Five Questions for Samantha Phillips-Norton, Actor & Fight Choreographer

We are happy to have Samantha Phillips-Norton teaching Theatre Appreciation for the Division of Theatre & Dance this fall while Professor Krupp is on sabbatical. Sam is a regular collaborator with the division. She taught Stage Combat for theatre students and was the fight choreographer for last fall’s BU Players production of Macbeth. We asked her five questions.

Fight rehearsal for Macbeth choreographed by Sam Norton.

How did you first become interested in theatre?

I first became interested in theatre in Rota Spain where my Father was stationed. My parents had a wild pack of friends, both military and native, who jumped on the idea to start a local community theatre. My Father was the leading force in this endeavour since he had more "theatrical training" than the others, meaning he had once dressed in drag to do a radio play when stationed in Antartica.  I remember the sensation of being bewitched watching my Mother and Father performing Shakespeare.

What is your favorite thing about theatre?

My favorite thing about theatre is Samuel Tayor Coleridge's coined phrase, "suspension of disbelief"- (1817 Biographia Literania): "[...] to transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith."  There is nothing like that moment we find ourselves 'inside' the story. It's a very elusive victory for the actor and their audience.

What's one of your favorite shows you have ever worked on?

I was cast in the American Repertory Theatre's national tour of Shlemiel the First. It was my first time working with an ensemble of real pros., Robert Brustein, Hankus Netsky, Robert Israel, Catherine Zuber, and David Gordon. David Gordon directed the musical to the break-neck tempos of Klezmer music. In addition to understudying the two female leads, my job was to replace, without interruption, any 'wise men' who left the stage with a stunt dummy. I loved the speed and precision of the exchanges. Also exciting was the opportunity to perform the lead female part for a weekend and being cast in the Broadway(bound), production.

What’s one show you would love to work on someday? 

Mrs. Peachum in Brecht's Threepenny Opera, (hint, hint). Any play Mark Rylance is in, (like his upcoming production, Nice Fish) or ANYTHING Dame Judi Dench is doing- like The Winter's Tale at the Garrick theatre in London. It's not so much the role that I desire, it's the dream of working with extremely talented artists.

If you were a fruit of vegetable, what would it be? Why?

If I were a fruit it would have to be the banana. As a banana, kids love you. It's also one of the fruits they often have a hard time pronouncing- which can be funny and endearing. Grown-ups think you're funny. They use your skin for pratfalls.The polar opposite of the popular banana is my favorite vegetable-the brussel sprout. It is one of the most hated vegetables in America. I am the brussel sprout. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside with a surprisingly nutty flavor. Even the most ardent loather can be converted when they pay attention to we're prepared. We are secretly delicious.

Samantha Phillips-Norton holds an MFA in Opera and Theatre from the University of Maryland College Park, and is an Affiliate Artist with The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.  Recently at BTE, Samantha played Jean in Good People, Mrs. Billiams in A Very Special Christmas Special and the Musician/Judge in The Merchant of Venice.

Five Questions for Nicolai Kabana, Actor

Nicolai Kabana is playing Father in The Nosemaker's Apprentice. We asked him five questions.

Nicolai as Princeton in Avenue Q

What made you first interested in acting?

I would have to say my first memory of how I became interested in acting was when I was in 4th grade. I was asked by the director of the local high school to come join their production of Bye Bye Birdie as Randolph MacAfee. This was such a great experience for me.

What do you find appealing about The Nosemaker’s Apprentice?

When I first read this play it was like nothing I have ever read before and I knew I had to do anything I possible could to be a part of it. The part of the story that I found most interesting though is when Gavin is in France. I always am so happy when we make it to this part of the play. I also really liked the back story of why this play was created.

What is the most challenging aspect of acting in this particular play?

For me personally the most challenging part of the show was to constantly be in the moment even when the lights weren’t on me. I was told that there will always be people watching you even when they aren’t supposed to be. This motivated me to never lose character. Another equally difficult aspect was all of the monologues that the Father has throughout the story. I really surprised myself that I was actually able to learn them all.

What would be your ideal role in any show?

