Yellow Dress
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Marissa Lichwick
July 20, 2012
What is your job on this show?
playwright, actor.
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
I come from a family of ten and acting/theatre was the one arena I beat all of by brothers and sisters at. My little sister was beautiful, my brothers- talented athletes. After I failed at little league, I knew I had to find something. So in fifth grade I was cast in the TIME MACHINE and that's when the bug bit. I was so comfortable on stage, almost oblivious that I was being watched. Not to mention I loved the costumes. Why theatre? It's an amazing thing to be able to play a variety of people in your lifetime? How many people get to be a little fairy creating trouble, spouting eloquent proclamations then a young girl dying from heroin addiction, all in one year? Pretty incredible I think.
Why did you want to be part of FringeNYC?
I lived in New York for eight years and always loved checking out the fringe back in those days. I knew it was a competitive process to get selected so after I wrote my one person show in Graduate School I knew where I needed to test it out to see if my content and quality were of that caliber. I think they approved, so here I am showcasing my stuff in such a vibrant and diverse festival!
How did you meet your fellow artists/collaborators on this show?
I met my director, Desdemona Chiang in graduate school at the University of Washington in Seattle. She was in her third year when I was in my first and after I saw her thesis production of BIG LOVE, I told myself, I have to work with her. Both my set and sound designers I met at the University of Washington as well. So I guess I have grad school to thank for this amazing endeavor.
Which famous New Jerseyite would like your show the best: Snooki, Bruce Springsteen, Thomas Edison?
Thomas Edison. Although I would love to hear what Snooki had to say. Maybe "Why did you make your barbies smush?" ;)
How important is diversity to you in the theater you see/make?
So important. We tell our history and experiences through theatre. And when you think about it, America is defined by diversity so it needs to be reflected in our theatrical stories. As far as the theatre I create, I'm a Korean Adoptee, the stories I tell on the stage will always be defined by the differences that unite us all.
