Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Ewa Wojcik

Throughout the Henry VI trilogy, we've pushed our actors to the limit by having them all play several characters per play over the course of three plays. In this interview, we try and break down all of the actor/character boundaries by bombarding the wonderful Ewa Maria Wojcik with hypothetical after hypothetical about herself, her characters, and their impossible interactions. If you've ever wanted to see an actor go crazy onstage, these shows may be your best chance.

Or...crazier, we suppose....

D: Ewa, let’s dive right in. You’re playing several different characters over the course of the series. Which one’s your favorite?

EW: I would have to say Reignier because all I want to do all day is talk like him. Mostly to myself. He is extremely power hungry, not as smart as he thinks, and sort of a robot inside when it comes to human emotions. He and Alencon have this really fun relationship, sort of Flotsam and Jetsam-ish. Although I wouldn’t say the Dauphin is Ursula in that triangle.

D: How do you think the other characters would react if they knew you were exhibiting favoritism?

EW: Well, the Duchess of Gloucester wouldn’t even blink an eye until she would find out that she pretty much ties with Reignier for me. And that would make her downright furious. Buckingham would not care, Horner would be so drunk he would think he is my favorite, Salisbury would angrily polish her boots at the news, Lady Grey would invite me for tea only to make very passive aggressive comments intermixed with huge compliments until I told her that she is indeed, my favorite, and Vernon would spray “SLAG” in hot pink on my car. Except it would be the wrong car.

D: Which of your characters do you think you could most easily take in a fight if it were fueled by their jealous rage?

EW: Horner. He’s just a drunken scaredy-cat. He would totally panic before the fight would even start and then I’d probably have to put him in a cab home, because I would worry.

D: You’re in a tag-team cage match against two of your other characters. Who from the Shakespearean canon do you choose as your partner and why?

EW: Wow, there’s a lot of “the actor v. the character” going on here David. An interesting look into how you view the characters you play. But back to me. I would choose Puck so he could just work some magic and turn the other two into donkeys or something. Just until the fight is over. I wouldn’t want to hurt my characters. 

D: Godspeed. Anything else we should know about you or the show?

EW: I expect to have a live baby as a prop for the last scene of Part 3. It’s in my contract.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Bradley Sumner

Bradley Sumner's initials may be B.S., but his interview sure isn't! In fact, it's closer in quality to his full initials, BJS. (...you know...like, the store) Your first impression of Bradley might not be that of the ham-fisted warrior he plays in the Henry VI trilogy, but he's a good enough actor that he makes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson look like a real fairy. And as we all know, Talbot eats fairies for breakfast. Without any milk....

He's such a good actor, that link is actually a picture of him as The Rock.

D: Hi, Bradley. How are you? Do you smell that?

BS: I do and it is pungent. I'm almost glad I don't know what it's coming from because I'm a touch frightened. Other than that, I'm fine.

D: Okay, so you’re playing Talbot, and he’s a bit of a badass. What kind of badassery in your own life do you bring to playing this role?

BS: The only thing I know that is remotely badass is professional wrestling. I simply know way too much about wrestling, but in all honesty, it's a good resource for characters. Very broad characters obviously, but I can take bit and pieces and distill them down into some very nice Shakespearian characters. So if you know what you're looking for, and if you watch closely, you'll see just one bad-ass Pro Wrestler.

D: If you were in a knock-down, drag-out war, like we see depicted in the plays, what would be your weapon of choice?

BS: Secretary Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon. Which are, of course, the names of my fists.

D: Okay, which would you rather fight, a giant bat or a giant scorpion?

BS: I'd like to fight both; in attempts to tame one, then ride it into battle against the other. So bat first, followed by awesome dive bombs at the scorpion.

D: Best of luck to you. Anything else we should know about you or the show?

BS: Just come see these Henrys. I'm good, the whole cast is good. These shows are going to be great. Don't miss it. 

Short, sweet, and to the point. Is it any wonder why we love Mr. Sumner? It is?! Well, maybe you, he, and the General Secretaries need to have a little chit-chat. Or, you could click on these various links, buy your tickets today, and appease them...for now.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com
Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Travis Johnson

In a world where one man stands between questions and their answers....