The role I would love to play the most is from the musical The Producers.  I’ve always wanted to play the part of Leo Bloom. It would be so great to follow the footsteps of some of my favorite actors such as Matthew Broderick and Roger Bart.

Nicolai at the People's Choice Awards

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?

Editor's Note: The artist declined to answer this question, but the editorial team of Backstage with the BU Players decided that he would most want to be an osage-orange.

Nicolai Kabana is a junior performance emphasis. He is most known for playing Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q.

Five Questions for Carly Carman, Actor

Carly Carman is playing several roles in "The Nosemaker’s Apprentice" including Kent the Gatekeeper and Jean-Michel. We asked her five questions.

Carly performing Suddenly Seymour
in her high school's production of Little Shop of Horrors

What made you first interested in acting? 
Well, in second grade my town had this community theater that a lot of kids did. My mom put me in my first show there, Guys and Dolls Jr. to try and help me overcome my shyness. Every year the theater would do a musical and so musical theater became a huge part of my life. I performed there until about 8th grade when it was shut down, but still continued to do shows at my middle school, and eventually high school. It's such a huge part of my life, and has molded me into the person I am today, I couldn't imagine going on without it!

What do you find interesting or appealing about The Nosemaker’s Apprentice?
I think the humor is fantastic. Some of the jokes are so dry and crazy that I can't help but laugh almost every time I hear them. I think the show has so much flexibility for actors which is really nice because it opens us up to all different sorts of interpretations.

What is the most challenging aspect of acting in this play?
The accents! Particularly the Cockney accent I have to do for Kent is especially hard for me. You really need to focus on what your mouth is doing and think ahead of how the words are supposed to sound. When you put that together while you're on stage with costumes, make-up, lights, and a mask, it can be very overwhelming.

Carly and her favorite creature, Luna

What would be your ideal role or roles in any show?
I would love to be involved in Mamma Mia as any of the main women, Cosette, Fantine or Madame Thênardier in Les Misérables, and Miss Hannigan in Annie.

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be? 
Definitely a kiwi. Is that a fruit? I think so. I don't know, they're so cute and sweet and so am I. And I love the color green.

Carly Carman is currently an Environmental Geoscience Major and plans to take a minor in Professional Writing. Aside from theatre, she enjoys eating things made with cheese, watching documentaries about aliens, and fighting for women's rights via her Twitter account.

Five Questions for Kelly Oberlin, Actor

Kelly Oberlin is playing Amelia in The Nosemaker’s Apprentice. We asked her five questions.

Kelly in rehearsal for Avenue Q

What made you first interested in acting? 
I first became interested in acting when I was just a little girl.  I always liked to perform for everyone so when I had the chance to be in a church musical I took the opportunity.  That was my first real experience with acting and I haven't stopped acting since.

What do you find interesting about The Nosemaker’s Apprentice?
The absolute hilarity that is this script is what's most appealing about this show.  Just the words themselves will have audience members rolling with laughter.

What is the most challenging aspect of acting in this particular play?
The most challenging part about acting in such a great comedy is actually breaking character and laughing.  I'm working alongside such great comedic actors that there are times when I just can't keep it together!

Kelly and friend

What would be your ideal role or roles in any show?
My dream role would be Elphaba in the musical Wicked.  Wicked holds a special place in my heart because it was the first show I ever saw on Broadway and ultimately was what set my dreams of one day being on Broadway myself.

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?
If I were a vegetable, I'd be a baby carrot because they're "Kelly sized." When I was little, whenever my older siblings found a small sized food, my siblings would say it was "Kelly sized."  So it's only appropriate that I would be a "Kelly sized" vegetable.

Kelly Oberlin is a senior integrated emphasis with a dance minor.  She works as an assistant director and assistant choreographer at Mifflinburg Area High School. In her free time Kelly loves going to New York to feed her Broadway obsession.

Five Questions for Kate Mochnacz, Actor

Kate Mochnacz is playing the role of Julie in The Nosemaker's Apprentice. We asked her five questions. 

Kate Mochnacz as Hecate
in the BU Players production of Macbeth, Fall 2014

What made you first interested in acting?

