Hometown: Farmington, CT
Education: Smith College, B.A. in English & Masters in English from Brown University. Acting with Maggie Flanigan in NYC.
New York Theater: A Map of Virtue (13P); GATZ (The Public); The Sound and The Fury, April Seventh, 1928 (NYTW); That Pretty Pretty; or The Rape Play (Rattlestick); Nurses in New England (Half Straddle); Port Authority Throw Down (Culture Project); God’s Ear (New Georges); A Perfect Couple (W.E.T.); Novel (SPF); Girl Blog (Culture Project); Design your Kitchen (Clubbed Thumb); Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake) (Clubbed Thumb); U.S. Drag (Clubbed Thumb); Waterborn (EST); Cause for Alarm (Fringe). Clubbed Thumb affiliated artist. Elevator Repair Service company member.
Why theater?: It’s live. Anything can happen, and it usually does.
Tell us about GATZ: GATZ is a verbatim, theatrical reading of the entire text of The Great Gatsby. It lasts eight hours, with a 70 minute dinner break. The show is directed by John Collins. Our company is called Elevator Repair Service, and we have been performing it on tour and in NYC for the past seven years. It takes place in a rundown office space. The world of the book and the office combine and collide through coincidence and sound and imagination. I think it’s quite beautiful.
What is it like being a part of GATZ?: Well, I’m actually on stage for a total of only a couple of hours, tops, so it’s not as grueling for me as for some other members of the cast, but The Great Gatsby is such a wonderful book that it’s still pretty easy to get caught up in the story and the language, even after all these years of performing it. And, of course, it’s a treat to be up there with my friends who are all terrific actors and manage to keep it fresh and surprising every time. Snacks & naps help too.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: If it’s brave and truthful, it speaks to me. I saw Mary Louise Parker on stage once. She blew me away. Very inspiring. Elizabeth Marvel does that to me too.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: Julia in A Delicate Balance
What’s your favorite showtune?: Ladies Who Lunch
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Les Waters
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: A remake of Warhol’s "Sleep", starring Edie Falco.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I know this is a while ago, but I loved The Wooster Group’s Vieux Carré – I remember telling everyone to see that.
What’s the best advice you can give someone trying to make it in theater?: Find someone whose work you like and go try to learn from them.
What’s up next?: GATZ in the WEST END!
For more information on Elevator Repair Service, visit http://elevator.org/
