Meet cast member - Alexandra Guyker
Tell me a little about your character (or what it is like to play multiple characters).
Jo is an aspiring actress who has
idolized Mae West’s “tough girl” persona and successful career since high
school. As an office temp in New York – unmarried, in a job without benefits –
Jo escapes into her obsession, but ultimately is able to share her passion with
the only person she can truly be herself with, Charlie.
What were some of the challenges for you in this piece?
I’ve always struggled with playing
characters “like myself.” Playing an
actress with an office job, who’s not married, or thin, or tall – it was hard
at first to feel like I had to do anything other than show up! But I have learned a lot about Jo through
this process, what she is hiding from and how she lets her relationship with
Charlie break down those walls, and I love getting to “be” her.
What do you hope the audience will take away from this play?
These
characters overcome fears, stereotypes, and their own perceptions of “normal”
to discover extraordinary strength within themselves. I hope the audience feels
encouraged to grab onto that thing they love, to share it with the world and
know that others are there to support their dreams and goals.
What
do you think of Mae West, has anything surprised you about her?
What I first fell in love with,
after reading Dirty Blonde, was the
attention to detail to the actual historical timeline of Mae’s life. I really
enjoy getting to see her “offstage” temper, ambition, and foibles that do not
appear in her films. Getting to see her progression from flapper-style to
Diamond Lil’ and beyond, and how so much of the “real Mae” was written into her
movies, I felt very connected to Mae West as a person, not just a persona.
How
does this show differ from other shows you have worked on?
This show spans so many years,
through a series of vignettes between Mae West’s career and my character’s
timeline in the eighties. Although the only character Jo really interacts with
is Charlie, I have learned something new each time seeing the other scenes play
out. Playing with only one other actor is a rare opportunity to concentrate on
their arc and the way our relationship grows.
How
long have you been acting and what made you get involved in theatre?
I grew up singing along to Julie
Andrews, Linda Rondstadt and Patsy Cline, and preferred being onstage to
playing outside. I now have a Masters in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory
for Actor Training, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Niagara University.
Theater has always been a huge part of my life – each show a different chapter with
great people, stories, and lessons.
What
advice would you give others who are interested in working in theatre?
Classes! Taking classes is a great
way to feel comfortable with auditions and improv, and it offers a great
sounding board for honing your skills and learning new things. Oftentimes, you connect with fellow
classmates or teachers who become life-long connections and mentors. In fact,
LTA offers classes…
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