I saw my first Broadway show when I was seven.  My mom had planned to buy our tickets at TKTS, with the hopes of seeing Beauty and the Beast.  However, by the time we made it to the front of the line, there weren't two seats next to each other, and mom my didn't really want to let her seven year old daughter sit by herself.  I was given the choice between seeing Thoroughly Modern Millie or 42nd Street and choose Thoroughly Modern Millie because that name was more fun to say.  Five minutes into the show, I fell in love with theatre.  A short two months later, I was back in the city, this time with my mom, my brother, my grandma, my aunt, and my two cousins.  Again we tried to get tickets for a certain play (I forget which, but it’s not important to the story), but were unsuccessful.  I managed to talk my brother and cousin Max into seeing Thoroughly Modern Millie.  This time, I was much more observant of the show and the atmosphere.  I knew then that I wanted to be on stage and acting.

What do you find interesting or appealing about The Nosemaker’s Apprentice?

I love the script.  As the Little Girl, I really get to listen and focus on the story of the script.  It’s fun at every rehearsal to listen to the story that my fellow actors are telling.  I also love that every time we rehearse that I find something new about the story and the script.

What is the most challenging aspect of acting in this particular play?

Not laughing.  The show is funny and for most of the show, I’m listening to the story.  However, I can’t laugh, so that’s definitely a challenge for me.

What would be your ideal role or roles in any play or musical?

I have a long list dream roles and I've been fortunate enough to have been able to cross off a few of them since I started acting.  A few roles that are still on my list would be Little Red in Into the Woods and Emily Webb in Our Town.

Kate Mochnacz in her natural form
(a princess who loves cats)

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be? Why?

I would be a strawberry because I love strawberries.  They’re also in season between April and August which is my favorite time of the year: April-June because the weather is nice, July because it’s my birthday month, and August because I occasionally have free time!

Kate Mochnacz is a sophomore majoring in Early Childhood/Special Education with a Concentration in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education as well as Theatre with an Integrated Emphasis.  In her free time, Kate balances her multiple majors, clubs, social life (insert laughter here) and questions her sanity.

Five Questions for Kellyanne Klause, Actor

Kellyanne Klause is a Senior at Bloomsburg University and is acting in The Nosemaker's Apprentice. We asked her five questions.

Kellyanne Klause as Versati in The Underpants, 2013

What made you first interested in acting? 
It all started one dark and stormy day during my lunch period in the third grade; my dear friend and I were fighting over a fellow classmate’s lunchbox.  One of us somehow ended up falling into the trash cans and the fight was over. When we told the story we turned it into this crazy epic tale of two best friends who were torn apart over a lunchbox and spent the rest of their days mad at each other, holding onto their grudge even when they met again at a retirement home. We ended up performing the play the next year at our fourth grade talent show.  It was in this moment that I realized I enjoyed making others laugh, (I promise it was much funnier than it sounds… possibly).  As I grew up I found myself being drawn to any opportunities to perform in front of others.  And the rest is history.

What do you find interesting or appealing about The Nosemaker’s Apprentice?
The comedy.  This is my favorite kind of comedy; in your face craziness mixed with subtle moments of ridiculousness add to the world of the play and to the comedy. I think it is amazing that every night at rehearsal the cast still laughs even though we have been working on the show for weeks now.  I cannot wait to share this play with audiences.

What is the most challenging aspect of acting in this particular play?
All of the different accents, doing one accent is a challenge but having three different accents that are constantly changing from character to character can be a bit difficult.  Trying to imitate the German accent ain’t no walk in the park.

What would be your ideal role in any play or musical?
I honestly do not know if I have a particular role in mind that I would love to play.  Last semester I played the role of Macbeth in Macbeth and I think I would like to play the role of Lady Macbeth at some point in my life.

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?
I would definitely be an apple because they are my favorite and they go well with peanut butter and that’s really all you need in life.

Kellyanne Klause is a senior dual-majoring in Theatre Arts and Communication Studies. She works on campus as a mentor for the Center for Visual and Performing Arts’ sophomore Living and Learning Community. She does not like Shakespeare, but she loves her hamster Kevin.