Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Spotlight On...Kathleen O'Neill

Name:  Kathleen O'Neill

Hometown: Small town in Wisconsin

Education: MFA from Boston University in Directing

Select Credits: I seem to be doing a number of originating roles - Annie Jump Cannon in Insignificant, Blue Heron in Dark Waters, Nana in Sweet Sweet Spirit, Older in Over the River and Through the Woods, Lyubov in The Cherry Orchard

Why theater?: I get to tell a story every performance. There is a creative team process that is invigorating and challenging. Then the audience is added and magic happens. It is never the same story twice.

Who do you play in Clover?: Landlady, Helgeland and Old Mrs. Cronin

Tell us about Clover: An old man, formerly a police officer is dying of brain cancer and reviews his life through a series of bizarre dreams based in the story of Emmet Till and his own experience with murder. It is not linear.

What is it like being a part of Clover?: Stimulating and fun and challenging and energizing. Because it is based in Innovative theatre the process is different and flexes different acting muscles.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: It isn't a "kind of theatre, it is good story telling, good writing and an exploration of being human.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: MANY! - Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, Margaret in Richard III and her whole Shakespeare history, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, The Madwoman of Chaillot, anything O'Neill or Williams.

What’s your favorite showtune?: "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables and "Somewhere" from West Side Story.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I currently have the list for women at 30 and or men still working - there is SOOOOO much talent - Kate Winslet, Judy Dench, Susan Sarandon, Bernadette Peters, Cate Blanchette, Natalie Portman and on and on and on!

Who would play you in a movie about yourself, and what would it be called?: It would be called “But First I had to...” and I would be played by Emma Stone or Kate Winslet? or.....

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Original Tennessee Williams

What show have you recommended to your friends?:  The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Something Rotten, and more

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Binging on crummy TV.

What’s up next?: More more and more - 2 projects in the works. Hoping 2 of the other projects I have done will continue. Travel and writing and movies and friends and work with a company in an entirely different field - conflict resolution.

For more on Clover, visit http://lamama.org/clover/