As Playhouse 615 gets ready to raise the curtain on the wildly outrageous Off-Broadway musical RUTHLESS, I recently caught up with four members of the cast to hit them with a round of Rapid Fire 20Q. From rising young stars to seasoned professionals, these performers bring their own brand of flair to the twisted tale of ambition, identity, and murder set to music. Read on to get to know Alyssa Borg, Kassidy Marsh, Caleb Parker Heath and Diane Bearden Enright just a little more ruthlessly.
RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF PLAYHOUSE 615’s RUTHLESS
RAPID FIRE WITH KASSIDY MARSH, TINA DENMARK IN RUTHLESS JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s the most fun and most challenging part of playing Tina in RUTHLESS?
KASSIDY MARSH: The most fun part is getting to hang out with my cast mates. The most challenging is learning all the dances and having to remember how to tap.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Tina is ambitious, dramatic, and a little scary—how do you channel all that energy while keeping it fun?
KASSIDY MARSH: I kind of have a little of her personality. I get to act a little crazy. But, getting to show a scary side on stage is fun.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s been the coolest thing you’ve learned from working with an older cast?
KASSIDY MARSH: Each of the cast members are so nice and have been helpful in helping me do a better job of being Tina.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of the adults you’re working with…in this production, your Mom, Melissa Marsh is the show’s costumer. What’s the best part of having your Mom on hand during the production? AND..what can you tell me about your look in the show as far as wardrobe is concerned?
KASSIDY MARSH: Her bringing me snacks to rehearsal is the best part. I feel her clothes show her change from innocent to scary.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: If Tina Denmark had a TikTok—what would her most viral video be about?
KASSIDY MARSH: It would probably be either Tina describing how she deals with Louise or singing about being ruthless.
RAPID FIRE WITH CALEB PARKER HEATH, SYLVIA ST. CROIX IN RUTHLESS JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your MTSU debut was in THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE, now you’re debuting with Playhouse 615 in RUTHLESS. Needless to say, the roles of George in THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE and that of RUTHLESS’ Sylvia St. Croix are quite different. What I’m curious about is…have you found any similarities between the two?
CALEB PARKER HEATH: Honestly, I see George and Sylvia as polar opposites. George is soft-spoken and never really figures out how to say what he’s thinking, while Sylvia just says what comes to mind, whether she should or not. I don’t know that there are any similarities between the two characters, Sylvia has just been a crazy roller coaster of makeup and camp.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: RUTHLESS has been likened to a parody of shows like stage musicals GYPSY & MAME and classic films THE BAD SEED & WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?. Have you seen the alleged source materials? AND…Do you think that’s a fair assessment?
CALEB PARKER HEATH: I can definitely see where the inspiration came from, although I think the show kind of morphed into its own thing. I think that each character comes from one of each of the shows/films. I think that Sylvia definitely drew most of her inspiration from GYPSY and MAME. I’ve seen many different productions of GYPSY, I’ve seen MAME, but I haven’t gotten around THE BAD SEED or WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?. I drew a lot of my inspiration and characterization from MOMMIE DEAREST, Christine Baranski, and many YouTube videos and movies of Broadway divas.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: As the character name might imply, Sylvia St. Croix is, on occasion, played by a female, but it’s important to note that in the first Off-Broadway production, Joel Vig portrayed Sylvia, then during it’s successful Los Angeles run, Loren Freeman assumed the role, setting a bit of a precedence that the role is just uproariously funnier when played in camp drag. So…is this your first time in drag?
CALEB PARKER HEATH: I definitely think the drag element makes the show much campier. This definitely is my first time in drag, It’s definitely not easy, but it’s quickly become my favorite role I’ve ever played to date.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Honestly I could see an entire production done in drag…and I’m sure it has been done. That said, IF you were to play another role, which would it be and why?
CALEB PARKER HEATH: If I were to play another role, it would probably be Eve because she’s so kooky and awesome.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: As you’re preparing to go on stage, when during the process do you feel you’ve fully slipped into Sylvia’s… heels?
CALEB PARKER HEATH: When I put the lipstick on, pin my wig in place, and put on my 6 inch heels… I feel like a completely different person. I feel like Sylvia. I have to become an entirely different person to do the show.
RAPID FIRE WITH ALYSSA BORG, JUDY DENMARK/GINGER DEL MARCO IN RUTHLESS JHPENTERTAINMENT: Judy has one of the biggest transformations in the show—what helps you make the shift from doting mom to diva?
ALYSSA BORG: For me, it was all about vocal range and where it lives in the body. For instance, Judy is very fingertips-up, lady-like, Stepford wife meets robotic doll in movement. And Ginger is more hips, and more leaning forward with her heart, her sternum, her chest. And a deeper vocality. Lots of low deep inhales and exhales while belting as much as possible. Whereas Judy is all head voice (as much as possible) and even in speaking trying to be as much in my head voice and as breathy as I can be, without hurting my cords.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: One aspect of Judy’s character is that so much of the fast laughs go right over her head. Do you have a line or a scene that’s a personal favorite?
