Today I sat down with Nancy Martin, who currently appears in FTF's production of Bananas, Books and Pancakes, and asked her my FTF Quick Fire Questions!
Dudley: Hey Nancy!
Nancy: Hey Dudley!
Dudley: Are you ready for the FTF quick fire?
Nancy: Ready!
Dudley: Ok… here we go! #1. How did you get cast in this show?
Nancy: About two years ago, I auditioned for FTF at their season auditions. At the time, I was cast in Cinderella: A Fractured Fairy Tale. Since then, I've done other shows with FTF, which include Bananas, Books, and Pancakes.
Dudley: What kind of artistic training & experience have you had?
Nancy: Well, I've always enjoyed performing. Growing up, my mother taught and encouraged us to learn all we could about the performing arts. We (my siblings and I) had piano and violin lessons. We were in every show our church and/or school ever had. In the 6th grade, I joined the drama club and stuck with it all the way through high school. When I entered college, I decided to major in theatre performance. That's where I received special training on voice, movement and literature.
Dudley: This is not your first year doing Bananas, Books and Pancakes. When did you start performing this show? Why did you choose to reprise your role? How is this year different from the other seasons?
Nancy: This is my second year doing Bananas. I had so much fun the first time I did the show that there was no question I was definitely going to be part of it in the 2008-2009 season. I think, more than any other FTF show, Bananas allows you to use your imagination to recreate the characters and stories being told.
Dudley: Who are you in this play? Tell us about your character(s).
Nancy: I play: Rosie (She's a second grader who looks like an angel, but has prankster tendencies), Ms. Tyler (Ronald Morgan’s second grade school teacher. She’s also a robot!), Grandma (She’s Michael’s Nana. Grandma likes to take care of baby Nicholas. She tells wonderful stories when she babysits little Nick.), and Mr. Gorilla (My favorite character to play! He’s a fun loving gorilla who loves making new friends. Mr. Gorilla is extremely curious. He’s constantly learning new things. You can always find him at school!!!).
Dudley: Are there particular challenges you have faced in playing different characters in a single show?
Nancy: Yes!!! I found the role of Grandma very difficult at first. It’s one thing to take on the physical and vocal qualities of the character you’re playing, in my case a little old granny, but I also had to learn more about relationships. Granny interacts with baby Nicholas. The hardest part for me was imagining how little Nick would react to everything going on around him. I also had to explore the relationship between Grandma and Nick. Luckily for me, I have the amazing talents of Andy Jean Gilles, who plays the voice of baby Nick. His characterization of Nick has allowed me to come up with great ideas and interactions.
Dudley: What is your favorite part of the show? Why?
Nancy: That’s a tough one to answer! Andy, Thomas and I have soooo much fun playing off each other onstage. My favorite part changes on a show-by-show basis because the show itself is never the same. We discover something new in the script, or in the relationship between our characters and BAM!- a funny moment is created.
Dudley: How has the show been received by audiences? Have there been any surprise reactions from the audience?
Nancy: The show has done very well! This is an interactive show and so I LOVE IT when the audience participates with what’s happening on stage. I know it’s a good show when I hear kids laughing. It’s surprising to hear the reactions of our audience change from school to school.
Dudley: How and why did you become an actor?
Nancy: Being a performer is something I’ve always wanted to be. I love it. I love art, theatre, music, dance and culture. I think if there’s something you feel passionate about, you owe it to yourself to go out there and fulfill that passion. I decided early on that I would try to make a living out of being an artist. I went to school to learn about theatre and performance. In 2004, I graduated and have been working as a professional actor ever since!
Dudley: When not in the theatre, what are you most likely doing?
Nancy: I’m most likely in the gym, taking a dance class, reading a book or serving tables on the side.
Dudley: Final quick fire question. It has been rumored that you have your nose in a book back stage before shows. What have you been reading?
Nancy: Ha! This is very true. I’ve just finished “The Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer. I’m currently reading “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory. My work related read is “New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2003”.
Dudley: Thanks Nancy! Looks like you survived!
Nancy: (laughs) Thanks Dudley! Anytime!
Bananas, Books, and Pancakes is running now through December 19, 2008. Show Information of Bananas, Books and Pancakes is listed on our website www.ftfshows.com.