From the people who brought you "70 Ways to Eat a Pickle"....

And "All's Well That Ends Well Unless You're Dead"....

Travis Johnson is...

"THE INTERVIEWEE"

Coming Soon to a Bedroom Near You

D: Hi, Travis. How are you? How’s your day been so far?

TJ: Uhh, well, at the time I’m writing this I’m pretty good. Studying lines and whatnot, so I may be struggling, but I’m pretty good. It’s been a pretty typical day…just work and rehearsal as usual, that’s all for the day I’m writing this. I have started the arduous process of looking for a new 3 bedroom apartment, so…that’s…fun. Whenever it actually goes up, who’s to say. I could be in a horrible, or much better way. Who knows?

D: So one of the characters you play in part one is the Bishop. If you were the head of your own religion, first of all, what would it be called, and what would some of its major tenets be?

You know…I really don’t know. I’ve never been much for religion, so…I don’t know. Though, maybe something similar to LeVayan Satanism? That sounds extreme, but it’s actually a philosophy based on individualism, epicureanism, secularism, egoism, and self-deification, and propagates a worldview ofnaturalism, Social Darwinism, and Lex Talionis (eye for an eye punishment). There’s also this weird, magic belief thing in there too. I would take those ideas, remove the magic, social Darwinism, and Lex Talionis, and start with that. Obviously, it’s a good thing that I’m not the head of my own religion, but if I were, I would start there and try to make that into something workable. 

D: In the play, there’s a lot of war and a lot of historical figures. If you could choose any historical figure to fight alongside you during the War of the Roses, who would it be and why?

Easy: Jack Churchill (also known as Mad Jack). He was a lieutenant colonel in the British Army during World War II. He’s famous for having carried a basket-hilted claymore and a longbow into battle. He often played the bagpipes in the middle of combat, and lead charges with them. Healso carried out the last recorded bow and arrow killing in action in 1940. He was captured in 1944, taken to a concentration camp, escaped, was captured again, and then as he and a group of prisoners were being transferred to a different camp, they were released and abandoned, and he walked 93 miles to meet up with the allied forces. He was a beast. Look him up, you won’t be disappointed. Him or Rasputin...or Ghengis Kahn...I don't know, it's a toss up.

D: Okay, same question, but with any fictional character. Take your time.

TJ: That, too, is easy: Iorek Byrnison, from ‘The Golden Compass’. He’s a panserbjørn (an armored bear), not to mention (spoilers) King of the armored bears. He’s pretty much the greatest ally to have on your side in that situation. He’s ferocious, clever, immensely strong, and his armor is made of “sky iron”, (i.e. a freaking meteorite). Joan can have her old iron sword, because he’s got sky iron armor that he made himself.
 
D: Great. Anything else we should know about you or the show?

TJ: Uhh…no? No, I don’t think so. 

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Mary DeCarlo

Mary DeCarlo leads an exciting and often secretive lifestyle. In fact, when she went to the supermarket the other day, it was very clear that she would never go to bed angry, even if the Pope were a real secret agent, like all of the other members of WOW Cafe Theatre.. In fact, we're probably going to have to edit a lot of that out, aren't we? It's true, between her job at The MOMA and her sordid love affair with Mark Hamill , there's not a whole lot about Mary we're allowed to tell you.

Luckily, there's only one thing Mary wants to talk about anyway, and that's Henry VI! It's easy to look at the role of a Messenger with some disdain. But instead of playing just one of many, Mary here plays the amalgamated form of ALL messengers throughout the trilogy. Talk about informed. It's just like the time she jumped around and called herself silly with a chainsaw and a belt sander.

Pictured here: Mary DeCarlo

D: Hi, Mary! How are you? That’s an interesting outfit you have on.

MD: This old thing?

D: Brevity is the soul of wit, I suppose. Okay, so I asked you this question in rehearsal the other day and never got a straight answer from you. If you hands were turned into fruits, what fruit would they be and why?

