Monday, February 17, 2014

FRIGID New York Interview - Emily Tuckman of "East in Red"

By Byrne Harrison

Show: East in Red
Website: estraña.org
Photo credit: Peter Bell

Emily Tuckman has been performing for over 13 years in New York.  Her favorite roles include Jackie-O in House of Yes (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Guildenstern in The Hamlet Project (La Mama Etc.), Blanche in Streetcar Named Desire, Laura in The Glass Menagerie (New York Fringe Festival), Lindsey in Reach (Estraña Theatre Company) and Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Estraña Theatre Company). She also directed and produced A…My Name is Alice, and studied at Williamstown Theatre Festival, with Larry Singer, and at Upright Citizens Brigade.  Emily received a grant to study at Folger Shakespeare Institute and won the audience favorite award at last year's FRIGID New York Festival for the role of Arlin in Commencing.  www.emilytuckman.com.

Tell me a little about your show.

A sadistic serial killer terrorizes the streets of the East Village; four women fall victim to ghastly acts of contempt and a dark secret slowly rises to the surface.  A psychological thriller filled with scathing twists, East in Red digs deeply into the corners of our minds to reveal our greatest fears

How did the play come about?

Ryan Sprague was fascinating with the killers of Jack the Ripper so he researched the hell out of it and created this fictional piece based on previous events.

How did you become involved with it?

I love Ryan's work.  It is so nuanced, and dark.  This is my second of his shows I am producing and acting in, and every day we find something new in this text.

Who else is helping you bring the show to FRIGID?

Estraña Theatre Company has allowed us to bring this incredible show to the Frigid, and Erez' and Tanya's insanely hard work have helped this incredible festival run smoothly!

Who would be your dream audience for this show?

Ooh-I LOVE this question!  Curious people.  People who enjoy surprise, complicated relationships; people who are able to open their minds, who dont see things in black and white.

As a theatre artist, who are your biggest influences?

As a kid I was obsessed with Meryl Streep.  As I got older I started to see more theatre and Juliet Rylance's and Julie White's work really inspired me.  But I would say my immediate influences are peppered by the community around me.  My co-actors in shows, others in the off and off-off bway community; when I see their work, I want to work harder, and challenge myself more.  Lucy Thurber's work at the Rattlstick, Mariah McCarthy's plays, and the work at Rising Phoenix Rep and The Amoralists make me want to step outside my comfort zone and create daring work.

What other shows are you planning to see at FRIGID?

Tina and Amy and Basic Help.  Cant wait!


Lightning round

Favorite playwright?  Ryan Sprague, of course.

Show you would love to be involved with?  Anything by Sarah Shaefer or Lucy Thurber.

Favorite venue? I love Rattlestick's venues.

Favorite actor? Ahh-too many… Juliet Rylance.

Best theatre experience? So tough!  Metamorphoses on Broadway.

Worst theatre experience? Macbeth at LCT.

Person you’d most like to thank? My husband, Peter Bell for putting up with me in this whole process, Mike Backes for directing the hell out of this piece, and Tanya and Erez for being my heroes.

For more about East in Red, visit the FRIGID NYC website.


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