When LaDonna Burns sings “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 15th annual holiday production, she’s singing from the heart.
That’s because her appearance as a principal singer in “A Beef & Boards Christmas” 2007 is a homecoming for Burns.
“I’m so thrilled to be back home,” she exclaimed.
Burns was born and raised in Indianapolis on the Northwestside of town, not far from the theater. She admits there has always been a performer in her.
“I have always loved to sing,” she said. “Both of my parents sang in church while I was growing up. My brothers also sing. Music was an extracurricular activity for me. I always participated in school plays since I can remember.”
But stepping onto a stage didn’t come easily at first. Burns attended Crooked Creek Elementary School and Westlane Middle School, where she was motivated by a special teacher.
“Mrs. Barb Keyes, who was my music teacher in elementary and middle school, always encouraged me to sing and go for the best — even though I was a very shy kid,” Burns said.
“LaDonna was one of my favorite students,” Keyes admitted. “She was ‘Choir Member of the Year’ for all three years at Westlane.”
But she also remembers the shyness Burns exhibited.
“She liked to sit in the back row, never talked out or even talked to her neighbor and I could hardly hear her sing in class,” Keyes said. “Then we had a solo opportunity come up. I always tell my students: ‘No matter what, if there is an opportunity for a solo, try out. Just feel the fear and do it anyway.’ I always ask them: ‘If you had no fear — what would you do?’ The answer is always: ‘Try out.’”
Burns took that advice to heart. She auditioned for solos.
“She sang many solos in middle school and then went on to high school and I am so proud to be her former teacher,” Keyes remarked. “She always had ‘it’ in her. She just needed some teacher support to chase the fear and boy, is it gone! After she stepped through the fear, it was easy for her. When I first saw her perform in high school I couldn’t believe how she had transformed.”
Burns attended North Central High School, where she was in the Counterpoints concert/show choir.
“North Central’s performing arts program of course helped get me ready for my career today,” Burns said. “I was still kind of shy, but achieved my goal of being a Counterpoint under the direction of Pat Wiehe.”
That teacher calls her former student an “amazing talent.”
“LaDonna was a Counterpoint co-president and was the first recipient of the Counterpoint Meghan Parker Award,” Wiehe said. The award is given annually in memory of three-year Counterpoint Meghan Parker who was killed in a car accident in 1990, her first year of college. Wiehe explained that it is awarded to “the Counterpoint with the most enthusiasm, talent and dedication (like) Meghan had. LaDonna was the first recipient. The students voted and I confirmed the vote. It is the highest honor.”
And Burns continues to impress Wiehe. “She recently performed at the 50th Counterpoint Reunion and brought the house down with her performance!”
Although this is her debut in a Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre production, the Counterpoints’ annual dinner show took place here, so Burns was familiar with the theater. She also attended and performed in several Encore Awards shows there.
After graduating from NCHS in 1991, Burns earned her BS in Microbiology at Michigan State University, but she soon realized performing is what makes her truly happy. She started auditioning for community theater while working different day jobs. Soon she won an Encore Award for her role of Eve/Mama Noah in “Children of Eden” at Footlight. She also worked at American Cabaret Theatre for a year before deciding to move to NYC in May of 2001.
Burns was the Sour Kangaroo in the 2nd National Tour of “Seussical the Musical” and was the Seasons of Love soloist in the “Rent” National Tour. She was in the New York Premiere of “Emerald Man,” originating the role of Peachy in the New York Musical Theatre Festival. “Emerald Man” was directed by fellow Hoosier and NCHS alum Josh Prince.
She also participated in a reading of “Great Googley Moo,” a show about the life of local Indianapolis singer Jimmy Guilford, written by Michael Thomas Murray (former music director at American Cabaret Theatre) and choreographed by Steven Taylor (another Indianapolis native).
This is Burns’ first show back in Indy since moving to New York.
“Most of my family still lives here,” she said. “That’s why I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be in my hometown. I usually don’t get the chance to come (here) that often.”
On a personal note, her father died in April and she’s been coping with that loss.
“It really shook me,” she said. “I had a hard time singing and decided to take the summer off to regroup.”
Now, Burns says, she has an even stronger drive to attain all her goals — especially Broadway.