MD: Oof. Fruit for hands: the question that has plagued mankind for centuries. I have spent more time than I care to admit pondering this since you first asked. It’s a tricky question because a lot of fruit is round which would make it difficult to get a grip on something like a fork or a knife. After much deliberation I have come to an educated decision and have picked the pineapple. My main reason for settling on pineapple is that I could use the leaves on the top as makeshift forks, eliminating the need for silverware altogether.

D: Tasty. Okay, on a serious note, you play the Messenger, who’s sort of an amalgamation of characters. Tell us a little more about this person. What’s her name?

MD: Yes, Messenger is a combo of a bunch of different messengers and soldiers. I think all of the names together would result in something like Bastard of Orleans Messenger Second Neighbor Second Apprentice Sir William Lucy. So you can call me Bastard Lucy for short. Playing one messenger who is working for both the French and the English armies has been interesting. She feels like the biggest flip-flopper in the world. One minute she’s delivering Joan of Arc to aid the French Army and the next she’s cursing the Dauphin for his victories. I’ve decided she likes to cheer for the underdog and will side with whoever is currently losing. 

D: If you had to deliver messages back and forth from England to France, like you do in the play, what would be your preferred method of travel?

MD: I did a road trip from England to the French Alps recently and it is a long journey with nothing but holes in the ground for bathrooms. It kind of took the romance out of driving through France so, assuming teleportation isn’t an option, I would definitely be on that Eurostar. It’s fast, easy, and there are real toilets.

D: Clever girl. Alright, anything else we should know about you or the show? 

MD: I’ve had a wonderful time in the rehearsal room so far and am really enjoying being around such hard working and passionate Shakespeare lovers. I think it’s going to be a great show and feel very happy to be a part of it!  

There you have it, dudes. Treasure the above knowledge, because it's all you're gonna get out of Mary until she sees your butt in a seat at the most thrilling trilogy this side of Thrillfest '09. Which, coincidentally, is where Mary first shot herself in the arm with a banana gun, thus turning half the population of Port Authority into mindless zombie drones bent on the destruction of all Taco Bells, due to their tragic restroom call times and ballerina slippers.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Kevin Percival

If you missed out on Kevin Percival’s previous Hamlet Isn’t Dead performance, you should consider yourself very unlucky. How can we describe it to you? Have you ever seen a sunset gilded with chocolate, while a trio of gender-neutral unicorns make love in a field of lavender? It’s something like that.

And if that’s too hard to imagine, just read this interview, and use the links at the bottom to reserve as many tickets as humanly possible. Cause Kevin’s at it again, and you are not gonna wanna miss a unicorn threesome twice.

We'd photoshop a horn onto his forehead,
but we're not sure you could handle that much majesty  

D: Kevin, you are absolutely splendid. How are you today, sir?

KP: Holy mother of-…crap, man, you came out of nowhere! Ah, hell, my heart's goin' like (vague hand gesture)... You can't just jump out at people like (emphatic vague gesture)! God... Uh, this is the interview? I'm good, I guess, I came down here to check on my laundry. You probably shouldn't be in there, the super might not like people taking up space in the drier. One time I forgot a load in there overnight and-

D: Right, right, right. So, you played Gremio for Hamlet Isn't Dead's Taming of the Shrew. How is working on Henry VI cycle already different from that process? Or is it exactly the same?

KP: Yeah! I played Gremio... Grumio... Whichever one is more encrusted with the stank of refuse and horse dung, I played him. It's been very different this time around! Like, night and day, man. So far in the Henry VI cycle I have yet to be ridden like a horse, bludgeoned by Santa Claus, or made to vomit cold vegetable soup into a little cup, but, you know, it's still early in the rehearsal process. Warwick may very well be moved in the course of the narrative to a more soupy place, but as of this moment Robin and I haven't made any definitive decisions on that. Beyond that I cannot comment.  

D: If you'd been alive in the fifteenth century, when these plays take place, how long do you think you would have survived, and what do you think would have done you in?

