Tuesday, January 10, 2012

MEET JORDAN TIERNEY

Meet Jordan Tierney, who makes his Beautiful Soup debut as Torvald in A DOLL'S LIFE: the musical. Jordan joins us a little late in the process, but we are so thrilled to have him! He'll return to the Beautiful Soup stage this summer as the titular role in THE ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN! Check out his interview here:

With hundreds of casting calls a week in this city, what attracted you to this project? Steven asked me late in the show's process if I would like to take over the role of Torvald. I'd known and read "A Doll's House" but never known the musical until now. Funny enough, moments before I was asked to join the cast I was purchasing my tickets for opening weekend. Glad I didn't but the rest of you must do so!

What do you hope audience members come away with after seeing the show? I want our audience to forget the fact that this is a play that didn't work some time ago. I think if you come in with the idea that we are trying to make a flop work than you will be robbing yourself of a grand theatrical experience. Let this play stand alone from its legacy and you will truly get what you will out of this inspiring piece.

Who or what inspired you to go into theatre? I'd become intrigued with old movie stars (Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart ect.) and thought I wanted to be in their same position. Once I found out they started out in the theatre, I jumped at the chance to perform on stage and realized that I had the opportunity to connect with people in real time. Actors have the opportunity to be therapists without anyone having to reveal their stories instead they live vicariously through your character and his or her triumphs and failures and leaves the theatre with a greater understanding of the human condition. I often return to the classic movies to see the performances that inspired my love of acting.

What's your dream role? Well the answer to this question seems to change every day, in fact I keep a list just to remember all of them. My favorites tend to come from Eugene O' Neil such as Robert Mayo in "Beyond The Horizon" and Orin Mannon in "Mourning Becomes Electra". Those would have to be my top two. 

Who is your hero and why? My heroes, like my desired roles, are  numerous. They are those who face fears and conquer what is thought to be impossible. These people range from friends to artists to politicians to philosophers. I'd love to be fearless like them. 

What's the greatest experience you've had on stage? After a performance two grown men came up to me at separate times with no affiliation with each other and thanked me with tears in their eyes for my performance and said that they were thankful for finally seeing themselves represented in an artistic way. That's about the most rewarding experience an actor can ask for.

Who is the one person you haven't worked with that you would like to? I think one day I'd like to work with Jane Fonda in some capacity. She is such a incredible person both in her personal life and on stage or in front of a camera. 

What's your favorite musical/play and why? "Beyond The Horizon" is the only play I've read where I feel so much for all the characters and the story. It deals a lot with fate vs. choice and it can resonate with anyone.

What's your favorite ice cream? Cookies and Cream, hands down!

Nora or Torvald? My acting teacher would kill me for not defending my character but I love the message Nora sends out by leaving her husband. It's true. Its never too late to start your life over

Friday, January 6, 2012

MEET PAUL ALEXANDER HUGHES

Check out this interview we recently did with DOLL'S LIFE stage manager PAUL ALEXANDER HUGHES. It's his first time working with the Soup, and we're so glad to have him!

1. With hundreds of casting calls a week in this city, what attracted you to this project?
I've always loved the play "A Doll's House" (I even did the final scene once in college), doing the musical sequel sounded like an opportunity I didn't want to miss.

2. What do you hope audience members come away with after seeing the show?
I hope that audience members come away from a performance feeling pleased, happy, delighted, and any array of other positive emotions.

3. Who or what inspired you to go into theatre?
A passion for creative and artistic expression through the portrayal of another person's experiences.

4. What's your dream role? 
The Man in Chair, "The Drowsy Chaperone"

5. Who is your hero and why?
Douglas Adams

6. What's the greatest experience you've had on stage?
Working as M.C. for various dance recitals during school, and the experience it gave me doing stand-up comedy.

7. Who is the one person you haven't worked with that you would like to?
I would love to meet, let alone work with, Tina Fey.

8. What's your favorite musical/play and why?
"The Drowsy Chaperone." For some weird reason, the musical speaks to me in a way that no other shows to. It is a piece in which I would change nothing, and that I consider to be perfect.

9. What's your favorite ice cream?
All.

10. Nora or a Torvald?
Torvald. I'm a realist.