Want & Need
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Maria Riboli
October 11, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Producer/Director/Actress.
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
My passion for acting, and the theater, was born when I was very young. My brother was an actor, and a director as well, and I remember him taking me with him to the theater. I remember the amazing feeling of being in the wings listening to the actors and watching this magical work unfold in front of my eyes!
I love the theater and the contact you have with the audience. I want people to be moved and touched, I want them to think and feel many different emotions when they leave after a show. I want to be able to touch lives in different ways and on different levels.
What are some of your previous theater credits? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
I've been working constantly both in Europe (all over Italy, Paris and London) and here in the United States.
I've been blessed to have worked with some amazing artists like Fabrizio Bartolucci, Aldo Vivoda (Theater du Soleil, Paris), Theater Academy "Viera Kamissergevscaia", Makio and Norinaga Umewaka ("No" Theater, Japan), Caesar Brie, Pier Paolo Calzolari and Judith Malina (The Living Theater), just to name a few.
Some of the shows that are very dear to me have been:Miss Julie, Betrayal, Talk To Me Like The Rain, Dolores, Antigone.
But one of the shows that stole a piece of my heart was "BAAAHHH!!!". I was the executive producer, co-director and female lead in this amazing satire about bureaucracy.
The show was accepted at the Fringe festival FringeNYC in August 2007, and then got extended for the month of September at the Payan Theater, in the heart of the theater district in New York.
In May 2008 I took the show to London at the historic Pleasance Theater.
Just a month later I was on stage here in NY, as the lead (Rachel) in “The Baby Dance” (at the Director’s Company) directed by Thomas Ryan.
After that I was in a staged reading of the Broadway production of “Irena’s Vow” (directed by Michael Parva) as Irena. I was understudying Tovah Feldushuh.
Most recently I was cast as the lead character in "The White Train" written and directed by Shana Solomon at the Director’s Company.
Do you think the audience will talk about your show for 5 minutes, an hour, or way into the wee hours of the night?
I know the audience will keep talking about this show for days! It's a show where everybody will be able to recognize themselves in it. It's about relationships and we see many different stories during the play and, no matter what, at least one of them will touch your heart. You might have experienced it before in your life or you might be in it right now...no matter what, it will make you talk, think and rethink many aspects of your life...
And that's what we want with this show. We want to be able to touch you on a different level. It's full of passion, love, sexiness, real life and real struggles...trust me it's gonna be a night you won't forget and you will want to come back for more.
Which “S” word best describes your show: SMOOTH, SEXY, SMART, SURPRISING?
This show is definitely Sexy but also full of passion, humor and heart! It's a love story told from a guy's point of you...it's like Mr Big had his own "Sex And The City" show ;)
Who are your heroes?
My parents who have taught me how to dream and never give up on what I believe in.
And right now all the cast and crew of Want & Need are my heroes! I pushed them way beyond their limits to show them that they have none and to receive their trust and commitment back is priceless! They are all my heroes for the incredible amount of work and dedication they put into this project. And I thank them from the bottom of my heart!