KP: As a young lad I had this shop teacher sporting an epic Civil War era mustache, which was cool. He happened to be the president of the Oklahoma Longbow Society, which was cooler. He taught me how to carve and fletch arrows, introduced me to the use and maintenance of an English longbow, and even encouraged me to bring in my fully functioning medieval death machine for show-and-tell (that didn't go well). So, in the 15th Century, in a conflict where the three most decisive English military victories were won primarily due to their propensity to use big curvy sticks to fling little pointy sticks at people very far away very effectively, I thought I'd have a leg up! Then I remembered I have skinny little arms and would most likely pull a muscle, sit down to massage it, and get trampled by a horse. That or dysentery would do me in. Oregon Trail is pretty sure it'll be dysentery. 

D: Tragic. If you had been king in the 1400s, which is very easy to imagine, what would have been some of your major decrees?

KP: I’d go hide some more magical cups. Being king really is that simple. Plantagenet? Lancaster? Hey dudes, chill out. I heard a 1,400 year old (mug/spear/box) from the Middle East is inexplicably hiding in a (cave/castle/tomb) in England and it has the power to (make you immortal/poke dragons/melt Nazis)! You should totally go get that, like, now. That's how the first Easter egg hunt was invented. Edward II was drunk one fine April morning (king-ing is stressful work) and commanded his retainers to go get breakfast foods. When they became insolent he demanded they "quest" for "holy" breakfast foods and bam: history.  Knights love scavenger hunts, kings love omelets... I'd also wear some fly silk stockings, get my Louis XIV on 200 years before he does. 

D: I know I'd vote for you. Anything else I need to know about you or the show.

KP: It’s gonna be good. Set in a fascinating period of history, stuffed with exciting characters... Pirates... Lots of (frantic vague hand gestures). Ya know? Good stuff. Come see the good stuff. 

Speaking of totally stealing tag lines from our actors, that’s the one. Whether it’s a Comedy or three Histories, Kevin’s been an amazing asset to the whole HID experience so far. We don’t know how he handles his Tragedies yet, but we’d like to put a big ol’ emphatic emphasis on that YET. In the meantime, you’ll just have to come check him out in the trilogy! 

Take it from Kevin. Hamlet Isn’t Dead: Come See the Good Stuff.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Logan Keeler

What can be said about Logan Keeler? Well, lots of things could be said, but what of it would be true? Well, lots of it could be true, but what of it would be interesting? Well, most of it could be interesting, but what of it would be appropriate?

That train of thought could go on for hours, but all you need to know is that Logan is great. If this interview doesn’t prove it, well, you can come say it to his face and get lost in those tall, bright baby-blues. Then you won’t be able to ask any of those persistent questions about what’s relevant and not.

With great power comes great-...what were we saying...?

D: Logan! You're looking well. Now, I see you're playing several different characters over the course of this trilogy. What are the specific challenges that come from working on three shows at once?

LK: Well the obvious answer is the amount of material. Three Shakespeare shows, even abridged is a lot to hammer into your head. but the biggest challenge, especially as we get further along in the rehearsal process, will most likely be understanding at any given point where you are in any one of your characters stories. 
This story, told through its three parts, is all about flux and power. and its everywhere. you're up, you're down, you're winning you're losing, you're dead, etc. It can be confusing for the actor because if your understanding is wrong or you think you're in a totally different place (or a different character-this has already happened) the scene will play totally different than it should. 

D: Is there a different show of Shakespeare's you'd rather see as a trilogy, and why?

LK: I would like to see Hamlet as a trilogy. The first part would be about a boy and his estranged father overcoming their differences to fix up their failing hardware business in order to save the town from developers. The second part would be the story as we know it and the third part would follow Fortinbras and Horatio, who, stricken and disillusioned by the violence around them, sell all of their belongings and move to India to build an elephant sanctuary.

D: If your life so far were a trilogy, what would be the three titles.

LK: Part I: The Trival Pursuit of the Middle School Female

Part II: The VCR Eats My Only Copy of Space Jam

Part III: Forgiveness and Growth

D: Thanks Logan! Anything else we should know about the show? 

LK: Definitely check it out. This whole three-part story really should be seen all together. This is a rare opportunity to hear this story in full. 

We're coming to the close of our Struts & Frets series, but I think we can all agree, they're just getting better the more Logan-filled they are. But tune in next time (tomorrow) for the next amazing installment!!