Dudley: Hey Nancy!
Nancy: Hey Dudley!
Dudley: Are you ready for the FTF quick fire?
Nancy: Ready!
Dudley: Ok… here we go! #1. How did you get cast in this show?
Nancy: About two years ago, I auditioned for FTF at their season auditions. At the time, I was cast in Cinderella: A Fractured Fairy Tale. Since then, I've done other shows with FTF, which include Bananas, Books, and Pancakes.
Dudley: What kind of artistic training & experience have you had?
Nancy: Well, I've always enjoyed performing. Growing up, my mother taught and encouraged us to learn all we could about the performing arts. We (my siblings and I) had piano and violin lessons. We were in every show our church and/or school ever had. In the 6th grade, I joined the drama club and stuck with it all the way through high school. When I entered college, I decided to major in theatre performance. That's where I received special training on voice, movement and literature.
Dudley: This is not your first year doing Bananas, Books and Pancakes. When did you start performing this show? Why did you choose to reprise your role? How is this year different from the other seasons?
Nancy: This is my second year doing Bananas. I had so much fun the first time I did the show that there was no question I was definitely going to be part of it in the 2008-2009 season. I think, more than any other FTF show, Bananas allows you to use your imagination to recreate the characters and stories being told.
Dudley: Who are you in this play? Tell us about your character(s).
Nancy: I play: Rosie (She's a second grader who looks like an angel, but has prankster tendencies), Ms. Tyler (Ronald Morgan’s second grade school teacher. She’s also a robot!), Grandma (She’s Michael’s Nana. Grandma likes to take care of baby Nicholas. She tells wonderful stories when she babysits little Nick.), and Mr. Gorilla (My favorite character to play! He’s a fun loving gorilla who loves making new friends. Mr. Gorilla is extremely curious. He’s constantly learning new things. You can always find him at school!!!).
Dudley: Are there particular challenges you have faced in playing different characters in a single show?
Nancy: Yes!!! I found the role of Grandma very difficult at first. It’s one thing to take on the physical and vocal qualities of the character you’re playing, in my case a little old granny, but I also had to learn more about relationships. Granny interacts with baby Nicholas. The hardest part for me was imagining how little Nick would react to everything going on around him. I also had to explore the relationship between Grandma and Nick. Luckily for me, I have the amazing talents of Andy Jean Gilles, who plays the voice of baby Nick. His characterization of Nick has allowed me to come up with great ideas and interactions.
Dudley: What is your favorite part of the show? Why?
Nancy: That’s a tough one to answer! Andy, Thomas and I have soooo much fun playing off each other onstage. My favorite part changes on a show-by-show basis because the show itself is never the same. We discover something new in the script, or in the relationship between our characters and BAM!- a funny moment is created.
Dudley: How has the show been received by audiences? Have there been any surprise reactions from the audience?
Nancy: The show has done very well! This is an interactive show and so I LOVE IT when the audience participates with what’s happening on stage. I know it’s a good show when I hear kids laughing. It’s surprising to hear the reactions of our audience change from school to school.
Dudley: How and why did you become an actor?
Nancy: Being a performer is something I’ve always wanted to be. I love it. I love art, theatre, music, dance and culture. I think if there’s something you feel passionate about, you owe it to yourself to go out there and fulfill that passion. I decided early on that I would try to make a living out of being an artist. I went to school to learn about theatre and performance. In 2004, I graduated and have been working as a professional actor ever since!
Dudley: When not in the theatre, what are you most likely doing?
Nancy: I’m most likely in the gym, taking a dance class, reading a book or serving tables on the side.
Dudley: Final quick fire question. It has been rumored that you have your nose in a book back stage before shows. What have you been reading?
Nancy: Ha! This is very true. I’ve just finished “The Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer. I’m currently reading “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory. My work related read is “New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2003”.
Dudley: Thanks Nancy! Looks like you survived!
Nancy: (laughs) Thanks Dudley! Anytime!
Bananas, Books, and Pancakes is running now through December 19, 2008. Show Information of Bananas, Books and Pancakes is listed on our website www.ftfshows.com.
