'An Absolute Dream Come True'

THE COURIER CEDAR VALLEY MONDAY, DECEmBER 9, 2019 | A3 CALL THE COURIER Q: Why did a peaceful standoff in Waterloo make front-page news, ‘An absolute dream come true’ while a murder in Cedar Falls the same day wasn’t even mentioned? Iowa native prepares Lloyd’s new production because it was very raw, edgy, dark and A: Not sure what you were read- for Broadway debut dirty. I had no costume changes, ing. Both stories ran on page 1 of no wig, barely any makeup. the Thursday, Dec. 5, Courier. JONATHAN TURNER “We focused on the story [email protected]‌ and her relationships. It made Q: What happened to Otis on ‌PLEASANT VALLEY — It’s Eva very human and accessible “Chicago Fire”? Did he die? Why? fair to say that Samantha to audiences — someone that Pauly’s theater career is flying they could watch and say, ‘I’ve A: The character died of injuries high. felt that before,’ or ‘I’ve gone suffered fighting a factory fire. The 29-year-old Pleasant through that pain before,’ ” she Actor Yuri Sardarov, who played Valley High School alum won said. “Her story was not a happy him, said in a Chicago Tribune raves for her recent portrayal of one — her life ended too soon — interview that show-runners told the title role in “Evita” in Lon- and I think we were really able him at the beginning of the sea- don, and also for her portrayal to capture her insecurities and son they thought that’s where the of one of King Henry VIII’s six fears.” story should go. wives in the new musical “SIX” “I love Eva’s journey through in Chicago. the show, especially singing Q: Were there any actors who were She will make her Broadway that journey,” Pauly said. “The in “The Green Mile,” “The Shaw- debut in the latter role when the score just really conveys her shank Redemption” and “Saving show premieres in February. power, and it makes me feel so Private Ryan”? “It is an absolute dream come powerful when I perform it.” true,” said the Chicago-based That “Evita” was also her A: We don’t see any of the main actress of her stage career. “I first time in London; she just actors who were in all three. Tom had a rough ending to my 2018 celebrated her fifth wedding Hanks and Barry Peppper were in with a national tour abruptly anniversary and her husband is both “Green Mile” and “Saving getting canceled. I had honestly a CPA. Private Ryan.” Jeffrey DeMunn was begun to think about quitting “I was given housing and in both “Green Mile” and “Shaw- theater and was figuring out was put up in Central Lon- shank Redemption.” other possible career paths. To don, which was busy and ex- all of a sudden know that I’m citing,” Pauly said. “The Open Q: Does any state besides Iowa going to be originating a role in Air Theatre in Regent’s Park is have daylight saving time? a Broadway show, to talk to my really magical because you’re agent about going to the Tonys, Samantha Pauley able to use the elements in the A: Almost every state does. Ac- to discuss making an original show. The theater is kind of in cording to a recent USA Today re- Broadway cast recording, it is next day.” tation is all. I know she has the a bowl with stadium seating on port, the only states and territories just unfathomable to me.” Katherine was Henry VIII’s talent, the guts, and the intel- one side and giant trees sur- that don’t are “the states of Ari- “SIX” — which will open fifth wife, and in the show, her ligence to weather all of that.” rounding the back of the stage, zona (except the Navajo Nation) on Broadway (after previews) character is very youthful and Pauly’s successful run in the which creates a really beautiful or Hawaii or the U.S. territories March 12 at the Brooks Atkinson fun, Pauly said, noting her style classic Andrew Lloyd Web- backdrop.” of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Theatre — is a British musical and song is loosely based on ber/Tim Rice musical “Evita” “It began to rain lightly right Rico and the Virgin Islands.” Some by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Ariana Grande. Katherine was was directed by Jamie Lloyd at at the end during Eva’s ‘Lament’ states have introduced legislation which premiered in 2017 at Ed- suspected of adultery, and the London’s Regent’s Park Open when she’s dying and thinking to change that, but nothing is per- inburgh. It’s a modern retelling king had her beheaded in the Air Theatre. back on her life and