Sam Hardy Interview by Jen Bush
For nearly half a century the esteemed American Theatre of Actors has been providing new artists with opportunities to flourish with their new works or innovative interpretations of the classics. In their 48th season they present Electra by Sophocles. We were delighted to have a hardy chat with cast member Sam Hardy.
Every artist relies on a creative process to bring their life to work. Mr. Hardy begins with a deep dive into the text. “I play Aegisthus, stepfather to Electra and Orestes, who murdered their father and usurped his throne. My process with any piece of classical theatre is to begin with a thorough dissection of the text. To be sincere is at the heart of acting, and the first step to achieving that honesty is to fully understand what one is saying. Our director, Sean, has done a wonderful job of synthesizing a number of different translations of the play to create a text that is both accessible and poetic. I then take that text and instill it with emphasis and musicality that is appropriate to the heightened scenario while still feeling grounded in a place of emotional honesty.”
There are approximately 129,864, 880 books that exist in the world. With such a vast choice, people are still reading, enjoying, and interpreting the classics. We were interested to know how the cast felt about the importance of the classics and if they thought their meanings changed. “The classics remain essential in modern times as stories of what it means to be human, and how we interact with each other. They are, for the most part, pure thought experiments that help us to better understand our emotions and our ethics in settings stripped of frivolity or distraction. Whereas technological advances have made our society more fractious and isolated, these stories are meant to be enjoyed communally. Theatre allows us to grapple with these questions and grow together as an audience.”
“I believe the meaning of these pieces remains unchanged, but only in the sense that their meanings were always mutable and open to infinite interpretation. Each successive generation has something different to learn, but it is our cultures that change in their needs and understandings, not the works themselves.”
There is a reason that the ATA has a stellar reputation. Mr. Hardy like countless others before unsurprisingly gives it a glowing endorsement. “The American Theatre of Actors is a dream space for the cultivation of artistry. It is a workshop that allows us to try out ideas. It is a platform that allows us to put forth our best work. It is a community space that allows us to gather with like-minded artists. Whether as an audience member for a single night, a playwright presenting a new work, or an actor who comes back season after season, everyone who comes in contact with the place is improved by the experience.”
See Sam Hardy and the rest of the talented cast in:
“Electra” by Sophocles
Directed by Sean Szak Prasso
Aug 23- 27th
WED-SAT @8pm. SUN @3pm
American Theatre of Actors
314 West 54th Street
New York, NY 10019
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