Hometown: various (born in Albuquerque, NM)
Education: BA in Theatre Arts, summa cum laude, St. Edward’s University, Austin TX
Select Credits: Lickspittles, Buttonholers, and Damned Pernicious Go-Betweens (Boomerang Theatre Company); Blast Radius (The Honeycomb Trilogy) (Gideon Productions); The Trojan Women (Wide Eyed Productions)
Why theater?: Oh man. Why theatre. It’s life. It’s electricity. It’s an act of communication and communion, and beats the heck out of playing in traffic.
Who do you play in King Kirby?: Roz Kirby (wife to Jack), and a bevy of other fun characters. I’m having a great time and will leave it at that. You’ll just have to come and see it.
Tell us about King Kirby: It’s a bio-play about comic book artist Jack Kirby, told as a lyrical, action-packed one act. It’s a love story of sorts - one man’s love for his art, and what it won him and what it cost him.
What is it like being a part of King Kirby?: It’s sort of like I won the lottery. John Hurley is one of my favorite directors to work with. He has his vision, but he’s also open to new ideas. He gets us right up on our feet, and I really love that. As for the cast, I met Steven Rattazzi for the first time at the table read, and he is a hoot. I mean, he’s Dr. Orpheus, for pete’s sake. But what he’s bringing to the role of Jack is so honest and lovely. I’ve worked with Nat Cassidy, Joe Mathers, and Timothy McCown Reynolds in the past; they are all so much fun to work with and consistently bring their A game. And it has been such treat to have our playwrights Fred Van Lente and Crystal Skillman in the room; they have been super accessible throughout this entire process. Coming into rehearsal every day is…We get work done. We do. But I’m hanging out with some of my favorite people in the indie theatre community in this beautiful space – we’re rehearsing in the Sheen Center in NoHo right now, and it’s gorgeous – and we get to make art. It’s just humbling.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I’ve said it before elsewhere, but I’ll say it again here: I love honest, raw writing, strong thoughts and ideas, and am a sucker for the poetry of words.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: If anybody wants to cast me as Galactica in Scenes From an Execution, we need to talk. www.amyleepearsall.com
What’s your favorite showtune?: I try not to speak of my sordid musical theatre past, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Sondheim. And there’s never just one favorite Sondheim tune. It just isn’t done.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Tracy Letts.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: A friend of mine told me that if we produced a mockumentary based on our lives, Laura Dern would be play me. And I have no idea what that’s all about, but okay.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I haven’t even seen it yet, but all anyone seems to be talking about right now is Macbeth at the Armory and how fantastic it is. I keep standing in line for rush tickets and getting turned away at the wire.
What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: This week, I’m kind of obsessed with “I can see the pines are dancing” by AA Bondy.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Going to Bikram and eating a burger afterwards. I know, it’s unholy.
What’s up next?: I’ll be in the US premiere of Picture Ourselvesin Latvia by British playwright Ross Howard with New Light Theater Project this July/August. It’s a beautiful play, and I’m stoked about it. Come check it out!