Spotlight: RHIANNA MACK

In this edition of Spotlight, we wanna shine a little on ATL's newest company member, Ms. Rhianna Mack. A wonderful actress who has worked several times in Audacity productions over the last few years, Ms. Mack is keeps extremely busy and is just starting to really spread her wings as a fully rounded theatre artist.
 
Q: Hometown?
A:Shreveport, LA

Q: Strangest Theatre-related job? 
A: Hmm.... this one is tough because I honestly can't think of anything..... Wait! Does this count....? (see the following short story) I was on a national tour for a show a couple of years ago. The weather was extremely wintry we had traveled pretty far north on the way to our next venue. The cast usually drives a 15-passenger van and a 24-foot truck hauling a massive set and cast luggage. Well this particular day- the big truck decided to break down on the side of the highway and we were miles away from a tow truck place or Budget (the place who rented us the truck). Nevertheless, calls were made to both Budget and a towing company. The snow fell steadily while we waited. After exercising much of everyone's patience, eventually, the new truck showed up! We had to walk everything (set, luggage, and all) over from one truck to the other in the freezing cold and snow- and, as you could imagine, that took quite a while.

Q: What experience(s) made you want to go into the theatre?
A: Getting cast in my first show after auditioning for the first time during my first semester of acting school made me feel like I could be successful in the theater industry. Though I still have a great interest in doing more film, performing in front of a live audience is such a uniquely rewarding experience as well as the exchange between the audience and performer(s).

Rhianna Mack as Charlotte in Greg Romero's MILKY WAY CABARET (with Tyson Rinehart as Buzz) (ATL 2009)

Q: Tragic flaw? 
A: I, too, suffer from "overanalyctus procrastinactus". In other words-I am working on not being so over-analytical about how to approach or finish a project that it causes me to procrastinate somewhere in the process of beginning and/or completing the task. (...if I could just think of a way to stop over-thinking....)

Q: If you could change one thing about theatre, what would it be? 
A: I think the more we push the envelope of all-around creativity and diversity the better off it'll be. Certain shows will always be staples in the theater community, but it's so refreshing to see the success of fresh ideas and the pushing of creative boundaries in story-telling, direction, and casting.

Q: Who are or were your theatrical influences? 
A: I cannot name particular names, but I am always influenced when a talented actor/actress (local or otherwise) manages to "convince" me into their alternate universe so skillfully that I forget about anything and everything else.

Q: What kind of theatre really excites you?
A: Out-of-the box and extremely well-performed theater excites me. Perhaps this is a blanket answer, but it's accurate. Also, theater that doesn't rely on "black-outs" and has genuinely good direction and use of the stage/blocking is best.

Rhianna Mack with the cast of VOLUME OF SMOKE by Clay McLeod Chapman (ATL 2010)

Q: What is in the near future for you as far as your work in the theatre? 
A: Currently, I am on a national tour for approximately the next 9 months to a year. Once this is complete, I look forward to producing more of my own original works. I am also planning to do a 6-month stint in New York.... just to see what's what, ya know?

More information on Rhianna at her website: www.RhiannaMack.com

Spotlight On: RUTH ENGEL

Ms. Ruth Engel

Continuing our series of profiles of the great artists associated with Audacity, we now present... Ms. Ruth Engel

Q: Hometown?
A: Keene, Texas

Q: Strangest Theatre-related job?
A: This is not exactly the strangest job, but a theatre job is an odd reason to fly to South Korea. I traveled to South Korea for a week to be the equivalent of a stagehand in a religious production at a University.
Then, some might consider this strange; I have and do take great pride in making clothes/costumes for puppets.

Q: What experience(s) made you want to go into the theatre?
A: My entire journey towards theatre is a long one, but the shorter version begins with my dissatisfaction on continuing work for a PhD in English Literature. You see, I went directly on to Master’s work in English after I graduated college so I never felt a scholastic completion with my college graduation like many of my friends did. But once I completed my Master’s degree in Literature I started to feel some of that completion. So I taught for a bit but if did not take me long to start to get restless so, while still teaching, I started taking Literature PhD classes. It was after a year that I knew that I craved another direction in my education. It was at that point that my brother suggested Drama. Now, I had always loved theatre and drama and had dabbled with it since elementary school, but I had never thought of it as a career. But I did some research, applied to the graduate program at Texas Woman’s University (I had some unusual circumstances since none of my undergraduate work nor my graduate work had anything to do with theatre), and was accepted. I told myself that I would try it for one semester and if I was not happy, then I would move on and find something else. After about two weeks of classes I was hooked and have never looked back.