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Morgan Hooper

If you thought you stood a chance at being a better person than Morgan Hooper, you might as well give up now. He's attractive, he's charming, and he's a wonderful Shakespearean actor. And after conducting this interview, it's clear that he's one of the most humble, dedicated, and passionate guys around. We can go on record here and now as saying that Morgan Hooper is one of the finest human beings it has ever been our pleasure, nay, privilege to work with!

And, of course, we could compliment the rest of our cast with equal displays of affection and verbosity, but Morgan's playing the king, and we're afraid he'd chop our heads off if we didn't show due diligence. What!? We mean-...nothing, my lord! Just posting your glorious interview now!

He's watching...always watching....

D: Morgan, you have, without a doubt the best hair in the cast. (Sorry, Nick) What's your secret?

MH: Haha, well thank you. You should check out my back hair. It's magnificent and has a surprisingly nice sheen.

D: I'll be sure to do that. You're also, most joking aside, a phenomenal actor. What's your secret there?

MH: Thank you. That means a lot. If I'm doing good work with this story, it's largely due to all the strong actors in our ensemble. After our first reading of the play, I went home thinking, "Well, I guess I better bring my A-game to this, because they're all really good." And everyone brings something unique to the table, too; whether it's a great command of the language or some really sharp and funny character work. I feel really lucky. That doesn't happen every project.

D: Okay, hair and acting aside, what's your deepest darkest secret? We promise we won't tell.

MH: Haha, well you can tell everyone except the Shakespeare purists out there that this trilogy is not-so-secretly my favorite play in Bill's canon. Even though Henry 6 is one of the early works, and the poetry may not be as sublime, still, it's a great work. It's a dark saga, chock-full of blood and swash.  And it may be one of the most resonant plays of the day, considering the politics of the Elizabethan world are not far from our own. 

But, what I really love of about this trilogy is how it's difficult to say who the main protagonist is.  Though it may be a crude comparison, for me, Henry 6 is similar to piece of realism like Uncle Vanya; in that, both stories are less about the title character, and more about the lives that are affected by one's actions or failure to act. Margaret and Suffolk, Joan and Talbot, Humphrey Gloucester and the Yorkist faction...Each of them is fighting for supremacy in their own way, and Shakespeare, as always, has a way of making us cheer for the same people we loathe, and despise the one's we desperately wish could win.

D: Has the pressure of playing a king driven you mad? And if it hasn't, what are some tell-tale signs we should look out for?

MH: I haven't gone mad yet, nevermind the strange disappearance of cast and crew who end up dead in that bathroom without a sink. - Oh wait!

  

D: Uh-huh.... Anything else we should know about you or the show?

MH: My other big passion is Kendo, the art of Japanese fencing. I've been training some 15 years, and last summer opened a dojo in Astoria. We have a nice mix of older and younger folk, and the sparring gets pretty intense. It's a lot of fun, and another great path with which to dedicate yourself. Please visit www.enshinkan.com if you'd like to learn more.


I'm sorry, I actually don't have anything witty to wrap up this edition of S&F; I clicked the link to Morgan's dojo (if you know what I mean), and got sucked into a wormhole of awesomeness. Be back shortly. 

In the meantime, here are some links YOU should click!

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Sara Group

*ahem*

There once was a girl, Sara Group,
Who joined a kick-ass acting troupe.
Prince and Suffolk she plays;
And great depth she displays.
As the trilogy runs on its loop.

Read it. Learn it. Love it. Introducing, Sara Group!

We swore to Sara we wouldn't rhyme her name with...well, you know.

D: Hi, Sara. Oh, you smell nice. What's that scent?

SG: Thanks! It's probably the little satchel of lavender I carry around with me like an old lady.

So, I see here you're playing multiple roles in this upcoming trilogy. What is your favorite color, and what is the favorite color of each of your characters?

SG: My favorite color is green, generally a nice bright kelly green; Prince Edward's is also green, which I imagine to be the only thing he has in common with his useless father; the French General's is the particular red of the blood of English soldiers; Rivers' is blue because... well... you get it; and Suffolk's is the color of Margaret's eyes.

