AMERICAN MIDGET
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Rachel Simpson
August 11, 2012
What is your job on this show?
actor.
Where were you born? Where were you raised? Where did you go to school?
I was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois and went to school at Indiana University. IU is where I met AMERICAN MIDGET playwright, Jonathan Yukich, and the director of this production, Noah Tuleja. We've been working together since college on AMERICAN MIDGET and other theater projects.
Have you been part of FringeNYC in the past? If so, how did you particpate? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
Yes, I was lucky enough to be in the cast of 2010 Fringe Festival Audience Favorite Winner, Viva Los Bastarditos! by Jake Oliver. I played a bloodthirsty old woman, a newspaper boy, and President Taft's lover... talk about typecasting.
It was such a positive experience, being part of FringeNYC. Everyone at La MaMa and the Lortel were so great to work with and the musical itself was fresh and funny. Viva Los Bastarditos! indeed.
Do you think the audience will talk about your show for 5 minutes, an hour, or way into the wee hours of the night?
AMERICAN MIDGET gives the audience a lot to talk about. It's thought provoking in a really funny way and it's very surprising too. You know when you leave a show and immediately want to quote it? AMERICAN MIDGET is that show.
It also doesn't hurt that the rest of my cast is really cute. Too attractive and talented for their own good. It's worth discussing into the wee hours... I know I have. Go ahead, Google them: Jared Van Heel, Aaron Bartz, Doug Paulson, Nicol Cole, Maria Giarrizzo and John Bergdahl.
Which famous New Jerseyite would like your show the best: Snooki, Bruce Springsteen, Thomas Edison?
It's tough to say objectively because Bruce will be there and I don't want to upset him. Snooki is planning to give birth at our cast party and the ghost of Thomas Edison is delivering the baby. Can I say they'd all like it equally?
Why should people come to FringeNYC this summer, rather than the beach, mountains, or the latest movie blockbuster?
Mountains will still be around in a few weeks, you can rent the latest movie blockbuster, and who are you kidding, you're not going to the beach. Come to FringeNYC, we love you more than those stupid mountains.
