Hailing from Sarasota, Florida, Parker Lawhorne played J.P. ‘the Big Bopper’ Richardson in Venice Theatre’s (FL) 2015 sold-out run of Buddy. 

He attended Booker High School for the Visual and Performing Arts where he won Best Actor for the roles of Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest and The Lion in The Wiz. After attending two semesters at Jacksonville University, he started working at The Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, building costumes and wigs for shows such as: South Pacific and The Duck Commander Musical in Las Vegas. 

Parker Lawhorne as the Big Bopper at Venice Theatre (FL)

Other roles he has played include Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Christopher in You Should Be So Lucky, Gaylen P. Gray in The Anatomy of Gray at North Western's Cherubs program, and of course The Big Bopper in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story. Along with performing, building costumes and ventilating wigs, he has make-up designed for shows such as Mary Poppins and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

 

Says Parker: “I’d like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has helped me get to where I am today. I could not do it without your constant support and encouragement.”

“Parker Lawhorne does a good job of recreating the Big Bopper’s big song 'Chantilly Lace'”

Contact: parkerlawhorne@yahoo.com

With Matt McClure (L) at Venice Theatre (FL)