Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Spotlight On...Pamela J. Gray

Name: Pamela J Gray

Hometown: Weston CT

Education: MFA Yale School of Drama

Select Credits: Joanna in Present Laughter on Broadway, Anne Butley in Butley on Broadway, Agent Amy Tyler in "Sons of Anarchy", FX.

Why theater?: Nothing more challenging, or more exciting than standing in the same room with the people who have come to see the story you’re part of telling and seeing what happens.

Who do you play in Judith and Scenes From An Execution?: I play Judith in Judith and Gina Rivera  in Scenes from an Execution.

What is it like performing in rep in multiple shows? What are the challenges?: The challenge for me is the shifting of gears from one world to another, recalculating the head space. This includes every element really, from lines, to physicality, vocal quality of the character.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: This changes with every new experience. My taste changes. I love being surprised by the material. A writer like Howard Barker for instance,  is like going on this ride in which seminal, poetic and irreverent observations will be made at any turn, they flow through you quickly – and touch you just enough to be pricked, but then you’re onto the next. It’s exhilarating.  I also really enjoy working on new works, and works in development.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I really have been able to play many of the classic roles I hoped to play, but I think I’d like to do a big fat musical.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I don’t know, different for different reasons, maybe "Children Will Listen".

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: William Hurt

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?:  Lee Remick, in a DVF wrap around dress. ;  “A Couple of Shades of Gray”

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Noel Coward doing his own material.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I live in LA so I haven’t seen a play in a far too long.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Romantic comedies, the more perfectly tied up in a bow at the end, the better.

What’s up next?: Just going to be a wife for a few weeks.