D: If you were stranded on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

SG: Suffolk because he/she would probably be able to think of a clever way to escape. Unless there were pirates. Then we'd be fucked.

D: If you were in a Hunger Games situation against each of your characters, what would be your weapon of choice, and how long do you think you would last?

SG: Oh god, I would definitely get killed right away if I was fighting against all of these people who've been in actual battles, unless I had a machine gun or something. But I don't think they give out machine guns in the Hunger Games, do they? Too easy.

Well, may the odds be ever in your favor anyway. Anything else we should know about you or the show?

SG:Uh… Well, I've been re-watching Game of Thrones recently so I can't stop drawing parallels between that and these plays (which, y'know, works nicely since the books were partially based on the Wars of the Roses). For Suffolk, I've been channelling Brienne of Tarth in a big way, but can also find some hints of Tyrion and Jaime Lannister. I mean, okay, the Henry VI trilogy is really underrated and some people may not be interested in it because it's "history," but there are just as many murders, secret plots, and fantastic insults as any great episode of Game of Thrones. You should put that on the poster. Henry VI: Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones was a thing.


Not gonna lie, we might actually steal that tag line. If Sara hasn't convinced you to come check out the Henry VIs, well...you might want to get your head examined. But we've got a few more days of Struts & Frets, and maybe they can pick up where she left off. And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Game of Thrones After Game of Thrones was a Thing, but Still As Cool and Relevant. ...we'll work on it.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Jessica Cermak

If you don't know Jessica Cermak, you are going to feel so lucky in a moment. A hard-working member of both WOW Café Theatre and Hamlet Isn't Dead, Jessica is the glue that brought this show together like a magnet. In the Henry VI trilogy, she not only plays an inspiring Joan la Pucelle in Part One, but also Salisbury and Oxford in Parts Two and Three. No easy task, we can assure you. But if anyone's up to the challenge it's this dagger-weilding, Sunday School teaching, magnet-glue lady of ours!

Not that she does those things at the same time.
...we think.

D: You’ve been a member of WOW Café Theatre for sometime now. What initially drew you to the group, and then what kept you coming back?

JC: I heard about WOW in my college theatre history text book.  I really wanted to join the collective when I got to NYC, but I was afraid they wouldn't accept me because I'm a straight, white, Christian woman from the Midwest.  In other words, I thought I would be too boring for queer anarchists.  But, then I started dating a straight man who was co-directing a piece at WOW and I thought " if HE can be involved, I can get involved".  I went to one meeting and was asked to be in a burlesque production of Hansel and Gretel.  I was suddenly a part of things at WOW.  After producing, performing, and viewing lots of work at WOW I realize that it is an empowering and nurturing creative space in a town that's art scene is increasingly commercial.  I am proud to be a part of a space that honors women and trans-people's creativity in the way that WOW does.

D: Okay, same question, but with Hamlet Isn’t Dead instead of WOW. What brought you in, what kept you with us?

JC: I actually almost didn't show up to HIDs audition for Taming of the Shrew. I had a lot going on, and the show was going up right before Christmas.  But, I never bail on auditions and I thought that they would never cast me anyway.  So, of course, like jerks, they did!! It was a stressful time for me, I was juggling several jobs and another show.  But, David and Robin were always so kind and professional.  I remember at one point I was struggling with my part and Robin actually took me out to pizza and tried to figure out how he could help me.  I remember thinking back to a the other young directors I've worked with and none of them have cared as much for the people they work with, or bought me dinner.  I decided right then and there that I would do whatever I could to help Hamlet Isn't Dead succeed.  

D: Aw...stop it. We're literally blushing. Okay, so you’re playing Joan of Arc in the first part of this trilogy, a classic “strong, female role model”. Who are some of your role models, male, female, or otherwise?

JC: I, of course, draw strength from women who laid the foundation for women's equality like Gloria Steinum.  I also admire my contemporaries that tackle gender issues like Rachel Held Evans.  But, I think I find more inspiration from the people in my everyday life.  My sisters (a senior account executive for advertising firm Major Doctor in the Air Force), the people involved at WOW who are constantly bold enough to share their true selves onstage, and community leaders like Brad and Joy Canning who started Church! Of Park Slope, which has provided a New York family for so many people I know are all people I strive to be like.