Q: Tragic flaw?
A: I over think and question everything far too much.

Q: If you could change one thing about theatre, what would it be?
A: Its perception – the way many people view it. Theatre is magic but only because life is magic. So often in our society we do not stop to see the magic of life and therefore, we do not recognize the magic in theatre.
Also, if I could I would eliminate “bad” theatre (occasionally, including a few of my own production as well).

Q: Who are or were your theatrical influences?
A: This is a slightly difficult question for me to answer because many of my influences in the theatre are not solely restricted to theatre. Due to my background in British literature, the lives of many of the early women writers (such as the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, for example) inspire me. The fact that they loved writing so much that they wrote under pseudonyms just to get their work out to the public inspires me. I have also been influenced by the great Greek and Roman philosophers. I see life and the philosophical questions of life present in theatre. As someone who loves to dwell on those fundamental and yet complex questions, theatre has given me a canvas to playfully examine what the greatest minds have wrestled with for ages (however, still not coming up with any answer). And lastly, I would also have to say that I have been influenced by Margo Jones and Paul Baker (especially since I have grown up in the Dallas area), and Peter Brook.

Q: What kind of theatre really excites you?
A: Making theatre. I know all theatre has to be made, but the very act of making it: building puppets, creating characters, building a set, telling a story that has never been told (at least in that way), and touching someone’s life - that thrills me to the core.

Q: What is in the near future for you as far as your work in the theatre?
A: Well, currently I am working on creating three one-woman historical pieces about three extraordinary women in the early 20th century. The first one that I am working on is about the life of Sara Murphy, then, next up will be a piece on Violet Jessop, and lastly the life of Ruth Draper. All three amazing women were quite humble, but left a tremendous impact on those around them.

For more information on Ruth Engel visit her website at: http://www.ruthengel.net/

.

Spotlight On: OSCAR CONTRERAS

Mr. Oscar Contreras

 This is the first of a five part series of profiles with the artists that make up Audacity Theatre Lab. First up... Mr. Oscar Contreras.


Q: Hometown?

A: Born in Rio Verde, San Luis Potosi, Mexico and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas (Diamond Hill)


Q: Strangest Theatre-related job?

A: Dressing in drag for a company training seminar on diversity "It's what makes us special!" To this very day I get shivers down my spine and wonder what the hell made me say "Yes, I'll do it"


Q: What experience(s) made you want to go into the theatre?

A: I needed one more credit to graduate from High School and my options were P.E. or drama and there was no way I was going to go into the boys locker room, so I decided I would go into Drama.
I was pretty guarded and shy most of my youth and I remember my first couple of drama classes, I was told to express myself in any way I wanted... I was told to act up and it would be ok... I was told that I was allowed to not be myself and everything would be fine and for a gay boy growing up in a pretty rough area in Fort Worth I always had to hide who I really wanted to be... so this theatre thing was LIBERATING. My first role was in the play Everyman and I played the role of Death, it was fascinating I got to play such a dark, sinister role, announce the death and take the main character to hell... and then go home and drink chocolate milk and watch cartoons... it was great and I was hooked.

Q: Tragic flaw?

A: Over thinking... needing for everything to make scence in my head before I take the next step.... it makes writing a play just the worst experience.

Q: If you could change one thing about Theatre, what would it be?

A: I'd like more embracing of the talent that surrounds us here in Dallas... Really, I'd love a more open attitude to taking a risk and giving a chance to Dallas actors, playwrights, and artists. The artist you are looking for in New York is right here... It's just going to take a bit of work and a bit of getting to know who you're surrounded by... We are our own Big Apple, it's just battered and deep fried!!


Q: Who are or were your theatrical influences?

A: Only a few people come to mind... an acting coach I had named Elizabeth Rothan, the way she devoured the stage with her presence and the way she made sure everyone in the audience was getting the very best from her performance was amazing... Another is Julie Taymor and her way of showcasing women as the powerful being they are is really fantastic.


Q: What kind of theatre really excites you?

A: I love theatre that pisses me off... theatre that takes a chance on with something new... new works are just fantastic, not pretensious theatre, just theatre thats going to keep you accountable for being an audience member. That kind of theatre is a gold nugget.


Q: What are you working on next?

A: I will be producing next and working on some writing projects... but really you should see the "Tragic Flaw" question.