In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the Co-Directors and the cast of Creative Cauldron’s Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, we meet cast member Katie McManus.
Joel: Where have local theatregoers seen you before on the stage?
Katie: I’ve been doing theater in the DC Metro area for over 10 years now, and I’ve performed on both the professional and the community theater stages. My most recent role was the Baker’s Wife in NextStop Theatre’s spring production of Into the Woods.
Why did you want to be part of the cast of Jacques Brel at Creative Cauldron?
The show is a huge challenge, and I’m always up for that.
What have you learned about Jacques Brel that you didn’t know before you started working on this production?
I didn’t know really anything about Jacques Brel before, but I’m now a big fan. I find myself googling his songs (or finding clips on YouTube) all the time now.
How would you describe a Jacques Brel song?
Poetic, emotional, aggressive, cheeky, and melodic.
What have been some of the challenges you have faced learning your songs and your roles?
It was a very short rehearsal period (2 weeks), and learning these extremely wordy songs in that timeframe proved to be the biggest challenge of all!
What is your favorite solo that you are not singing and why?
I love “Marieke.” It’s a beautiful story.
What do you admire most about your fellow cast members? Which one of his/her performances is your favorite and why
We are a great team. We are extremely supportive of each other and constantly cheer each other on. For a complex, 4-person show, that’s really all you need to succeed.
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris plays through October 26, 2014 at Creative Cauldron- 410 South Maple Avenue, in Falls Church, VA. For tickets, call (703) 436-9948, or purchase them online.
LINKS
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well at Creative Cauldron: Meet Laura Connors Hull and Matt Conner.
Read Kim Moeller’s review on DCMetroTheaterArts.
