Earlier this week the cast of Grace, which is on Broadway through January 6, took part in a panel discussion at the Apple SoHo Store in NYC where they discussed the play, their roles, and the challenges of live performances.
One of our contributors, Denise attended the standing room only event with Paul Rudd, Kate Arrington, Michael Shannon, and Ed Asner and sent us this report:
First, they spoke of how they have to act in reverse and how difficult this is. Paul said this reverse acting took the most work in preparing for the play.
They also talked about how the lightboard malfunctioned at Saturday night’s performance and it turned it into “disco night.” At the end of the show the lights go out very quickly to mark the dramatic end, but with the lighting problem, the lights stayed on so the actors weren’t sure what to do so they just slowly walked off stage.
Kate and Michael were asked about the challenges of being a real life couple and how that affects starring in the play together. Kate said they try to not talk about the play at home and vice versa.
An audience member asked Michael about the upcoming Man of Steel movie and specifically about Henry Cavill. Michael said Henry devoted all of his time to the part and he gave everything he had in preparing and training for it.
Back to the play…an audience member asked about sharing a very close space on stage. Paul described the action during the play as “simultaneous.” Their apartments are next to each other and the stage slowly revolves to different angles. He said this was interesting to adapt to. Paul said the play is about 4 people with very different ideas about faith. It starts with a gunshot and the whole play has an intensity and energy to it.
Paul spoke about what made him want to take the role. He said while reading it, he was engaged right away and found the material fascinating. He thought it was “daring, gutsy and difficult and unlike anything he has played.” He liked the challenge in that.
Michael said the faith questions encourage people to consider other people and that this is often an ignored aspect of religion. People are supposed to care about others, but he thinks this is often lost sight of in religion.
Someone brought up Michael’s reputation for playing intense characters and asked him if we’ll ever see him sing & dance and do lighter stuff. Michael said he has a band, but that nobody ever comes to see them play. He also joked with Paul about doing a revival of Pippin together. Michael just said that he does what people ask him to do and he’s never been asked to do a musical yet. He then joked that it would be “a dark, dramatic musical.”
In closing, it was a fun event. You could tell the cast gets along well and has fun together. They were all joking around and there were many laugh out loud moments. It was nice to see Michael Shannon be funny too, since I always picture him as intense! As they left the building I saw Paul pose for pictures with a bunch of fans before hoping in his car. Michael and Kate just walked off together down the street. (I always love seeing stars just walk home after events with no need for Escalades. The only other person I’ve seen do this was Phillip Seymour Hoffman).
Grace is currently playing at the Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, New York. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.graceonbroadway.com/. To find out who will be appearing at the Apple Store next, visit https://www.apple.com/retail/soho/.
