Debuting Artist: Staci York

Please tell us a bit about your background and how you got into theatre!

I’m an educator, writer, singer, actor, director, and all-around nerd. I’ve been involved in theater off and on since childhood- My very first role was Ursula in The Little Mermaid in the first grade. I’ve had the great fortune to share the stage with some wonderful people in some fabulous productions, both here in Colorado and in Arizona (my home state).

How did you first hear about OpenStage, and what drew you to work with us for this show?

I had the pleasure of meeting Kate Austin-Gröen, the Director, after a performance of Dinner with Friends at Bas Bleu. We had a lovely discussion about my portrayal of Karen, and she asked about my experience performing Shakespeare. She invited me to audition for “Merry Wives”- as it’s one of the best comedies for “women of a certain age”, I was delighted to try out (and even more delighted to be cast!).

What is your role in this show, and what excited you most about working on this particular production?

I play Mistress Ford, who is a barrel of fun- a fierce and clever woman who is not above putting a disrespectful man (or two) in his place. I love how Kate and the crew have planned to lean into the sitcom nature of the text. Shakespeare is often seen as stuffy and high-brow, but there is so much humor in this script- so many double entendres and farcical elements, such fabulous subtext. With our production, I think the audience will be able to not only follow the language, but actually relate to the story.

What has been the most enjoyable or unexpected part of the rehearsal process so far?

As with any theatrical project, bonding with the cast is the best. We all come from different backgrounds, but share a love of theater and an affinity for Shakespeare. Since we have the freedom to really play with the text, it’s been so lovely to explore our various interpretations of the script and watch the relationships between the characters and cast begin to come to life.

What has been the most challenging part of bringing this character to life?

With Shakespeare, I think it’s normal to assume speaking quickly equates to comfort with the text. I have to remind myself to let each thought come to me, be mindful of punctuation and meter, and breathe! As far as the character, my biggest challenge is playing coquette. I’m usually cast as the bawdy, funny lady- I’ll have “York brings the levity” written on my tombstone, I think. But Mistress Ford is more complicated than my usual role. She has to be calculating, strong, flirtatious, but still subtle. It’s a fun exercise in acting levels.

What makes this show a unique kind of play to work on?

Shakespeare is always unique- every production relies on personal interpretation of the text. Modern settings, gender-swapped retellings, interesting cuttings- All of them can be effective (or not). What I love about this version is that we are focused on the language- what is actually being said and how we can convey that to the audience through tone, expression, and movement.

Why do you think this show is relevant to audiences now and should be performed today?

Female characters in classical theater are often at the whim of their male counterparts- they typically have very little agency over their own fates. Even in plays that grant women freedom and recourse, they often fall into stereotyped ideals of what women “should be”; the villain, the ingenue, the matron, etc. This show turns a lot of that on its head: Here, the women take charge, hold the secrets, make all the plans, and have all the fun.

What is your favorite moment or scene in the show, and why does it stand out to you?

Without giving anything away, I love the torture we put Falstaff through. Ryan, the actor who plays Falstaff, has been such a great sport about it; he’s been open to all sorts of ideas, and he brings this charming, self-effacing humor to the role. You know he (Falstaff) deserves everything he gets, but you kind of love the scamp anyway.

If you could swap roles with any other character in this play for a day, who would it be and why?

I wouldn’t, actually. I love playing Mistress Ford. That said, I adore what Kate and Darren are doing with the character of Slender- It’s a brilliant and hilarious take on what could be a throw away role.

What is your favorite play or musical, and why?

Sweeney Todd, hands down. Not only is Sondheim’s music flawless, in my opinion, I love what it says about the darkness of human nature, identity, classism and the abuse of power, and even love.

What is your favorite role you’ve played in the past? Why was that role special to you?

Not to sound cliche, but I’ve enjoyed every opportunity I’ve been granted. My last role in Arizona, I played Hattie in Laundry and Bourbon– That role was incredibly special to me as I was privileged to work with two of my dearest friends. The script is all about gender roles, relationships, and community, and it was really moving to share that with phenomenal women in my life.

Is there a dream role or type of production you hope to work on in the future?

Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd will forever be at the top of my dream roles list. That said, I’d love to explore a gender-bent Romeo and Juliet. I think there are social norms and textual moments that we’ve all accepted as valid because of the time period in which the play was written. For example, Lord Capulet refers to Juliet as his property- “If you be mine, I give you to my friend.”  I think it would be interesting to see the audience’s reaction to that line spoken by a female-presenting “Lord” Capulet to a male-presenting Juliet. Also, Mercutio is arguably one of the best-written characters in literature; a well-performed female Mercutio would be magical, in my opinion.

What do you like to do in your free time (when you’re not working on theatre projects)?

I’m an educator, so between theater and teaching, I don’t have a ton of free time. When I do have down time, I typically read, write, watch TV, or play video games.