Hometown: Boise, ID
Education: Interlochen Arts Academy, B.A. in Theatre from Fordham University
Select Credits: Little Town Blues (Olivia, Wild Project), Richard 3 (Anne, Fringe NYC 2010) with Less Than Rent; American Girls (Katie, reading, Barrow St.); A Map of Virtues (Sarah, Clubbed Thumb/Fordham); T.A.B. (Holly Hobbie, Manhattan Rep); and Sarita (Sarita), The Wild Inside (Isabel), The Way of the World (Foible), and Iphigenia and other Daughters (Iphigenia), among others, at Fordham. Also, TV’s Stalked: Someone’s Watching for Discovery ID.
Why theater?: I love stories. I have since I was a kid. I also find that I understand the world best from inside—by exploring stories through my body, voice, and imagination. I am also ceaselessly curious. Theatre is the purest expression of these things—stories, imagination, curiosity—and the passionate sharing of them with others. There’s nothing else quite so immediate and personal.
Tell us about Friends Don’t Let Friends: Friends Don’t Let Friends is a loose adaptation of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, and takes place on the set of a successful TV sitcom. I play Laura Burns, who plays the character of Hannah on the sitcom, “The Reel Deal”. Over the course of the play, the lines between Laura’s reality and her life as Hannah begin to blur, leaving her lost and struggling to find some kind of foundation.
What is it like to be a part of Friends Don’t Let Friends?: It’s amazing. I can’t quite explain enough how rewarding it is to make theatre with people you know and trust and believe in. It’s also a very vulnerable role—I have to deal very viscerally with failure, anger, and emotional confusion. FDLF is complex in that Laura’s devolution occurs both outside and within the sitcom framework, so it’s easy to get caught up in the braininess of it. There’s certainly a major element of detail and craft to the role, but I’m also trying to trust my instincts and allow truthful feelings to inform the journey of Laura’s breakdown.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as artists?: I love theatre that is pure theatre—theatre that is engaged by the ephemeral connection between artists and audiences. Oscar Wilde said, “To look at a thing is different than seeing it.” I love theatre that sees the world with fresh eyes, explores questions rather than answers, and incites me and interests me and surprises me. My inspirations vary with each point in my life, but at the moment, Maria Irene Fornes is really speaking to me. She never had great fame or commercial success, yet she was incredibly prolific, deeply artistic, and completely unique. I try to create art in line with this quote of Irene’s: “When I'm not doing something that comes deeply from me, I get bored. When I get bored I get distracted and when I get distracted, I become depressed. It's a natural resistance, and it insures your integrity.”
Any roles you’re dying to play?: My usual answer (and not a bad one at all!) is one of Tennessee Williams’ heroines. I’d say at this moment in my life, I’m in the mood for an Alma, either of Summer and Smoke or Eccentricities of a Nightingale. I just missed the boat on Harper in Angels in America and was a few years late for Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. And when they do the gender-bended productions, I’ll be in War Horse, The Book of Mormon, and play Edgar in King Lear.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: A few weeks ago I saw the movie Take Shelter with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, and couldn’t stop thinking about how I wanted to jump in and act with them. Others I’m desperate to tread the boards with include: Reed Birney, Nina Arianda, Amy Morton, Elizabeth Marvel, Mark Rylance, Julie White, Laura Benanti, Ian McKellan… stop me, I’m drooling.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: They just opened a butcher shop on my block called “Harlem Shambles,” which I often feel would be an appropriate title for my biopic. Other suggestions include “Acting in Boots” (that’s from my Dad), “Peculiar But Heartfelt: The Becca Ballenger Story,” (thanks Patrick). I want Marin Ireland to play me—I think she’d nail it.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I saw Venus in Fur last week, and it blew my mind. My expectations were shattered. Brilliant, bold, brash performances from all sides, gutsy direction, and a script that never lets you get too comfy. That’s great theatre, to me.
You have your own theater company! Tell us Less Than Rent?: Can you believe it? I’m just a little nerd from Idaho! But I do have a company, and it’s amazing. Less Than Rent came together quite organically; just a group of like-minded friends who loved each others’ work, shared a vision of great theatre, and wanted to make it all the time. Over the last two years, we’ve grown incredibly—a 7-member board of directors and contracted company members, full 501(c)3 non-profit status with New York State, features in Backstage and HyReviews, among others, and lots of other exciting things I never could have guessed would be a part of my post-collegiate life.
What’s up next?: Well, the work of running a theatre company is never-ending, so I’ll be back in action administratively with Less Than Rent. We’re planning our 2012 Season now, which is very exciting, and involves receiving and reading hundreds of play submissions each month. I’m the Director of Development, so I’ll also be writing lots of grant proposals and working on outreach to schools, groups, and other artists. Beyond that, I’m constantly auditioning, and have my fingers crossed for a couple of projects at the moment. Ah, the artist’s life, huh?
For more information on Less Than Rent, visit www.lessthanrent.org, on Facebook, and on Twitter at @lessthanrent. Friends Don’t Let Friends runs at Walkerspace Dec. 2-18. Tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207236.
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