D: What are some of the challenges you have in portraying Joan? And what are the most exciting parts?

JC: I have loved getting a chance to work on fights!  When I started the rehearsal process I came in trying to be some sort of loud GI Jane bad ass.  I then realized that I am pretty powerful just being myself, and the more of myself that I bring to the role the more human and interesting Joan is.

So there you have it, ladies, gentlemen, and otherwise. Jessica Cermak is a fierce, committed, and passionate lady who brings all of those qualities to an equally engaging Joan of Arc. It would be a crime to miss her performances. And you know what happened to Joan for her crimes, don't you? If you do, you know you should be there. If you don't...well, we guess you'll just have to come and see.

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!

Struts & Frets: Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Henry VI - Nick Bosanko

Hear ye, hear ye! The most right honorable Dauphin Nick Bosanko presiding! But that's only Part One! You'll also see this royally-talented actor as George, Old Clifford, and Murderer #2 over the course of this magnanimous trilogy. So, bow down, don your fleurs-de-lis, and préparez-vous á Roi Henri VI, pièces un, deux, et trios!

Oui, oui? Well, if you insist.

D: Nick, you're looking very regal today. Did you do something with your hair?

NB: My lovely assistants woke me at the break of dawn to start this process - shout out to my fantastic team of hair stylists! Jane and Rob have been my glam squad for red carpets and battlefields alike for as long as I can remember. I can't be seen in public without a heavy dose of rinse, blowdry, and wax.
But in all seriousness, this mop requires hardly any work at all. I let it dry, run my fingers through it, and hope for the best!

D: Superb. Now, I see here you're playing the Dauphin in part one. What is it about you that you think makes you most qualified to play French royalty?

NB: I have quite a lot in common with French royalty of the past. My penchant for red wine alone would qualify me for a significant post in the French government.
Marie Antoinette said 'let them eat cake'? I love a nice double chocolate cake. Louis XIV commissioned the Palace of Versailles? I love big gardens and shiny mirror hallways. One of my greatest skills is commanding large groups of people without any sense of detail or direction. If that doesn't prepare me for a long and prosperous reign as Dauphin, nothing will.

D: A lot of times the Dauphin is mispronounced or mocked by calling him the "Dolphin". What is it about you that you think makes you most qualified to play a dolphin?

NB: I am so glad you've asked that question. It's what I spend about 90% of my time pondering. What I lack in a dolphin's physical characteristics (blowhole, fins, adorable smiling face) I more than make up for in other ways. My echo-location skills are beyond. Allow me a few seconds to bounce some sonar waves around the room and I will gladly find your misplaced iPhone. Dolphins are natural performers - after months of training, of course. Like them, I can balance a ball on my nose, jump through a hoop, and even swim alongside a boat of disappointed whale-watching tourists. 

D: On a more serious note, if you were a Dolphin Dauphin, what would be one of your first royal decrees?

NB: The Dolphin Dauphin, in the presence of his dolphin court and trusted porpoise advisors, hereby decrees that a) all subjects shall witness the wonderful and engaging Hamlet Isn't Dead production of Henry VI parts 1, 2, and 3; and b) all subjects shall root for and be #TeamFrance. Thus clicks the Dolphin Dauphin. 

D: Thanks, your majesty. Anything else you think we should know about you or the show?

NB: What an honor it is to be back onstage in such a dynamic telling of the War of the Roses! And what an honor it is, I'm sure, for all of those in the production who are playing my servants! 


There you have it, Mesdames et Messieurs. We could not have picked a more fancy man to play this part, or if we could, Nick could probably have them executed. So, avoid his wrath and the guillotine (Oh, he has one) by getting your tickets now for this outstanding trilogy!

For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidryvi.brownpapertickets.com

or here:  http://www.hamletisntdead.com 

If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it.

https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead

If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.

https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead

Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead 

Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. See you next month for Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3!

And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead:

Theatre You Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!