In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of August: Osage County at The Highwood Theatre, meet Eva Silverman.
Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform on the stage before.
I’m Eva Silverman, and I’m in 11th grade. I’ve been doing Highwood for the past four years, most recently, last summer in Legally Blonde, where I played Paulette.
Why did you want to be in this production of August: Osage County?
I wanted to have a chance to participate in a drama and examine my character more in depth.
Who do you play in the show, and how do you relate to your character. What do you admire about your character and what do you not admire?
I play Karen Weston, the 3rd daughter of Violet and Beverly. I relate to Karen in some ways, but one aspect of her personality I’ve had to work especially hard to adopt, which is her relentless positivity (or at least fake positivity). Her optimism, while sometimes delusional, is pretty admirable.
What have you learned about mental illness while working with the Active Minds organization that you didn’t know before and how has this experience given you more insight into the character you are playing?
I’ve learned how multi-faceted mental illness is and the ways it can affect any aspect of people’s lives.
How has this Highwood Theatre experience changed your life and made you a better person and actor?
It’s helped me feel more confident and capable of speaking my voice, as well as educating me more deeply about mental health.
August: Osage County is a long play. Any tricks or methods or advice on learning so many lines that you can share with other actors who are about to learn their lines in another production of this play?
Writing down my lines helps. Also, recording myself saying my lines and listening to it.
What scene or scenes were the most challenging to learn?
My first scene, where I monologue nearly uninterrupted for two pages.
Which character in this play is so much like you and why?
Maybe Ivy, but without her cynicism. Neither of us are very conventional, and we share similar tendencies.
What do you want audiences to take with them after seeing you perform in August: Osage County at The Highwood Theatre?
To understand the multitude of ways mental illness affects people’s relationship and individual lives, more than they may have before.
August: Osage County plays from March 27-29, 2015 at The Highwood Theatre – 914 Silver Spring Avenue, Suite 102, in Silver Spring, MD. For tickets, purchase them at the box office, or purchase them online.
LINKS
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 1: Max Rome.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 2: Madison Middleton.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 3: Layla Edwards.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 4: Eva Silverman.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre: Part 5: Shannon Leach.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 6: Elena Meiman.
Meet the Cast of ‘August: Osage County’ at The Highwood Theatre Part 7: Laura Goldberg.
https://youtu.be/Zpj_b_RtHCE
