[On returning to the stage last year after an 18-year break:] I get so much joy from being onstage. The opportunity has opened up and now I’m absolutely following it. And also, like, it took me 30 years to get on this stage. I’m not saying no. And if I have the opportunity, I’m going to take it.”
b (Antonio)
“Twelfth Night’s a story of love, so I’m wearing Trans Punk Closet, which is an organization that upcycles old costumes from shows that they do and donate them to trans artists who need it. My character’s a loverboy, so I got some heart pins made of broken jewelry, and I wanted a zoot suit to pay homage to my mom, who’s Mexican-American.”
Daphne Rubin-Vega (Maria)
“I was nine or ten when I first came with my mom—I wanna say it was Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline—and I had to pee so bad. It taught me early on to go to the bathroom before you see Shakespeare in the Park. I’m feeling blessed that my first one is the first one with AC. And, actually, because my part of the dressing room is the one with the AC blowing directly on me.”
Khris Davis (Orsino)
“So apparently there was air conditioning for the actors’ dressing rooms, but not in the hallways, or anywhere else backstage. But when it’s 69 degrees inside, and then 96 right outside…”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Andrew Aguecheek; Delacorte veteran)
“We canceled because of rain the other night and it was barely misting. In my day, we would have done it until it downpoured on us. Comedy of Errors we did, basically in a downpour. The only reason we did it was because the rain fried the sound system, so they couldn’t even get on the PA to tell us to leave the stage, so we just kept going. It was awesome.”
Rachel Dratch (Love’s Labour Lost, ’13)
“The dressing rooms were pretty gnarly, but I was so happy to be there that I didn’t notice. As an actor, you play in a million not-renovated dressing rooms. This is the coolest job in New York. As a comedian, you think, I could never, but then you squeak in here and can’t believe it.”
Lea DeLaria (On the Town, ’97)
“My character made her entrance on the hydraulic lift, and it had been raining since about 6 p.m. that night—and the audience stayed. They had to squeegee that stage until it was dry, but then I heard the orchestra playing, and as soon as those doors opened, about two gallons of water dumped on my head; leaves, water, all of it. And then Jesse [Tyler Ferguson] makes his entrance, takes a look at me, and bursts out laughing.”
Marcia Gay Harden (The Seagull, ’01)
“I thought it was fantastic when I performed here. I think they might have made it more handicap-accessible, which is a good thing. I wish the subways would take a cue and do the same thing. But I loved being here. I’m not a critical person… usually.”
Jordan E. Cooper (Public’s Ain’t No Mo’ and Oh Happy Day!; Delacorte hopeful)
“I have a fear of birds. So if I played here and one landed onstage in the middle of a monologue, I’m sorry, the show is over, I’m home in 30 seconds flat. Ever since the Alfred Hitchcock movie, I don’t need them flapping in my face like that.”
Marisa Tomei (The Comedy of Errors, ’92)
“There’s no bad experience here! Rain, bugs, those are all good. Anything that turns everything on its head is a thrill. I’m not always this upbeat, but it is true.”
Jelani Alladin (Hercules, ’19)
“I busted my ass on the stage because it had just rained, and we decided to proceed with the show. Every night, I thought, Wow, you’re doing so well, you’re doing all these flips. Then, during ‘One Last Hope,’ I did a toe-touch and came down, boom, and then I got up and got right back into that kickline.”