ALYSSA BORG: Judy is such an amazingly interesting character to me because, first of all, I love playing the “straight” man in comedy. I also love that she has so many wonderful snappy lines where she knows what she is saying, and the other person doesn’t get it, or she takes something very very literally. The other thing about Judy is – she’s a doting mother because she didn’t have a doting mother. She became the doting mother she always wanted as a child, but she’s also still this wounded little girl playing with dolls. That’s why her house is so whimsical, colorful, and over the top. That’s why she has the frilly crinoline petticoats, serves tea and birthday cakes, and everything is kind of magical and a little off.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your bio reveals you have a background in voiceover. Have you found that skill helpful in creating unique voices for the two halves of your character in RUTHLESS?
ALYSSA BORG: Having a background in voiceover has definitely helped with playing around with pitch and tonality. And with body movement too. One of the lesser known things about voice acting is that there’s actually a lot of physicality and movement, especially in your arms and in your torso. So once I got those down for the characters, it was really easy just kind of be in that – plus I was never ashamed to come into rehearsal (or auditions) with some sort of vocal warm-up device, whether it was a Vox water bottle, a neck massager, or even a kazoo.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Playhouse 615 co-founder, Joel Meriwether is directing RUTHLESS. What’s he like as a director, particularly as a director of such an outlandish parody musical?
ALYSSA BORG: Joel, as a director is a very interesting experience and I say that with all the kindness in my heart. He is very open and receptive to feedback even in the moment, and open to actors sharing ideas, especially in the beginning of the rehearsal process. There is a really nice autonomy given to the actors in regards to trusting that we will learn our lines, trusting that we will learn songs, but also, being very collaborative in nature, being open and receptive to ideas about character, about set, about costume, things like that.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: When not on stage, I understand you teach yoga. If Judy Denmark and Ginger Del Marco were your yoga students, which poses would each master with ease?
ALYSSA BORG: Judy needs some ragdolls or wide leg forward folds – she’s very much a marionette who needs her strings cut and to relax. Ginger is very grounded, but I feel like she could use some child’s pose or supine twists – something to make her look a little deeper and more introspective. They both need to start meditating.
RAPID FIRE WITH DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT, MISS MYRNA THORN IN RUTHLESS JHPENTERTAINMENT: If memory serves, did you tell me you were the one who brought RUTHLESS to the attention of Playhouse 615 for potential inclusion in the current season? What is it about this show that you feel fits the Playhouse 615 vibe? AND…What is it about Miss Thorn that attracted you to the role?
DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT: Yes, I did introduce RUTHLESS to Playhouse 615. I had done the show over 20 years ago at the Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, FL and never forgot how funny it was and how much fun we had doing it. The book is so clever how it weaves in moments from the musical GYPSY and the 1950’s movie THE BAD SEED. It is outrageous, hilarious, irreverent and promises to be an unforgettable evening of musical theatre. Miss Thorn is very special to me and so much fun to play. She’s just a big ole mess! I’m so fortunate to be able to play her again after all these years.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: With your background in both education and event planning, what skills from those roles sneak their way into your stage work?
DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT: It’s true I am a teacher as well as an event professional. Those two careers are much like Acting in the way one prepares for the main event. Research and preparedness followed by “flawless” execution. Simple as that.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: When not on-stage or behind the scenes, you serve as an adjunct instructor in theatre at MTSU. If Miss Thorn were to fill in for one of your university courses, what would her first instruction be to the class?
DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT: Assigning a student to supply snacks and wine. No joke. 🙂
JHPENTERTAINMENT: You also serve on the Board at Playhouse 615—what excites you most about the future of the company?
DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT: I am so proud to have been with this group from the start. Playhouse has done amazing things in a short amount of time. The audience is growing, our talent pool is expanding. We are the hidden gem that is quickly emerging from the shadows.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: You likely know that I tend to end these chats with a variation on the same closing question…What do you hope audiences take with them after having seen Playhouse 615’s RUTHLESS?
DIANE BEARDEN ENRIGHT: I hope their belly’s and jaw’s hurt from laughing! I want the audience to sit back and forget about our chaotic world for 2 hours. Let’s get lost in the joyous absurdity of RUTHLESS.
Don’t miss your chance to see this hilariously twisted tale of ambition, stage mothers, and killer instincts play out live at Playhouse 615. RUTHLESS opens Friday, July 25 and runs through August 10. CLICK HERE to grab your tickets now, and get ready for an outrageously fun night of musical mayhem!
For more on the show and to keep up with what’s next at Playhouse 615, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.
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