The Little Theatre of Alexandria

What do you find appealing about your character and this show?   Playing such a variety of characters in Dirty Blonde, I am drawn to the challenge of switching roles. I had the chance to portray different characters in two productions of Spring Awakening, so it is not a new experience for me. What is exciting about this play is that my characters are based on actual people.  What have you learned about yourself in playing the roles of “Frank Wallace, Harry Richman, Joe Frisco, Ed Hearn” and others?   I realized that I actually enjoy research. There is a strange thrill I was not aware of in the hunt for documentation no matter how minute the information. And then to decipher fact from opinion had its own appeal. Many of the people I have been asked to portray were involved in vaudeville and the early years of cinema. I found myself pouring through books and websites and video clips just to get a glimmer of who these people were.  What do you think of M...

What do you find appealing about your character and Dirty Blonde? I like that my character seems simple but has a lot of complexity to him.  I think if people met this guy in real life, they would very likely overlook him.  In doing so, they would lose out on getting to know someone who can be very passionate and would love to both share his passion and allow them to build on their own. I like that the show takes time to explore the life of Mae West without the use of rose-colored glasses.  The script gives Mae her just due as someone who was way ahead of her time but doesn't glass over her flaws.  It is an honest and loving look on an icon. What have you learned about yourself in playing the role of Charlie? I've learned that all of my flaws and mistakes have led me right to where I am supposed to be right now.  Charlie isn't perfect but he goes through his life being himself, even though he knows he's not the coolest person around.  He is honest a...

What do you find appealing about this show? I decided to direct Dirty Blonde because I not only enjoyed the story and the characters, but I saw the show as a tremendous challenge I knew I could conquer.   There are more than 40 scenes which take us to at least 20 different locations spanning 73 years and populated by 18 characters.   Plus there are two well know iconic characters, singing, dancing, and men in drag.   Who could say no to all that? How does this show differ from other shows you have worked on? Dirty Blonde is play with music – kind of like a mini-musical.   Back in 2010, I directed A Christmas Carol for LTA which is similarly a play with music. Adding music and dance to a play increases the complexity of the production immensely. I could never have done this production without the talent, dedication, and creativity of our musical director, David Dender, and our choreographer, Grace Mechanic. What do you want the audience to experience...

The Odd Couple (Female Version) is the seventh show (I think) I've directed at LTA.  I've been involved in theater ever since I can remember, doing just about every job imaginable, including performing.  I seem to be concentrating on directing now.  I've directed shows in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, both regional and community, at many different theater companies over the past 20 years or so. How does this show differ from other shows you have worked on? This one is a comedy!  The last three shows I've directed have been dramas, and although I really love getting into the minds of the characters in the dramas, doing a comedy has been a terrific change of pace and a lot of fun.  There are still challenges to directing a comedy, though.  The timing needs to be just right for the jokes to work.  I've been blessed with a tremendously talented cast who works very well together and brings a lot to the characters and to the show's...

Meet Natalie Fox, playing Vera is LTA's upcoming The Odd Couple (Female Version). What did you find appealing about your character and this show? I love that Vera is funny without meaning to be because it really makes her an entertaining character to form and play.  This is a really witty and fast paced show with Vera sometimes used as a way to break tension or to change gears.  She's full of random, non sequitur remarks that jar the other characters away from their nostalgia discussion for a moment to marvel in her vapidity.  That being said, she is also well-meaning, helpful and kind person who genuinely adores her friends and loves being around them. How long have you been acting and what made you get involved with theatre? I have been acting for as long as I can remember.  Since the time I could walk and talk, I've been putting on skits and shows.  Later in elementary school through middle and high school, I was in several productions and on competitiv...