INTERVIEW: Laura Shoop reflects on #MeToo for her role in ‘Powerhouse’
Photo: Powerhouse, now playing off-Broadway, stars Laura Shoop. Photo courtesy of Cameryn Kaman / Provided by Kampfire PR with permission.
Laura Shoop, known for Broadway’s Flying Over Sunset, is currently appearing in the Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s production of Powerhouse, a new play by David Harms and directed by Ken Wolf. In the show, Shoop plays Regan Van Riper, a passionate lawyer who has risen to the top of a law firm, but her colleagues try to get her fired due to a relationship she’s having with an associate lawyer, according to press notes. She then questions the male-dominated business she’s found herself in.
Powerhouse continues performances through Oct. 30 at A.R.T./New York Theaters’ Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theater in New York City. Joining Shoop on stage are Dominick LaRuffa Jr., Jennifer Pierro, Jana Robbins and Jeorge Bennett Watson.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Shoop about her new role. In addition to Flying Over Sunset, the actor is known for Broadway’s She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof and Oklahoma! She has also appeared in productions at the Public Theater, Lincoln Center and New York Philharmonic. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What motivated you to take on this role in Powerhouse? What did you like about the play?
I have never played a role like Regan. This is a woman who is passionate, powerful and has to win. She is devoid of self doubt, believes she deserves it all and is completely unapologetic about any of it. I mean who wouldn’t want to step into her shoes! The themes of this play are so timely, specifically women in powerful positions and pushing the boundaries of “traditional” roles. Also at the center of this play is a love story. It’s a lot of fun juggling all of those emotions.
What do you think your role and the show say about society in 2022?
Women who are coming up into the world now have so much more agency over their lives, their careers and even their futures than when I first moved to New York. I’m incredibly inspired by that, and I would hope that they would look at a character like Regan and say, “See? She can do it. So can I.”
Do you feel like your industry and others have improved five years after the #MeToo movement began?
My business has changed drastically since #MeToo in a positive way. There is so much more talk about boundaries and respect than used to exist. When I did research for this role I spoke to a lot of successful women lawyers about their experiences before and after #MeToo. For some the shift is only beginning to happen, and that really surprised me. There is still a tremendous amount of sexism and discrimination against women in big business.
What’s it like working with this ensemble?
Not only are my castmates immensely talented, and funny and vulnerable every night, but we also have so much fun! It was a pretty short rehearsal process, so we had to get very comfortable with each other very fast. I think that lent itself to large amount of trust and respect.
When did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
I always thought I would be ballet dancer, which is what brought me to New York. I sort of fell into musical theater when I started going to Broadway dance calls. I found that acting and singing brought me so much fulfillment and joy I knew joining a ballet company wasn’t going to give me all of that. So I started working in theater and never looked back.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Powerhouse, starring Laura Shoop, continues through Oct. 30 at A.R.T./New York Theaters’ Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theater in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