the choices manent yet. of the lives of the six wives of Tower of London. It was Pauly’s fourth ver- she made,” she said. “It was Henry VIII as a high-tech pop This fall and winter, Pauly sion of the show, her third as beautiful.” Q: What happened to KWWL’s concert. will return to the touring pro- the mesmerizing, domineering Among her other favorite Cory Hanna? Pauly played Katherine How- duction of “SIX” in Edmonton, First Lady of Argentina, who roles have been Jovie in “Elf the ard (c. 1524-1542) earlier this Alberta, and The Ordway in St. died at age 33 of cancer in 1952. Musical,” Betsy in “Honeymoon A: She is now living and working year at Chicago Shakespeare Paul, Minn., where it will run Pauly’s first “Evita” was in in Vegas,” and Mimi in “Rent.” in Chicago. Theater. from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22. 2015, the year after she moved to “I love shows that allow me Chicago, playing the mistress, to be funny,” Pauly said. “I like Q: Does Amanda Gilbert still work Right place, right time‌ ‘Persistence and who sings “Another Suitcase being goofy and creating com- at KWWL? If not, where did she A graduate of Viterbo Univer- professionalism’‌ in Another Hall.” In 2016, she edy with other actors and direc- go? sity in La Crosse, Wis., Pauly got to play Eva at The Marriott tors. But I also love the shows said she heard about “SIX” late Pauly played the lead in the Theatre in Chicago, and then in that allow me to dig deep and A: She has recently started a job last year from friends in London Quad-Cities’ Circa ‘21 Dinner 2018 at Westport Country Play- access things within myself that with Fox23 News in Tulsa, Okla. who told her it would be making Playhouse‘s “Legally Blonde” house in Westport, Conn. I don’t always show.” its U.S. debut at Chicago’s Navy in 2012. “I’ve always loved this show; “I love being able to take peo- Q: At (Nov. 18’s) Waterloo City Pier. Early this year, Pauly had Veteran Circa director Jim the score is unbelievable,” she ple to another place for two and Council meeting, they talked booked another show in Chi- Hesselman, who worked with said. “I guess I keep coming a half hours,” she said of per- about filling at the old greyhound cago, and then got called in for her on “Legally Blonde,” said back to the show because I forming. “Whether they need park. Who approved that filling? “SIX.” recently he knew Pauly had the- truly enjoy performing it. It’s an escape from everyday life, Was it the DNR? When was it ap- “I said no three times because ater magic. not an easy sing — I personally they need to relax, or they need proved? I didn’t want to break a contract “Not only in talent but pro- believe it’s one of the most dif- something to make them happy. I already had, and then finally fessionalism. It was apparent ficult scores in musical theater With the Instagram world now, A: Placement of fill in an amount one night the music director she was incredibly consistent, history, so I take great pride I’ve started to receive a lot of greater than 25 cubic yards in the of ‘SIX’ called me after they’d prepared, thinking about the in being able to say I can do messages about how much a city of Waterloo can be adminis- already had auditions and told future, and getting the most out it.” show means to them because tratively approved by staff when me I needed to at least make a of this particular part,” he said. The most recent revival in they were able to forget about a part of an approved development tape to show the creative team,” “She was easy to work with in a London was “a completely rough time, an illness, anxiety, plan. It must be approved as a spe- she recalled. “So I made a tape difficult role.” different and new take on the or something they were going cial permit by the Board of Adjust- at 10:30 that night and got sent “It’s persistence, profession- show. Unlike anything, anyone through. ment after review by the Planning, to final callbacks a couple of alism, knowing what you want,” has ever seen, and that’s what “If I can do that for someone Programming and Zoning Com- weeks after that. I got an offer Hesselman said. “The theater specifically drew me to that while I’m on stage, then I’ve mission if not part of an approved to play Katherine Howard the world is small enough, repu- one,” Pauly said. “I loved Jamie done my job.” development plan.

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