Live Arts Theatre is happy to have Emi Mastey back on our stage! Emi’s acting and training credits and include a couple of tiny Off-Off-Broadway shows, improv training and performance experiences here in Atlanta, oodles of musicals, two operas, years of choir, dance classes, film, BFA in Theatre Design/Tech – Costume Design. You can find out more about her at emimastey.com.
Emi Mastey is playing Jack in our flipped version of The Importance of Being Earnest. She gladly shared some answers to our questions for you to peruse:
Q: Is this your first show at Live Arts, and what other shows have you done with us?
A: It’s my second. I played Sally Bowles in Cabaret with Live Arts in the summer of 2015. I was in the 24-Hour Musicals last year too, but I’m not sure if that counts or not.
Q: What attracted you to audition for The Importance of Being Earnest?
A: Ever since I auditioned for a production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood that never materialized, I’ve wanted to play a boy on stage. I actually adapted a piece from that for my audition for Earnest.
Q: What made you audition for a flipped show?
A: See Drood. Also, I’ve never gotten the opportunity to work with a more classical text. I almost exclusively do musicals.
Emi Mastey (center) Cabaret
Q: What is your dream acting role?
A: Eponine in Les Mis, Maria in West Side Story, Bertrande in Martin Guerre, Christine in Phantom
Q: What is your dream acting role flipped?
A: Monty in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Q: Why should audiences come see The Importance of Being Earnest, flipped show and fundraiser?
A: I don’t see a lot of classic plays being performed in the area. There are many new works and the same five shows making the rounds. This is a departure from the norm in that it is Oscar Wilde, and doubly so because it is gender-bent.
Also, Flipping the roles brings out different aspects of the characters and of the actors performing them. For instance, I play Jack as very sincere and just try to make my movements more masculine. I feel like it’s a subtle approach. In contrast, that method may be more understated than what one of our incredible male actors playing a female role uses. If you come and see the show, you can decide for yourself!
Q: You have done shows at numerous theatres. What makes Live Arts Theatre a unique experience for you?
A: I enjoy working with actors who take their craft more seriously. As lovely as mentoring and performing alongside a young and inexperienced cast can be (I’ve done it many times), it’s nice to be among my peers and share a stage with folks who are similarly minded. To quote my character, it’s refreshing to not always have to adopt “a high moral tone on all subjects.”
As we stated before, we are so happy to have Ms. Mastey back on our stage playing Mr. Worthing (Jack) in this hysterical version of The Importance of Being Earnest (flipped).The show is running only one weekend and it is a fundraiser as we prepare for our summer musical, Fiorello, which will finish out our “Death and Taxes” season. Be sure to get your tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest now! (click the video to see our characters in character, while having a bit of fun!)