Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 2: Annalie Ellis (Laurie)

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the director and cast of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs,  meet Annalie Ellis (Laurie).

Joel: Where have local theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?

Annalie Ellis (Laurie). Photo courtesy of Prince George's Little Theatre.
Annalie Ellis (Laurie). Photo courtesy of Prince George’s Little Theatre.

Annalie: I am a freshman at the Performing and Visual Arts Magnet at Annapolis High School majoring in Theater. As well as acting, I also enjoy singing and dancing. I have been performing in theater for four years, appearing in nine productions in that time. Some of my roles include Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, Erzulie in Once On This Island, and Pepper in Annie. I am also a working actor in various on-camera productions throughout the Maryland, DC, Virginia area.

What made you become interested in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

Most of my background is in musical theater, so I thought this was a great opportunity to perform in a straight play. After reading the script for Brighton Beach Memoirs, I knew I wanted to be involved in this production.

Introduce us to the character you play.

I play the part of Laurie, the youngest of the family and also the most spoiled. Her mother and aunt dote on her because she has a “flutter in her heart,” though you may find that she is not quite as helpless as they make it seem. Like me, Laurie is a bookworm, which is what I think makes her so savvy among the personalities in the house.

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What do you find interesting and challenging about playing your character?

Laurie is the same age as me so obviously we have some similarities, so I try to focus on the traits that make Laurie different like her brattiness. I am the oldest of four, so I am not spoiled in the way Laurie has been.

What have you learned about yourself the actress while shaping your performance?

Every role is an opportunity to explore different sides of yourself. Many people think acting is just pretending to be someone else, but in reality you are putting yourself in all of your character’s circumstances which translates into actually “being” the character. It has been a lot of fun exploring my more bratty side.

What do you like most about Brighton Beach Memoirs?

I enjoy the fact that it is a comedy which I have never done. I also like that it is a very small cast so we are very close knit.

How do you think the audience will react to the play?

I definitely think the audience will laugh, and hopefully a lot. With so many different personalities in the same family, under one roof, I think every audience member will relate to at least one of the characters.

What will they enjoy?

I think they will enjoy the interactions and different relationships between each of the characters. Some of the dialogue is really outrageous. I can’t wait to see how the audience reacts.

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Brighton Beach Memoirs plays from August 29-September 13, 2014 at Prince George’s Little Theatre (PGLT) performing at Bowie Playhouse – 16500 White Marsh Park Drive, in Bowie, MD. For tickets, call (301) 937-7458 and press 1, or purchase them online.

LINKS
Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 1: Director Ken Kienas.

This coming Monday, August 18th at 7:30 PM: Free Preview of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ at New Carollton Library.

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Joel Markowitz
Joel Markowitz is the Publisher and Editor of DCMetroTheaterArts. He founded the site with his brother Bruce to help promote the vast riches of theatre and the arts in the DC Metro area that includes Maryland, Virginia, and DC theater and music venues, universities, schools, Children's theaters, professional, and community theatres. Joel is an advocate for promoting the 'stars of the future' in his popular 'Scene Stealers' articles. He wrote a column for 5 years called ‘Theatre Schmooze’ and recorded podcast interviews for DC Theatre Scene. His work can also be seen and read on BroadwayStars. Joel also wrote a monthly preview of what was about to open in DC area theatres for BroadwayWorld. He is an avid film and theater goer, and a suffering Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan. Joel was a regular guest on 'The Lunch and Judy Show' radio program starring Judy Stadt in NYC. Joel founded The Ushers Theatre Going Group in the DC area in 1990, which had a 25-year run when it took its final curtain call last year. Joel is a proud member of The American Critics Association.

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