Allison Guinn (photo by Michael Kushner)
By Bonny Gable
Bonny Gable is a former theater professor and freelance writer based in Bristol, Virginia. https://www.bonnygable.com
It’s a rare thing to emerge from the remote hills of Tennessee and take a bite out of the Big Apple. Allison Guinn has done just that plying her razor-sharp wit and finely-honed talent, with a generous side of guts and determination.
The professional actor, musician and writer performs on Broadway stages, in movie and television studios—alongside some major players in the business—as well as in a variety of performing venues where she applies her musical skills and whimsical imagination.
A member of Actors’ Equity Association, Guinn also belongs to SAG-AFTRA, the joint union of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. At the time of this writing that organization is on strike, preventing mention of Guinn’s television and film roles. But there is plenty of other ground to cover for this versatile and prolific performer.
Along her professional journey, Guinn has been thrilled to work with her heroes. “I met Dolly Parton on the stage of the Radio City Music Hall when rehearsing for the 2009 Tony Awards’ opening,” Guinn says. “Although that opening number was a bit chaotic, it gave me the surprise and extreme privilege of singing ‘Let the Sunshine In’ with Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Elton John and the entire Broadway community together while it was televised worldwide. Not bad for a little gal from a tiny mountain town in East Tennessee.”
Later she would go on to work with heroes like Steve Martin, Martin Short and Meryl Streep. “It would be a struggle not to burst into tears of disbelief and gratitude every day.”
Guinn has performed a variety of roles in Broadway productions, including “Hair” and “On the Town,” but her favorite role was Madame Thenardier in “Les Misérables.” She first saw the show as a preteen when it came to Knoxville on tour. “That character made me believe I could do musical theater,” she says. “I saw a big bossy woman up on-stage making people laugh and taking up space. It was wonderful.”
Her spark to perform fired at a tender age, kindled by influential people in her life.
“I got the ‘bug’ pretty early on, maybe Kindergarten,” says Guinn. “I realized I really liked being in Mrs. Chamber’s class production of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ at Evans Elementary in Erwin, Tennessee. As a 5-year-old, I knew I wanted to be an actor ... or a witch ... or a clown.”
Guinn’s mother, Karen Guinn, nurtured these imaginative proclivities. She encouraged all the performing arts but also allowed her daughter’s “silly side” room to blossom, all while driving Guinn to every activity imaginable, from Girl Scouts to marching band to, of course, drama club. “Yay for Moms that care,” Guinn says. “She did everything she could to make sure my dreams and goals were attainable.”
Growing up in East Tennessee definitely shaped Guinn’s artistic path.
“My Granny Daisy Dean was a natural performer and would sing and tell stories in everyday life,” Guinn says. “She had an amazing sense of humor too, and she was my big inspiration. She used to sing lots of Carter Family songs, so I picked up the autoharp (and a little mountain dulcimer) to accompany myself when I started to sing in New York City. I also grew up very close to the national storytelling festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go to the ghost storytellings at night. I became fascinated with ‘granny witches’ and murder ballads, ‘haints’ and all things spooky from Appalachia. That still intrigues me to this day.”
Those influences were huge for Guinn. She formed a folk music duo, “Cormack & Guinn” with Amelia Cormack and developed a cabaret style show called “The Legacy of Daisy Dean.” She’s also written a fictional story based on her grandmother’s childhood in Appalachia for a Fireside Mystery Theatre podcast entitled “Grace.” The producer of that show introduces Guinn as “Our own Belle of East Tennessee,” a very apt moniker.
As a young adult Guinn trained close to home, earning a bachelor’s degree in theater from East Tennessee State University. Guinn recalls, “It was really very good training as far as theater history, meeting the student at whatever level they were, really honing in on what made them a special actor and giving a solid education and background on all the intellectual aspects of being an actor.” After graduation, her training continued in New York City at Circle in the Square Theatre School, learning the ropes of being a professional theater actor in New York. “I was really inexperienced in all things metropolitan,” Guinn says, “and terrified of ‘the big city.’ Those two years at Circle not only expanded my toolkit as an actor and gave me several perspectives and methods to use but got me adjusted to the city with a group of peers so I didn’t feel so alone.”
Guinn’s acting range extends into both the comedic and dramatic, and she draws an interesting comparison of the two kinds of work.
“I think if you grew up looking ‘different’ in any way, it prepares you for comedy. That was the case with me. I was always ‘overweight’ and that made me roll with the punches, and adapt in a way that made me control peoples’ laughter. So, in a way I’m more used to comedy, but even as I’m explaining this, there’s a little sadness in it. Comedy and drama are very closely linked in my experience. It’s all in the way the story is told whether the audience laughs or cries. I do love a good cry, don’t get me wrong, but as Truvy in ‘Steel Magnolias’ says, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.’”
Guinn feels very fortunate to be living her dream, but success did not come without hard work and persistence. She offers advice for young people aspiring to a performing career.
“Do not let rejection keep you down. There are going to be lots of disappointments and rejection. I still have them weekly, but the most important thing in a career in acting is resilience. You can be disappointed. I’m still upset about some of the opportunities that didn’t go my way, and it is important to feel the sadness, but also, to learn what you can from the experience and let it go. You can’t change the past, you can only do your best next time. The rest is out of your hands. Also, take care of yourself and others. There’s plenty of meanness out there. Be kind.”
Guinn’s artistic life was rooted in love and family, and with family—now of many kinds—and love it continues to thrive. “The love of my family members, my partner, my friends and my arts community has always given me my greatest joys,” she says. “Sharing the love of laughter and art is also included in that joy.”
Although her professional adventures take her to faraway metropolitan domains, the values of her native Appalachian home endure and sustain her. We would expect no less of our Belle of East Tennessee.
Guinn is currently in Berkeley Repertory Theater’s production of “POTUS,” running Sept. 20-Oct. 22 in Berkeley, California.
