Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Barbara Walters interviews Painted Maypole

OK, OK, so Barbara Walters didn't interview me. But you, dear readers, came up with some great questions! Read on...

Alejna asked:
Did you want to be an actor when you were little? What other careers did you dream about?


I used to dream of becoming a marine biologist, mostly because of my strange fascination with sharks. But then I had to dissect one in AP Biology and decided they were way cooler on the outside than on the inside. In 10th grade I saw a touring production of "A Chorus Line," which was my first inkling that "I could do that." I got involved with the drama program at school and several community theatres, and there was no turning back. Nothing interested me or challenged me in the same way.

Kyla asked:
I'd like to know your most embarrassing moment, either in show business or otherwise.


I fell skiing and broke my arm, and being carried across the slopes on a sledding gurney pulled by a snowmobile while everyone watched me go by was pretty embarrassing. And it wasn't even a cool wipe-out or anything.

carrie asked:
If you were stuck on a desert island, which three Broadway shows would you like to take along with you to view over and over again on your island's stage?

Wow. This is a hard one. But I'll go with: Avenue Q (to make me laugh), Chicago (to make me dance) and Angels in America (because it always makes me think, laugh, and cry. The words are so beautiful). And... I can't think of taking shows to a desert island without thinking about being in them myself, so I'd like to play Kate Monster, Velma and Harper, respectively.

Alex Elliot asked:
Since I'm a relatively new reader to your blog, I would like to know how you got into acting.


Hmmm... I think I just answered this above. After getting involved in high school I went on to major in theatre at a great school just north of Chicago, and the rest is history.

jen asked:
how do you feel the current administration is honoring our long standing separation of church and state? (dude, what else did you expect me to ask?)

Well, I don't think our current administration is doing ANYTHING well. I think it's impossible to ask a person who is doing anything, let alone leading our country, to not allow their faith to influence their choices. However, I think the Bush administration isn't so much being guided by FAITH, but rather pushed around by the Christian Fundamentalists, and imposing that upon the rest of us.

imbeingheldhostage asked:
What time of your life would you have considered the happiest, or when you were most true to yourself?

Probably the summer I was a camp counselor and I met my husband. I just came off of a great year at school where I had grown leaps and bounds with my acting. I loved my job at camp, was in the first phases of new love, was strong in my faith, and life was great.

Amy Y asked:
What was the best gig... performance wise, script wise, just your favorite? What's the one you'll never forget?


I don't know if I can narrow it down to just one! I did a show that really stretched my limits in terms of character, plus we created the show ourselves from several creation myths from around the world, and that was a really incredible experience. But then there was getting to play Helena in Midsummer, and then there was being the Angel in Angels in America, which even though I didn't get the part I wanted I got to speak and listen to those beautiful words every night, and then there was the time I played a mere servant in The Cherry Orchard, but just working at the THEATRE was a fantastic experience, the most professional thing I've done to date...

E asked:
Who is your favorite author, or top three favorite novels?


Hmmm... I don't actually tend to follow authors very much. I just kind of jump from book to book. And again, naming a top three is hard. But here are 3 I've read in the past few years that really made an impression on me: The Poisonwood Bible, A Map of the World, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Emily at wheelsonthebus said...
What is one role you have always wanted to play?

ONE role? Oh no. Here are several: Harper in Angels in America, Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Eliza in Pygmalion, Viola in Twelfth Night....


Suz asked:
What type of role do you think that you would have trouble doing and why?

I'm not sure. I've already done several roles that I didn't think I was right for, and ended up really learning a lot and stretching myself, so I've tried to not limit myself too much. However, here's a wee example. I've done The Vagina Monologues, but there is one monologue in there I don't think I could ever do, and it's the one where the woman talks about learning about sex from an older woman. I am really bothered by the fact that the girl in the story is a minor. Now, I think The Vagina Monologues is a great play, and the message is fantastic, and all our teenage girls AND BOYS should see it, but I have some real issues with that story. I know how the story is intended, but I am still bothered by it. So I can appear in that play, promote that play, etc, etc, but I don't think I could bring myself to do that piece. I can play a character I find abhorrent if the play as a whole has a good story to tell, but I couldn't be a character in a story that I fundamentally disagree with. (In college I turned down the first paying gig I was ever offered because it was a piece about communion, and the theology was WRETCHED. I could not help to spread that crap) That may not really answer your question, but there you go...

