Yes… I titled my “Meet the Artist” as “Meat the Artist,” I feel it sets the tone…
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
The playwright is sitting in the audience critiquing everyone’s every move. Also, the stage directions are super specific, so if you try something it feels like majorly breaking the boundaries. OR… The two times in the script where the light cues are all after each other and you start calling the cues and just sound like an angry dad in the stands of his child’s middle school football game. “GO! GO! GO! GO!”
How is this production bringing something new to this story?
Literally everything. Except for the parts where we copy and pasted J. M. Barrie’s words.
Who in the show is most like their character?
It just so happens Lily Higgins is a murderous pirate in real life as well. Actually, Phil and Pat. They are just as mischievous and brotherly.
If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be?
NANA, THE DOG THAT SOMEHOW RAISES THREE CHILDREN, ADMINISTERS MEDICINE, AND KNOW THE ALPHABET SO WELL THAT SHE CAN ARRANGE SPILLED TOY BLOCKS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Figg. Ha, but actually
If someone was going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?
Daddy Levy
When did you first perform?
Last Friday… ok so as an actor, I’ve been performing for awhile, but I stepped into the role of Tinkerbell on Friday…
What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?
Taking attendance! Zach Ginkel was marked tardy almost everyday because he needed to change into his man leggings and Youth XS t-shirt. Maybe making Google Forms? Only because nobody fills them out.. besides me and Fran. Another challenging thing was keeping Figg’s Club cracker to sips of water ratio in check.
What’s your favorite line in the show?
Well, you see, it was the “ginormous booty” line (which would be the completion of the Season of the Booty*), but Figg cut it so.. Anything that Kate Ferguson says in her adorable English accent is my favorite.
*The Season of the Booty is a conspiracy theory created by Homestead theater students. Our One Act show contained the line “Let’s kicketh some booty,” Robin Hood had a line reading, “The booty really is distributed to the poor,” Beauty and the Beast had “Take all the booty you can find,” and Peter Pan was supposed to have “Where is my ginormous booty?” Meaning, every show we did during this season would have a line about booty. Figg totally did it on purpose.
Besides this one, what’s your favorite stage show?
(“Besides this one” that’s cute) I refuse to answer, it’s like picking a favorite child! Even though Figg’s favorite baby is Weasel Baby #5!
Who do you look up to (as an actor/director/etc.)?
Lily Higgins (she kicks butt in every way), Lonnae Hickman (always knows how to handle the situation at hand), Erin Meskimen (great leader and takes charge), Frances Mackinnon and Jada Carroll (try new things and dive in head first), Ms. Figg-Franzoi (inspired my entire future life goals)
When you have a five-minute break during rehearsal, what do you spend that time doing?
Sneakin’ some weasel photos of Mr. Frog-Franzoui
What do you do when you’re not doing theatre?
Ha.
If you had a magic wand, what show would you do next?
To quote my dearest Fran, “There are a million shows we haven’t done just you wait.”
Once? 39 Steps? Batboy the Musical? Grease? West Side Story? Cabaret? Dogfight? Bubble Boy? A show with a never-changing, hardcopy script? (Love you Figg)
Actually, if I had a magic wand I wouldn’t worry about the show. I would make sure we had safe facilities and a supporting community because those are important parts of any theater.
Written by: Emma Zander (2017)
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