INTERVIEW: At this new musical, audiences participate in the wine tasting
Photo: Winesday features, from left, Dawn Cantwell, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Debra Thais Evans, Shannen Hofheimer and Jennifer Diamond. Photo courtesy of Russ Rowland / Provided by JT PR with permission.
Winesday: The Wine Tasting Musical is a new show that follows five women who meet every Wednesday for some wine and conversation. One of the spirited joys of the musical is that audience members are invited to the Wednesday session and can participate in some wine testing during the show. Winesday comes from writers Jenne Wason, who penned the book and lyrics, and composer Joseph Benoit.
Performances of the musical continue at the Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center in Midtown Manhattan. Jamibeth Margolis directs, and the cast features Dawn Cantwell, Jennifer Diamond, Debra Thais Evans, Shannen Hofheimer, Amanda Lea Lavergne, Michael Valvo and Suzanne Dressler.
Recently Cantwell exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox. She is best known for her work in Broadway’s 1776 and Wicked, along with Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What attracted you to join this production?
Immediately before I started rehearsal for Winesday I had the incredible honor of being a part of an all-star cast of Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage. Doing that play every night, acting opposite a titan such as Tracey Bonner under the direction of Oz Scott, literally made me a better actor every single performance. But, the show was emotionally quite taxing, so having the opportunity to just play, be unapologetically silly, and emit joy from our pores has been really lovely.
Also, my character Jess really resonates with me. She desperately wants to make strides towards equality in her local community, and she is very activist minded. I would characterize myself as such. My solo “Blissful Nap” possesses certain feelings I really relate to: “What’s the point if nothing ever does change? What’s the point if no one ever does hear? People aren’t born cruel or senseless, but the world seems cruel and senseless. Why do I keep trying year after year?” I ask myself these questions now as we gear up for another set of elections in November which, as I (and Jess both) see the world, bring us to the brink of backtracking again. Jess then seeks strength from her long-standing female friendships to keep striving for a better version of the world, which in turn, galvanizes Dawn the person to keep picking up the phone, knocking on doors and trying to generate productive conversations with our neighbors.
How has it been sharing theater and wine with audience members?
I think the world we are living in is very heavy right now: There are a lot of unknowns. Hard fought rights are being stripped away, and so to come together and just unabashedly enjoy life, laugh and let oneself relax is a great thing to be a part of. My mom and I enjoy wine pairings deeply as an activity together, and so it has been really fun to access what the activity of wine tasting often most satisfies: a communally shared experience with friends and loved ones.
What do you think it is about conversation and drinks that gets people sharing memories and making friends?
I think people are often seeking spaces to co-create lighthearted joy and laughter. To me, it all comes down to a shared experience for people to enjoy the proverbial “letting your hair down” opportunity.
Are you a wine drinker? If so, what’s a favorite of yours?
I am a wine drinker, and, like my character Jess, I love bubbles! I really like Champagne (I mean who doesn’t), but also a brut sparkling rosé. As long as it is dry, dry, dry and effervescent, I love it.
What’s it like to perform with this cast each night?
I adore this cast. I love the playfulness and total lack of pretense between us. It is refreshing!
What are your memories of playing Nessa in Wicked?
The best. I had the wonderful honor of playing the little sister to Rachel Tucker when just a few months before I played her “mini me” in Sting’s The Last Ship. She originated the role of “grown up Meg,” and I originated the role of “Young Meg.” We basically worked together over the span of 2.5-3 years in two Broadway shows. She became a lifelong friend, and through that shared experience, we forged forever memories.
Wicked is, quite simply, a beautiful show. I was playing Nessa during the presidential election, so the parallels between Elphaba and Hilary Clinton’s presidential candidacy were very clear. It felt important to be in that show at that time — I was there all of 2016 and most of 2017. I was there during the Women’s March on Jan. 21, 2017, (the day after Trump’s inauguration), and having little girls standing outside waiting for us to sign autographs and share how much it meant to them to see powerful women being brave was an experience I will never, ever forget. It felt healing to be in that show at that time.
To be in Wicked feels like you are a part of a message that is so essential for children, for all of us really: Going against the grain to fight for what is right is incredibly difficult but also noble. Friendship is essential. Truth matters. Your life can be unlimited, and collaboration is they key to our future. “…dreams the way we planned them, if we work in tandem.”
Also, “For Good” just gets me every single time: “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason … it well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime … but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you…” The articulation of the ephemeral nature of relationships in our lives touches a piece of my soul that is very tender. Letting go is hard, but being in gratitude for “what was” is among the biggest gifts we can give ourselves and the people who come in and out of our lives in a profound, but possibly passing way.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Winesday: The Wine Tasting Musical, featuring Dawn Cantwell, continues at the Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
