13 Things About Ed Carpolotti
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Penny Fuller
November 7, 2012
What is your job on this show?
the actress.
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
When I was young my family discovered an ex-husband of my great aunt was working on Broadway: his name was William David, and he played "Pop" in PAJAMA GAME. He was a courtly gentleman with high theatrical standards and a fascinating career. He indoctrinated me into "The Theater", and I have been in love with it ever since.
What are some of your previous theater credits? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
I have always tried to have as varied a career as possible. I trained at Northwestern to be a "serious" actress with classical training and BIG ideals. My first big "chance" came in "standing by" and eventually taking over for Elizabeth Ashely in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK on Broadway. Then I got into musicals with standing by and playing over 100 times "Sally Bowles" in the original CABARET. Of course I relished playing "Eve Harrington" in APPLAUSE with Lauren Bacall. A season of repertory at the Old Globe gave me my classical phase with "Juliet", "Viola" in TWELFTH NIGHT, and "Doll Tearsheet" in HENRY 1V. Then came lots of TV. Then back to theater and THE ELEPHANT MAN National tour. In the last 15 years I have LOVED playing in Bill Finn's A NEW BRAIN at LCT and on Broadway as "Gabrielle" in Neil Simon's THE DINNER PARTY; "Desiree" in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, "Claire" in A DELICATE BALANCE", "Amanda" in "THE GLASS MENAGERIE", and "Lucille" in Horton Foote's DIVIDING THE ESTATE on and Off-Broadway. Well...I guess I got what I wanted: VARIETY!!!!!!!!
Why did you want to write/direct/produce/act in/work on this show?
13 THINGS...was originally part of a 3 monologue play by Jeffrey Hatcher called THREE VIEWINGS done at the Manhattan Theater Club. I played the third monologue; I always loved it and its affect on the audience. Last year I asked Jeffrey if I could have have my friend and colleague, Barry Kleinbort, adapt it as a one person musical for me. It has adventure, suspense, a familiar situation, and a great love story.
And here we are!!!!
Which “S” word best describes your show: SMOOTH, SEXY, SMART, SURPRISING?
Surprising!!!!
Can't tell you more: it is a surprise!
If you had ten million dollars that you had to spend on theatrical endeavors, how would you use the money?
I would add it to Barry Kleinbort's ten million, have more seats, do more plays, hope to give people real theater again!!!!
