Elephant tells the story of a family coping with the aftermath of a tragic loss. What was the impetus for the play?
My brother Jonathan was killed in a car accident in 1998. He was twenty-five years old, a marine, a firefighter, and my big brother. The narrative of the play is fictional but the family history (i.e., the parent's love story and experience of grief) is true. In reality, his girlfriend Renee Berger was killed as well. I didn’t want to write our story; I wanted to write a play with heightened theatricality that could show how grief creeps into every memory and forever alters how we hope and what for.
What does the title Elephant refer to?
It is a reference to the Philip Larkin quote, “The elephant in our room reminds us that we should be kind while there is still time.” The elephant represents conflict and the living room represents how families can co-dependently help each other ignore it.
You are a Founding Member of AndHow! Theater Company. How did you get involved with your fellow company members, and how did you all decide to create a theater company?
Jessica and Andrew Irons are my theatrical soul mates. We met five years ago. Jessica saw me as an actress in a reading and cast me in a ten minute play she was working on. The company came together because of their commitment and continued collaboration with outstanding designers and all of us wanted to call the same place home - Andhow! Every year has exceeded the year before because we constantly challenge one another and that has kept us alive and thriving.
I see that all the company bios on the Andhow! web site are accompanied by photographs of dogs. What's going on there?
Great question - I have no idea, except to say up until a year ago most of our company members were designers and playwrights, so head shots were unnecessary and now, well - I guess it is safe to say we, as a company, really like dogs. On second thought, I think Jessica and Andy initially intended to call their dogs: And, How, Etc., and et all but since they have yet to acquire a pet they gave their theatre company that title.
In addition to being a writer, you are also an actress. How did one lead to the other? And, do you have a preference between the two?
No preference, I am both. I started writing because as an actress you rarely get to choose the stories you tell, you are lucky to be cast. One day, I had a charming/insane conversation with the guy behind the counter at Blockbuster video and I wanted to play him but being female and basically your typical ingénue I knew that would never happen. But my director, Jessica Davis-Irons, challenged me to write a one-woman show made up of all the people I wanted to play. So, I wrote a story about how an ordinary day becomes extraordinary and filled it with characters I would never get cast as (i.e., Blockbuster video guy, an eighty year old woman, fifteen year old Spanish chick, my male best friend, my Mom and many other people). It was called Boo! and was produced in May of 2003. Boo! was an incredible experience but I knew while I was writing Elephant that I didn’t want to be cast in it. I wanted to be in the audience enjoying it and I did. I loved watching it grow and collaborating with everyone to make it happen. Every night was a gift.
You are also an interior designer. How did you get into that?
My sister and Mom are interior designers. I work as an artist for them, doing murals, walls, furniture, paintings, etc. My Mom studied painting in Italy when she was my age, so it could be osmosis.
Who are your favorite actors/actresses and writers? Who are the people who inspire you?
Actors: Lisa Emery, Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Amy Sedaris, Paul Sparks, everyone in my show...... Writers: David Hare, Dan O’Brien, John Guare, Craig Lucas, Aaron Sorkin, Paula Vogel. Inspiration: My Mom and Dad are it, not just because they have taken such great care of me but because they are hysterical and I have only grazed the surface of their depth with this play -- they will always fuel my work because well, they ARE full and funny. In addition, my friends, neighbors, Blockbuster video guys....all make me think and write.
Do you have any non-theater-related hobbies that you enjoy?
I love live music. Some of my best friends are songwriters and/or side men and I spend most of the free time going to their gigs.
What's up next for you?
Acting, acting, and with any luck more acting. I am a writing a new play, Wonder Dam, and I am excited to finish it and write another. I also am participating in a Valentine’s Cabaret benefit on February 9th for my theatre company.