Sara McAuliffe Interview by Jen Bush

The American Theatre of Actors is a highly lauded landmarked theatrical institution with a mission of supporting new artists and new works.  For nearly half a century they have been bringing compelling, provocative, and quality theatre to delighted audiences.  Now in their 48^th season they present the world premiere of Egg Frame.

Playwright and Filmmaker Nicholas Kennedy penned this surreal dramedy.  Allen is a locksmith who can’t seem to fix a mysterious broken door.  Allen and his soon to be son-in-law Jack tend to Allen’s wife Dolores who is suffering from early onset dementia while their daughter serves in Afghanistan.  We were delighted to chat with cast member Sara McAuliffe about her experience in this production and her life as an artist.

 For an artist who is early into her artistic journey, Ms. McAuliffe is quite insightful.  “As a nineteen-year-old, I am still exploring myself and my artistry. I will say I am passionate about performing theatre with a cause. I find the most impactful shows to be the ones that touch on controversial topics while engaging and entertaining audiences. These shows allow you and the audience to explore experiences outside your own in a safe space. As an actor, it’s so important to be open to learning, changing, and telling the stories that otherwise would have been ignored. There’s a little something for everyone in this work if you look for it!” 

 There were many factors that drew Ms. McAuliffe to this production and there is no better place for an artist to be making their professional debut than with the American Theatre of Actors.  “When presented with this role, I was ecstatic. I knew I would be working with the most supportive cast and crew – and it has been nothing short of that. Beyond the excitement of this being my first professional work and Off-Broadway debut, this show feels like a sort of personal venture for me. Having had a loved one recently diagnosed with early-onset dementia, it means the world to learn about different sides of this disease and bring awareness to it. I adore the way this play explores human complexity through its relevant themes. In addition, having the opportunity to play a character so close in age and personality to me is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I knew going in that I would explore different facets of myself through Elaine, which has held true and has been so enlightening.” 

  Ms. McAuliffe is cognizant of the fact that a show with deep subject matter might lead an actor to take on an extra sense of responsibility when presenting the material.  “Prior to the first read-through, I feared this exact responsibility. This show carries so much weight and I felt it needed to be done justice. Luckily, with an incredible script like this one, that burden is lifted a bit. I realized that if I portray my character in the most honest way possible, I will have done my share in tackling these heavy subjects.”

For every artist their creative process is a unique endeavor made up of components that work best for them in service to their character.  “For me, creating a character is a long process of exploration. It begins with finding the objective truths about my character, as well as understanding the way my character interacts with the others. With this character specifically, I am able to find our similarities and differences, then take from that what I feel is appropriate. Since my character and I are so similar, I can lend some of myself to her, but there are still some stark differences that take time to really understand. Although studying the script is a huge part of that, I find that most of my discoveries come from scene work with my lovely castmates.” 

Ms. McAuliffe will be continuing the study of her craft which will surely bring her many more wonderful roles in the future.  She’s off to a great start!  “I spent the previous academic year in my first year of college at SUNY Oneonta. I will be continuing on to study performance within the theatre program at SUNY New Paltz. I hope to continue to work with Lauren, Nick, and this amazing cast and crew. I am excited to continue to see what theatre endeavors are in store for the future!”

I’m sure Ms. McAuliffe would love to see a packed house for this EGGcellent production.  Get your tickets for the world premiere of Egg Frame.

American Theatre of Actors
314 W. 54th St. New York City

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT: September 1 – 10