Christine asked:
Who do you prefer--Rolling Stones or Beatles and why?


The Beatles. They're just better. The May Queen loves The Beatles, too, and will request that we listen to them in the car. She sings along. I am not allowed to.


Kathryn asked:What is the one role that you dream of? What is the role you think you would do best in? What is one role you would NOT want? If someone were playing you in a movie about your life, who would it be?
Okay. That was more than one question. :)

I think I've answered the first three questions. But who would play me in a movie about my life? Hmmmm.... You have totally stumped me. I guess I'll just have to play myself.

LaskiGal said...
what is the best advice you've ever been given? Who gave it to you?

A friend and director of mine in Philadelphia, when I was trying to decided if I wanted to do a show or not, told me that whatever choice I made, I just had to MAKE it be the best choice. And that has come in handy lots of times. Often either choice could be a good choice, but once I've committed to one, go with it, and make it be the best choice for me.


SusieJ asked:
What's your favorite food to indulge in... when you're feeling like having something really wicked and good.

Because I'm not much into self deprivation there's not really a food I have when feeling wicked, but things that I really enjoy include peanut butter off the spoon and fudge.


Family Adventure asked:
Which celebrity (star) would you like to work with when you become a famous actress?

I've never really thought about this. Hmmm... Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg (I keep waiting for him to call...)

AND Have you always had your faith and does your husband share it?

Yes and Yes. I was born a Lutheran (I'm a pastor's kid AND a pastor's wife. Start the Freudian analysis now...) My husband and I met at a Lutheran camp. The strength of my faith may ebb and flow, but I've always had it, as has my husband. I don't think I could have married someone who didn't share my faith.

Gunfighter asked:
How do feel about automatic weapons? Belt-fed air-cooled models in particular?


I'm not a big fan of guns of any type, to be honest.

Joy said:
Here's a question I have always wondered: I can't even manage time for a hobby around my husband's work schedule. How do you manage your show schedule and your husband's work schedule and the Mayqueen?

A good husband and lots of good babysitters. I'm really truly lucky to have a husband who understands how much a part of me the theatre is that he gives me time and space to do it. Since I've had the May Queen, I haven't done nearly as much theatre as I used to (these last 4 consecutive shows not withstanding...), and I'm OK with that. I've gotten much better about planning shows around my life and not my life around my shows, and saying no to things that don't fit. The May Queen is only young once, and I need to enjoy that. Other things (like reading, scrapbooking, sleeping, exercising...) slide when I'm doing a show. Also... I don't clean much.



Thank you all, for your interesting questions!

34 comments:

Unknown said...

I loved this factual post. Nice getting to know you.

Aunt Becky said...

Oh, this was a neat post. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

This was fun, as always over here.

How did I miss the question submission? (no worries, I don't have any burning questions.)

Amy Y said...

I think these kinds of meme's are the best :)
So much fun to read... thank you for sharing!

NotSoSage said...

Veeerrrry interesting. All of it.

I like the advice that your director/friend gave you. I've always thought that, but never been able to articulate it that way.

Want to know a dirty secret? I (gasp) have never seen Angels in America. I know, I know...terrible, isn't it?

Family Adventure said...

You really did get some good questions...and I liked your answers. Like Linda from another good thing said, a good way to get to know you better :)

Heidi

thailandchani said...

I must have missed the questions, too. Would have come up with something eccentric and wacky for you, no doubt.

Interesting questions and answers. :)

Kat said...

Wow. That was a ton of questions! You did great! I know you so much better now. :)

Girlplustwo said...

i always like hearing how you think.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

You did GOOD! That was so much fun to read. Now, can I get your autograph? :)

Run ANC said...

