Spotlight On...Rachel Goodgal

Name: Rachel Goodgal

Hometown: Wyckoff, NJ

Education: Middlebury College – BA in theatre, minors in math & French

Select Credits: PTP/NYC’s The Castle, Diwata in Speech & Debate, Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Why theater?: Theatre is a very special kind of storytelling because the audience shares the characters’ physical space. I think the inherent community of theatre creates a special kind of intimacy between audience members and performers and allows unique forms of empathy, sympathy, and joy to occur. I also love the spontaneity of live performance – it’s a thrill both to create and to watch.

Who do you play in Matt & Ben?: I play a young Ben Affleck, as imagined by playwrights Mindy Kaling & Brenda Withers.

Tell us about Matt & Ben: Matt & Ben is basically long form sketch comedy. It’s built on a comedic premise – the simple fact that women are playing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck shows that the play doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s all about the humor and the joy we can bring to the audience.

What is it like being a part of Matt & Ben?: It’s a delight. The show is built for goofing around, and it’s so much fun to show up to rehearsal and see how I can act truthfully while also “bro-ing out.”

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love theatre that draws me into the characters’ world. I want to believe that they are real people, and I want their situation to capture my attention completely. If I leave the theatre debating a character’s dilemma, feeling emotionally connected to the characters, or with my face hurting from laughing and smiling so much, I probably loved the show.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I’m obsessed with Katha in Maple & Vine by Jordan Harrison. The part is too old for me right now, but it’s a dream for the future. I’d also love to play Penny in Hairspray and pretty much any role in The Sound of Music or Spring Awakening.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I can’t possibly pick! One song that comes to mind that can make me cry when I just listen to the recording is “When You’re Home” from In the Heights. I find musical theatre so powerful.

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

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The original Broadway The Sound of Music with Mary Martin

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Besides Matt & Ben,  you mean? I loved Hedwig, though I haven’t seen it with Taye Diggs.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Jersey Shore fudge. But I don’t really feel guilty about it.

What’s up next?: I have no idea! Hopefully another show that allows me to play as much as this one does.

For more on Rachel, visit Rachelgoodgal.com. For more on Matt & Ben and West of 10th, visit  Facebook.com/westof10th

Spotlight On...Conor Romero

Name: Conor Romero

Hometown: Riverdale, New York

Education: Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy

Select Credits: "The Michael J. Fox Show", "The Following", "Orange Is The New Black"

Why theater?: You never know what you are going to get when you are on the stage. There are no cuts, or takes where you get to start over. Once you start, there is no going back.

Who do you play in Matt & Ben?: Matt Damon

Tell us about Matt & Ben: Matt & Ben is essentially a spoof off of how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote "Good Will Hunting".

What is it like being a part of Matt & Ben?: I'm really fortunate to be able to put up this play with my theatre company On The Road Repertory, and get to perform across from a really good friend of mine Ryan Willard, who plays Ben. Chemistry is one of those things you can't teach, either it's there or it isn't, and that isn't an issue with us.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I really enjoy Off-Broadway shows and some of the even smaller venues that are all around the city. It's great to see shows for a good price and see what other artist are doing around the city. I'm inspired by a lot of my peers that I go to class with and am able to watch them perform on a weekly basis. It's one thing to look up to someone in the limelight but to be able to know another actor on a personal level and watch their process is what gets me moving.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Several. I was watching a 'reality' show called "Money Talks" a while back where the main guy is this sports betting guru. I remember watching him thinking, 'that would be a fun character to play'.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I'm not a big musical theatre person but "The Circle of Life" has a special place in my heart.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would probably want to work with the person who inspired me to act to begin with and that would be Dustin Hoffman.


Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: If someone decided to make a movie about my boring life tomorrow I'm probably at the age where I would just play myself. No one can play you better than you. That also might be the name of the movie. "No one can play you better than you".

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: This is a no-brainer for me. I would go see Brando in Streetcar Named Desire. I think I would like to see the performance where Brando breaks his nose boxing a stage hand offstage in between his scenes.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I love to play ping pong!

What’s up next?: Good question. I would love to do another play after this one.

For tickets, visit http://www.nytimes.com/theater/show/364836/Matt-and-Ben/overview