Hometown: Hillsboro, Oregon
Education: Portland State University, Portland Actors Conservatory, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre & The Peoples Improv Theatre. I wanted to study at Barbizon but they wouldn’t accept me.
Favorite Credits: Connie Carstairs in The Chiselers by Mark Finley, Molly “Equality” Dykeman in The F*cking World According To Molly, various characters in Reckless and Helen in Baby with the Bathwater.
Why theater?: It’s the only group of people that would have me and you can’t be a Supermodel when you’re 5’3”.
Tell us about Possum Creek?: Possum Creek is a quirky eight character solo show that is set in the 1860’s. It follows the main character, Beth Ann, as she waits for her husband to return from war. It’s funny and at times touching.
What inspired you to write Possum Creek?: This play was inspired by a 5 minute sketch that the brilliant Robin Gelfenbien and I wrote back in 2005 when we were part of the sketch comedy group Freedumb. I had always wanted to do something with the character of Beth Ann and over time the story evolved. Different time periods also interest me and I wanted to write something that wasn’t set in the current time.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love theater that is bold and I love comedy. When I was teenager I saw Robin Williams doing a comedy set on our console TV. His set was fast, he was constantly moving around the room, and he was completely free and fearless. I remember thinking “that’s what I want to do.” I found a kindred spirit in my creative partner Allen Warnock. He’s one of the most talented people I know. He definitely inspires me.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: If we’re talking about famous people then it would be Maggie Smith, I love her! I also want to sleep with Idris Elba, I mean work with him.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: It hasn’t opened yet but I’m really excited to see Ben Folstein’s production of Love is Like Mud which is also at FringeNYC.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The movie would star Kristen Wiig and Dolly Parton and there’s a good chance some obscenity would be in the title.
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would love to see an original Shakespeare production such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream or be at the Broadway Opening of Rent.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Cocaine and hookers…and sitting on my couch and streaming movies and TV shows.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be?: An ice skater or some other job where my retirement plan didn’t include the zombie apocalypse or some horrible plague.
What’s up next?: I’m going to take a nap when the Fringe is done and then I’ll probably segue into being a movie star. Or maybe I’ll give up on life and go live with my friends Anthony & Irwin. They’re nice people and they have a big apartment. I could probably live in their back bedroom for awhile, before they noticed. I’ve been paying New York rent for 17 years so being a squatter seems like the logical next step.
For more on Possum Creek, visit www.possumcreektheplay.com. For more on Andrea, visit www.altonprandproduction.com