I so want to play Eliza..

Anonymous said...

Fascinating you are, Painted Maypole. I missed all this... but so nice of everyone to ask all the questions I was thinking!

Anonymous said...

Ashley Judd
should play you.
No?

Kay-T

Bon said...

these were great answers, especially the theatre ones. very cool.

i too eat peanut butter off the spoon. but i think i'd pick the Stones, myself. ;)

Woman in a Window said...

Peanut Butter and Fudge! No freaken way! I secretely bought 2 chocolate Easter Bunnies 'cause all that stuff is only a quarter now that it's so last two weeks and I have hidden them (for now) so that when I get the urge I'll gobble them up. Without any witnesses it can't go to the hips, right?

Woman in a Window said...

Oh, it's me again. Reading Angela's Ashes...Fortify yourself! My god, fast or something. It was almost too much for me. I feel guilty for being of Irish descent and yet am fully fed. And tell me what you think of the absolute ending, when you get there. Hum. Wish I could say more but I'll let you get there first. Thanks for reading me!

Mary Beth said...

Great answers to some interesting questions. I missed leaving you a question but that's okay cause these are so much better than anything I could have come up with.

JCK said...

This was really fun to read, PM. I didn't know that you had majored in acting in college.

As a former actress, I appreciated your faves!

the dragonfly said...

You know, I actually thought of a question to ask you...and then I forgot to type it up. *sigh* But I guess I can ask it here, right? ;) I just wondered what is your favorite book to read with the May Queen. (You knew I'd ask a book question, right?)

By the way, I love the comment about sharks being cooler on the outside than the inside. Priceless. :)

Chaotic Joy said...

Thanks Maypole! I enjoyed this immensely.

Victoria said...

This was so interesting! Loved "also...I don't clean much" LOL! Me either!

Rima said...

If I ever run into Spielberg, I'll put a good word in for you. I saw you on that Breathe Right commercial!

Jennifer said...

Hey, wait a minute! How did I miss the chance to ask you a question?? *pout, pout*.

Emily said...

I'm feeling better that I'm reading all of the other commenters who missed out on asking you questions. I was on a 2 week reading fast, and seemed to miss a lot.

My favorite: "...[sharks] were cooler on the outside than the inside." :)

Unknown said...

amen to your answer to Jen's good question - I'm not at all sure that Faith has been the guiding principle of this administration. Faith hardly ever has such a specific agenda.

Alex Elliot said...

Great answers, but I'm from Chicago and you know I'm trying to think of which school you went to and I have a pretty good idea :) In fact I would go so far as to bet it's in the town next to where I grew up.

Laski said...

I love learning more about you. So much I could go on and on about--wanting to know more and more. I'm just so darned curious!

BTW--I'm Lutheran. 12+ years of Lutheran edumication . . . yup! If you know Chi town, you might know my university--Concordia . . .

I hope you do this again!!!

Jen said...

Snort - I love how you handled Jen's question with aplomb.

Loved reading your answers.

josetteplank.com said...

This is great! I'm also glad to get to know you better.

And I'd love to play Viola in Twelfth Night. I miss acting. I need youngest child to be a bit older before I hit the boards again.

Christine said...

so you're a beatles gal? ;-)

loved learning more about you, friend.

Beck said...

Argh! I missed asking you a question! And I'd have had some good ones, too: hardhitting, investigative journalism at its finest.

You had some very interesting questions and great answers even without my imput, though...

Helen/Spike and Drusilla OK Citizens said...

I enjoyed reading all the questions and answers. Thanks so much for your kind comment, it's been very difficult and your comment helped.

carrie said...

You're not alone in that embarrassing ski accident story -- mine was the knee . . . jumped on it wrong, but nobody saw the awesome jump so I just appeared to be a lame-o skier!

Love your answers! :)

Anonymous said...

I love Twelfth Night, but if I were to pick one Shakespearean character to get to play, it would be Mercutio from R & J...