Cast interview: Mary Claire Sullivan

The Merry Widow opens tomorrow!!  We are pumped for our opening night and hope you are, too (hint: do you have your tickets yet?)! To get you ready for this fabulously fun show, our final cast interview before opening is none other than The Merry Widow herself - Mary Claire Sullivan!

Name
Mary Claire Sullivan

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Hanna Glawari (aka The Merry Widow)

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
I'm always looking for opportunities to perform in the area, and I'd heard a lot about VLOC from folks at The Georgetown Gilbert and Sullivan Society (insert shameless plug for GGSS's production of Ruddigore in April). 

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
My favorite number is "The Cavalier" from the middle of Act II. In it, I'm supposed to be a tad drunk and messing with Danilo, and it's just so much fun to perform. Also, for the record, the Polka was way easier to learn than the Waltz. 

What is your dream role/job?
I've wanted to play Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music since I saw the movie version with Julie Andrews (which spans 2 VHS Tapes) when I was about 7. 

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I kind of already answered this question (it's The Sound of Music) but I'll give you a different answer instead. The first musical I was ever in was My Fair Lady. My elementary school put on an annual musical theater production as a fundraiser -- you got to be in the chorus if you had a parent working on the show, and my mom was the costume designer that year. I think I was in the second or third grade? I'd only ever sung at church before, and I was terrified. I think I refused to do it, at first. Unfortunately for my mother, after that I insisted on being in any and every production I could find. 

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
By day, I work at NPR, and, when I'm not preoccupied with rehearsals, I love to cook! 

Thank you, Mary Claire! You only have 6 chances to catch VLOC's The Merry Widow, so don't miss out! Even better, opening night tickets are all half price - just $14! Get yours before they sell out! Call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690 or purchase tickets online HERE. We'll see you at the theater!

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