Interview: Liza Vann in IAGO at NJ Rep

New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) will be presenting the New Jersey premiere of IAGO by James McLure from August 25th to September 25th. In this comedic-drama, backstage intrigue, romance and scandal take place during the rehearsals of the William Shakespeare classic, Othello. Directed by the theatre's Artistic Director, Suzanne Barabas, the cast includes Ezra Barnes, Liza Vann, John FitzGibbon and Todd Gearhart. Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Liza Vann who plays Vivacity in IAGO.

From early days at La Mama, Vann's favorite Off-Broadway credits include Marietta Corsini in Machiavelli, the fabulous musical Good Ol' Girls, Diane Greer in Poetic License, and the indomitable Bree Benson in The Road To Damascus. Most recently, she joined Ralph Macchio and Mario Cantone as Jean Morelli in the sold out run of Abingdon Theatre Company's A Room Of My Own, a new comedy by Charles Messina. A recipient of the Clarence Ross Fellowship from the American Theatre Wing, she has performed extensively in regional theatre in roles as diverse as Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Hermia in Dead Man's Cell Phone, Nicky in The Smell of the Kill, Myrtle Brown in Morning's at Seven, and Miss Maudie in To Kill A Mockingbird. Iago marks her first appearance at New Jersey Rep, and she is most grateful to be a part of this extraordinary company, and this important play by the late James McLure.

When did you first realize your penchant for theatre?

My very first play; I was 4- in kindergarten! Playing one of the ugly stepsisters in Cinderella. I even remember the lines. And I will proudly add that the following year, I was cast as "Gretel" in Hansel and Gretel. I was cast, and the die was cast. (Pun intended.)

Who has been very influential in your theatrical career?

This one is easy. One of the luckiest days of my life was when I walked into that first class with my then college professor, now cherished friend, Dr. Charles Hadley. His palpable love of theatre combined with his extraordinary gift for teaching continues to guide me to this day, and I hear his voice whisper in my ear "break a leg" every time I go on stage.

What have been some of the roles you have played that have been most challenging or rewarding?

That's always a hard question. I've had the honor of playing, as well as creating, so many wonderful women including a number of historical figures, Mary Shelley, Marietta Corsini (the wife of Machiavelli) and Susan B. Anthony among them. And it's so exciting to sink your teeth into a new play, bringing a character to life for the first time. Tom Dulack's Bree Benson (The Road to Damascus), and Jack Canfora's Diane Greer (Poetic License) were two particularly fun fictional powerhouses But then, when you get your turn to play Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird or Myrtle Brown in Morning's At Seven, the sheer loveliness of those classic works can almost take your breath away.

Tell us a little about your relationship with the playwright, James McLure

Since his death in 2011, I have become close friends with his family. I met Jim when he was developing Iago as part of The Southern Writers' Project at ASF. I think every actor has that group of plays which you keep handy because you love them. I was rereading Laundry and Bourbon one day, one of my all-time favorites, and just thought," why haven't I seen any new Jim McLure plays, where is he, is he still writing; he's just so good...". So I picked up the phone and called his agent, who said that, in fact, one of Jim's plays was having a developmental production at ASF right then. Fast forward to: got the script, loved it, and headed down to meet Jim. So over one very intense weekend, I saw the play and met with Jim to discuss possibilities. He was passionate and funny; and when we said good bye, we agreed to forge next steps. But the timing was never right; and then, in 2011, I got the message that Jim had died.

Why do you feel IAGO is such a significant piece of theatre?

It is a simple answer, but there is nothing simple about it: the writing. It is language at its best; characters at their fullest; emotions at their truest. It doesn't get better than that.

Tell us about your experience working with NJ Rep.

I have known Gabe and SuzAnne for a few years now. I met them through Evan Bergman, the Associate Artistic Director for NJ Rep. I have known Evan for years, and was privileged to do Poetic License for them when it moved into New York; but this is the first time I will be performing with them on home ground. What I love about them is their all-out commitment to new plays and developing plays. And I do mean all-out. From the direction to the set design to the costumes, the attention to detail and the emphasis on excellence are unwavering. They understand how important this step is to the potential future of "this" playwright, "this" work. And every single playwright is "this playwright"; every single play is "this work". These "parents" have no favorite child; they are all the "favorite child".

Why do you think metro area audiences will love this play?

So many reasons; so little time! The play is funny, smart, and beautiful; poignant, maddening and unpredictable. It is the "Downton Abbey" of the theatre world. I think even Cousin Violet would approve.

We'd love to know some of your future plans.

I go directly from doing Iago to Seven Angels Theatre in CT, once again playing "Jean Morelli" in A Room Of My Own by Charles Messina. I did the show in NY earlier this year at the Abingdon Theater Company with Ralph Macchio and Mario Cantone, and look forward to rejoining my Italian family in September. So it will be "Cheers" to one, and "Ciao" to the next. It's a great life!

Anything else, absolutely anything you want our readers to know?

Jim McLure was an amazing playwright, and Iago is just one of approximately 70 plays Jim left behind. He is missed, but his legacy goes on. There is more Jim to come; stay tuned....

To learn more about Liza Vann, visit her web site at www.lizavann.com.

IAGO will be performed at New Jersey Repertory Company from August 25th to September 25th. The theatre is located at 179 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey with free parking available. Tickets are $45 and there are discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Visit www.njrep.org or call 732.229.3166.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Liza Vann

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