” and “Find Your Grail.”
— THE TENNESSEAN, May 2017
“The Wicked Witch is frightening and overbearing, yet somehow tremendously appealing in a bad girl sort of way that’s left men slack-jawed for a hundred years or more. Logan’s casting of American Idol and Broadway veteran Diana DeGarmo as Dorothy, and local theatrical forces of nature Megan Murphy Chambers and Laura Matula (as Glinda and The Wicked Witch of the West, respectively) as the triumvirate lends further gravitas to the theory that the show’s really about that trio of strong-willed women, with the rest of the characters serving to support their aims...Matula’s Wicked Witch is unique and intriguing as she commands the stage with skill and navigates her way in Logan’s fishtailed gown that accents her movement s with stylish flair. She’s fully engaged and completely sensusal in her performance and she virtually stops the show with her jazzy rendition of “The Jitterbug Waltz” that is wonderfully danced by the show’s ensemble to Emily Tello Speck’s superb choreography.”
— BROADWAYWORLD.COM, June 2015
“They are all perfectly cast and absolutely engaging with far too many highlights to include here, though ...I will note that Matula’s cackle, Waller’s Marlon Brando impersonation and Parker’s bicycling ability are just a few of the extra cherries on top of a very tasty Studio Tenn sundae...”
— NASHVILLEARTSCRITIC.COM, June 2015
“Studio Tenn favorite Laura Matula is simply stunning, putting her unique spin on familiar tunes such as “Cry, Cry, Cry.” And her heartbreaking rendition of “Give My Love to Rose” is an unexpected treat."
— THE TENNESSEAN, February 2015
“Laura Matula broke my heart with “Give My Love to Rose”. Truth is, I might have teared up just writing about it. It was a powerful moment. She poured herself out in this song and sang it with such empathy I could see her kneeling at the railroad tracks with this dear, dying man, holding his face in her hands...”
— SHELIA MULLICAN, February 2015
“...There are others whose work was so good that words will never fully convey the sheer majesty of their performances. Included in the list are Laura Matula, whose electrifying “I Dreamed a Dream” as Fantine showcased her brilliance as a singer and actor...”
— ARTSNASH.COM, May 2014
“...I can assure audiences that this is one of the finest productions of “Les Mis” you’ll ever see. How can I be so sure? Because Logan has recruited exceptional talent from both Broadway and Nashville to bring Claude-Michel Schönburg’s epic score to life....Meanwhile, the Nashville contingent more than holds its own with vibrant performances. Laura Matula is especially lovely as Fantine...”
— THE TENNESSEAN, May 2014
“...And how does Laura Matula fare as Eliza? She’s brilliant in all aspects of her characterization. I’ve known that she was capable of such high-quality theater work since I saw her spectacular Miss Adelaide in Studio Tenn’s excellent revival of Guys and Dolls, but after hearing her rendition of “I Could Have Danced All Night” I have to make a very personal confession – may it be many years from now, but if I can just hear her angelic voice as I leave this life I will die at peace. What a phenomenal vocal instrument she has – if you haven’t heard her sing, you must. Her acting is just as marvelous; Eliza’s fantastic transformation from Cockney flower girl to well-spoken lady requires an actor with more than just a gorgeous voice, and Matula’s skills in both departments are equally impressive...”
— NARTSNASH.COM, May 2013
“...Laura Matula stars as the Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle. Matula perfectly makes the transition from lowly guttersnipe to desirable princess in her role. Her beautiful singing voice paints the way from “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” to “The Rain in Spain” and beyond. Matula delivers the evolution of her character in a fascinating way...”
— NASHVILLE PARENT, May 2013
“…Laura Matula, is there anything you can’t do? Her Miss Adelaide for Studio Tenn’s Guys and Dolls was Broadway-worthy, and she’s appeared in stage and cabaret settings around Nashville for some time now displaying her amazing vocal range and acting chops. Matula always delivers, whether it’s a ballad, novelty or other type of number...”
— ARTSNASH.COM, September 2012
“...Doolittle is joined onstage by Laura Matula, the local musical theater and cabaret star who somehow miraculously manages to show off even more versatility than we’ve seen before, displaying an appealingly fun side to her well-known serious focus. “Don Juan” provides her with a showcase for both her vocal chops and her tremendous comedic abilities...”
— BROADWAYWORLD.COM, September 2012
“...Bradshaw plays the comic possibilities of his character to the hilt; Hickman is a suave and sure Masterson; and I could listen to Tillis’ angelic vibrato forever and a day. If there’s a first among equals, though, I’d argue for Matula’s bravura performance. Her rendition of “Adelaide’s Lament” alone reaches show-stopping heights; her flexible and powerful vocals combine with consummate comedic timing to create the best performance I’ve seen of that number since I first watched Vivian Blaine (who created the role on Broadway) do it in the 1955 film version on late-night TV some years ago...”
— STAGECRITIC.COM, August, 2011