Interview: Tony Nominee Sarah Stiles Prepares to Get 'Squirrely' in Solo Cabaret Debut at Joe's Pub

By: Feb. 01, 2016
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Following her Tony-nominated performance in Broadway's HAND TO GOD, Sarah Stiles is about to get 'squirrely' at Joe's Pub.

The Broadway vet, whose credits include ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER and AVENUE Q, will make her solo cabaret debut in the upcoming original show SQUIRREL HEART, next Monday, Feb. 8. Co-written by Holly Gewandter, directed by Darren Katz and featuring musical direction by Brian Nash, the show will boast a multitude of "musical genres and caffeinated emotions wrapped up in 20 or so costume changes and big hair."

Stiles has also taken the Broadway stage in THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE and Shakespeare in the Park's INTO THE WOODS, quickly proving she's a comedic musical theatre artist to be reckoned with - even more so with her penchant for costume changes and "sparkly things."

In honor of her solo debut, the Tony nominee chatted with BroadwayWorld on being "too chickenshit" to initially mount SQUIRREL HEART, how it ultimately came to be, and working alongside "America's Dad," Bob Saget, in HAND TO GOD on Broadway.

First of all, congratulations on a huge year in 2015. HAND TO GOD's Broadway transfer, a Tony nomination - what was it all like?
Thank you so much! It was really pretty awesome. The Tony nomination has been something I've dreamed about since I was a little girl, but more than that, just to be a part of something that I loved so much (HAND TO GOD), with a group of people that I love, it was just such an incredible experience. I just loved it. I loved the whole year.

You'd been a part of the production for a number of years, including the original Off-Broadway run at MCC. It had to be pretty fulfilling to take the role to Broadway and receive such a warm welcome.
It was a Cinderella story. Our kind of [journey] happens so rarely that we just felt really, really lucky. When we were leaving MCC, I didn't get that emotional on our closing day, and I remember thinking it was so odd that I wasn't. I really felt like it was not the end [for HAND TO GOD.] I just knew it couldn't be. It was too good, and too many people still wanted to see it. I mean, I didn't know we'd have such a nice, hefty run on Broadway and Tony nominations - it was better than I personally could have imagined.

SQUIRREL HEART is undoubtedly going to be a fun night. What exactly can audience members expect?
SQUIRREL HEART is me, and all the things that I love to do and talk about. It's super personal in that way. It's pretty funny - but you know, there's some darkness, and definitely some ridiculousness: there are so many outfits, because I love costume changes, and party favors, because I love things that are sparkly.

The audience is going to be full of some of my favorite people in the world, so I think that no matter what happens, I think it's going to be full of love and happy feelings and all that. It feels almost like a wedding for my art. [Laughs.]

When did the process of putting the show together begin?
I've wanted to do [a solo show] for a long time, but I've always been super intimidated and chickenshit about it. Luckily I've got some amazing collaborators, so I'm not doing it alone!

I've been working on it for about a year with my collaborator Holly Gewandter. She wrote this musical based on CINDERELLA that kind of switches up the genders, takes some new and dark turns, and I participated in some of the readings. The two of us became so close while working on the show. She was truly the one that pushed me into developing this act. [Holly insisted] I have one, and wanted to work on it with me...and then Darren Katz, the show's director, and Brian Nash, the musical director, who is a freaking genius, [came on board.] So for the past six months, we've been having rehearsal sessions where we just play and collaborate and put together [SQUIRREL HEART], and it's just been such a dream. I love the collaboration - it thrills me. It's why I got into this business.

It is what it is, and I'm just going to throw it out there. I hope people like it, but I know I'm going to have fun doing it..and I'm super happy with what the four of us have done.

The official description of SQUIRREL HEART mentions a "melting pot of musical genres" - can you elaborate on what might be going into the mix?
When you have Brian Nash as your MD (musical director,) nothing is ever as it seems. [Laughs.] His ability to turn one musical genre seamlessly into another with mad mashups is just incredible. He can turn one song completely on its ass and reinvent it in a way that is so unexpected.

It's hard to say 'oh I'm doing this,' or 'oh, I'm doing that,' because nothing is really as it seems. But there will be jazz and there will be a healthy dose of traditional musical theatre. I am doing a certain song that many people have already heard me do while wearing a helment - hint, hint. [Laughs.] Trust me, I won't be happy unless people are havin' a good time.

Speaking of having a good time, you've had some great comedic roles in HAND TO GOD, AVENUE Q and INTO THE WOODS. And then during the second half of HAND TO GOD's run, Bob Saget joined the cast.
[Saget] coming into HAND TO GOD was a real blessing for us. It was a long run, and it's a hard, dark show. When you end a show that you've been apart for such a long time, it's really hard to let that go. Bob was able to swoop in towards the end and just make it this beautiful, positive celebration. He became a dear friend to the entire cast.

I've got to tell you, Bob Saget is just awesome. He's put his hands on SQUIRREL HEART as well. He wants to be involved in everything. Bob is an amazing man. He is an amazing man, and so loved by the Hollywood and Broadway communities. When you're that authentic and generous and genuine, it's impossible not to be loved. He's 'America's Dad,' man.

Listen, Bob knows his stuff, and with SQUIRREL HEART, he was adamant he knew what my comedy was, and wrote me a few bits - including a dick joke, which I did not use! [Laughs]

HAND TO GOD just closed, and SQUIRREL HEART's just a week off. What else is on the horizon for you?
I'm doing a little bit of animation work, and it's pilot season! Holy bananas. I had four [television] pilot auditions last week and two readings, including Josh Lamon, Kevin Zak and Phillip Taratula's new show BLOODY BLOODY ANGELA LANSBURY [a live, MURDER SHE WROTE musical comedy] at Feinstein's/54 Below. That was so fun to do it alongside some freakin' hilarious folk, like Gideon Glick and Chip Zien.

SQUIRREL HEART will be a fun look into my wacky brain for a minute - and then it's back to memorizing and trying to get some more work before my money runs out! [Laughs]

Tony nominee Sarah Stiles will bring 'SQUIRREL HEART to Joe's Pub on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 9:30pm. Tickets are $20 with a $12 food and beverage minimum. Click here for tickets.


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