Antony & Cleopatra
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Shavonia Jones
October 19, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Actor.
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
Like most artist, I was always looking for a way to express myself. Earlier in my life, I found myself wanting to find something honest, to feel more emotions, or a sense of liberation. This desperate need to communicate led me to acting. I began doing plays in the seventh grade. For the first time, I found that natural high I was searching for as young girl.
Why do you do theater (as opposed to film, or TV, or something not in the entertainment field)?
Working in theater as opposed to another industry is quite simple- for the love of it. Money seems to be the way most define their success, however, as an actor it is necessary to complete certain task, but not the goal. The prospect of working in a cubicle for the next few years does not intrigue me.
In your own words, what do you think this show is about? What will audiences take away with them after seeing it?
Antony and Cleopatra is a story about a true test of love. Cleopatra is the queen of Egypt. She is a woman of beauty, brilliance, and intellect who knows how to be seductive and use her talents to maintain and expand her power. Mark Antony is a Roman emperor that experiences a depreciation of his authority and credibility because of his affair with Cleopatra. The audience will feel an array of emotions- the play examines the struggle between reason and emotion, makes one consider the definition of honor, and the clash of East and West. The story depicts how great love demands great sacrifices.
Which famous New Jerseyite would like your show the best: Snooki, Bruce Springsteen, Thomas Edison?
Snooki- she is willing to do anything for love.
How important is diversity to you in the theater you see/make?
We live in a diversified world. People want to see characters that are relatable; someone that shares a similar story. However, to evolve one has to experience life beyond what one knows. Theater is a presentation of a real or imagined event. To touch the audience, it has to be diversified- a reflection of what one sees.
