The House on Linardi Street
September of 2022, I was cast in the world premiere of The House on Linardi Street at James Madison University written by Juleanna Green and directed by Becca Stehle.
This play follows five siblings coming together for a weekend at their parents’ old home in New Jersey. Chaos arises when the oldest daughter, Cherry, tells the other siblings she wants to buy them all out for the house. Each sibling is forced to face their internal struggles with the family home they grew up in.
I had the privilege of originating the role of Liz, the youngest daughter who tries to be the peacekeeper of the family. I found a lot of myself in Liz which made this role feel very natural to me. In the beginning of the play, Liz comes out with a journal she had found while cleaning out her mom’s closet. While I haven’t experienced losing a parent, my mom and I are extremely close so the idea of finding words written by a loved one after they passed was something that was extremely touching to many of us involved in the process.
Originating a role is something that terrified, yet excited me. The thing I found most special about this experience was that I couldn’t find myself comparing my performance to anyone else. Years ago, I was guilty of not always making a role my own. I’d often find myself doing things I had seen other actors in that role do. If it worked for Kristin Chenoweth in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, it’ll work for me, right? No. Part of being an actor means you have to express your own creativity. Playing Liz allowed me to fully embrace my take on the character I was bringing to life.
Photography by Sophie DiFrancesco and Richard Finkelstein
Director: Becca Stehle - Playwright: Juleanna Green - Stage Manager: Makayla Parker - Assistant Stage Manager: Cameron Parker - Scenic Design: Myer Kim - Associate Scenic Design: Charlotte Bronaugh - Lighting Design: Tj Hartless - Assistant Lighting Design/ Head Electrician: Alex Tuszynski - Sound Design: Anna Christensen - Associate Sound Design: Audrey Sparrow - Costume Design: Claudia Obenschain - Co-Props Managers: Kenzie Gilson & Stephi Shraga - Sound/Props Mentor: Alison Spangenberg - Dramaturg: Jamie Guest - Publicity: Sophie DiFrancesco - Lighting Board Op: Maddie Miller - Sound Board Op: Sydney Miller - Run Crew: Kara Handy
Cast: Gavin Kiley, Nick Moxley, Emily Whelen, Camden Gillespie, Mitch Glaes, Campbell Ella, Olivia Florian, Emily Nuckols, Julia Zanardi, Luke Freisner, Evan Campbell, Caroline Gravely, Max Layman
