View source for 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 (state)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| othername   =
| alma_mater = [[Carnegie Mellon University]]<br />{{small|([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|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 theatre|Broadway]], she originated the lead role of Linda Mason in ''[[Holiday Inn (musical)|Holiday Inn]]'' in 2016. She appeared on Broadway in the 2011 revival of ''[[Follies]]'' as Young Sally.<ref>[http://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/lora-lee-gayer/profile/ "Lora Lee Gayer Biography | Broadway.com"]. ''broadway.com''. Retrieved on 3 January 2017.</ref><ref>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.</ref>
==Early life and education ==
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.<ref>[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.</ref>
== Career ==
In 2006, Gayer attended the [[YoungArts]] program in Miami, where she was among the students featured in the documentary short ''[[Rehearsing a Dream]]''.<ref>[https://www.movieranker.com/movie/28htX2c3gg7ZNk6 ''Rehearsing a Dream''], movieranker.com, retrieved January 4, 2017</ref>
Gayer made her [[Broadway theatre|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.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/follies-marquis-theatre-vault-0000013739# " ''Follies'' Broadway"], ''Playbill'', retrieved January 4, 2017</ref><ref>Bernardo, Melissa Rose. [http://www.ew.com/article/2011/09/26/follies " ''Follies'' Review"], ew.com, September 26, 2011, retrieved January 4, 2017</ref> She performed in the production at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, in May to June 2012.<ref>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</ref>
In 2013, she made her film debut playing Lily in ''[[Towheads (2013 film)|Towheads]]'', which was released on March 27 of that year.<ref>Scheib, Ronnie. [https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-reviews-towheads-1200326800/ "Film Review: ‘Towheads' "] ''Variety'', March 20, 2013</ref>
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.<ref>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</ref> For the performance, she was nominated for the [[Helen Hayes Award]] for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical.<ref name="Hayes">[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</ref>
She returned to Broadway in March 2015 (previews), where she originated the role of Tonia Gromeko in the musical ''[[Doctor Zhivago (musical)|Doctor Zhivago]]''. The musical closed on May 10, 2015, running for only 26 previews and 23 official performances.<ref>Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/doctor-zhivago-review-broadway-musical-1201476701/ "Broadway Review: ''Doctor Zhivago'' "] ''Variety'', April 21, 2015</ref><ref>Hetrick, 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</ref>
That same year, Gayer performed as part of Cdza in a segment on ''CollegeHumor's Comedy Music Hall of Fame''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5415910/ "Lora Lee Gayer"]. ''imdb.com''. Retrieved on January 3, 2017.</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
She appeared in the original Broadway cast of the Roundabout Theatre production of ''[[Holiday Inn (musical)|Holiday Inn]]'', playing the principal role of Linda Mason. The musical is based on [[Holiday Inn (film)|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.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/lora-lee-gayer-490566 "Lora Lee Gayer – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB"]. ''ibdb.com''. Retrieved January 3, 2017</ref>
<ref>Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/article/holiday-inn-closes-on-broadway-jan-15# " 'Holiday Inn' Closes on Broadway Jan. 15"] Playbill, January 15, 2017</ref>
In January 2019, Gayer performed "The Interview"
<ref>{{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}}</ref> as part of "The Pussy Grabber Plays" <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepussygrabberplays.com/ |title=Home |website=thepussygrabberplays.com}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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
| [[Helen Hayes Award]]
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical
| ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum|A Funny Thing Happened on <br />the Way to the Forum]]''
| {{nom}}
| {{center|<ref name="Hayes"/>}}
|-
|2017
| [[Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography]]
| Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show
| ''[[Holiday Inn (musical)|Holiday Inn]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/lora-lee-gayer-490566 Internet Broadway database]
{{authority control}}
[[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]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]