Director AMBER BROOKES; Playwright FRANK COSSA; Production Manager DUSTIN PAZAR; Cast: ISABELLE GARBANI, ANITA MORENO, SAM CRUZ. Three strays seem to have drifted from lives with wrong turns and crucial pieces missing, to  fulfill an improbable, possibly absurd destiny. Or is this just another cul de sac? 

A play titled Apostrophe must be about writing, right? (though not necessarily about punctuation). The issue is indeed a book, or two books. The mistakenly titled one that became a great success, and the one not yet written and maybe impossible to write.

“I wrote this play sitting in the almost empty Bryant Park during the covid shut-down in New York. Then I left the city, the pandemic and the play — all unfinished — for the balmy south. But in the way that these things happen the three characters refused to gather dust on a shelf and demanded that their voices be heard. While the play is not set in a particular time and place, their questions, their rants, however calamitous, however silly, however needy, are as timely as ever.”  

Chatting with Team APOSTROPHE!

AMBER BROOKES – Director
What is your typical creative process? 
Typically I like to start by analyzing the script and breaking it down as much as possible.
I’ll read and re-read it finding new questions each time to figure out how I can answer
them in a way that serves the story. Once I have a solid idea of what the story I am
telling is, and who the people behind the characters that drive it really are, I’ll start
layering in more of a creative flair – how can light, sound, costumes and set help to tell
that story, what is going to ground the actors in that world? For me, it’s all about
breaking down the text, finding the subtext and conveying a message. 

Has this project differed?
This project was my solo directorial debut. Before this, I have only worked as an actor
and an Assistant Director – this time felt like more responsibility. 

What is your vision for this show? What do you want to audience to take away?
My vision for the show is to brink some light to darkness. I really enjoy dark comedy
because I feel like it can shine light on difficult circumstances and show all the colors of
the human experience. We are multifaceted beings and nothing about being human is
black and white. No one is JUST a fundamentally bad person and equally no one is
JUST a fundamentally good person. This show in particular highlights flawed people
trying to do what they think is the right thing and coming to terms with their decisions. 
What have you experienced as a resident director at ATA? Have you worked with
Frank before? Tell us about that!

I am an actor predominantly but I have worked as an Assistant Director on semi-musical
comedy Dream On, Baransky! and its revival Dream On, Baransky! Second Dose –
wherein I also performed as 7 different characters in the show. This is my first time
working with Frank and it has been a really pleasant experience, I would like to thank
him for his collaboration and most importantly for his trust in me and my work. 

What’s next for you?

We shall see! 
A big thank you to my incredible cast who have been so wonderfully malleable, trusting
and committed and my amazing crew who have been so helpful in putting all the pieces
together – the show wouldn’t have been been possible without them

ISABELLE GARBANI
As an artist and actor, I sympathize with my character: making difficult choices to
continue making art, working in obscurity for years without money and recognition,  and
dealing with aging which definitely interferes with the creative process.
When I returned to my theater roots 5 years ago, I had my first audition at ata, which
went ver poorly! (I had zero experience at the time). It feels so good to perform here
now, and work with such a talented group.
This is such a wonderful team. Incredibly supportive and talented, and it makes me
want to give 100%, knowing they have my back. I am Incredibly thankful that I was cast
in this show!

SAM CRUZ
Todd is a fun character because he’s totally leaving behind his life for a new one. He’s
like a canvas ready to be painted on by whatever he experiences. And he ends up
experiencing Erin which changes him in really interesting ways. 

Amber asked if I would audition and I have been waiting to work with her in some
capacity. She’s a very talented actor and I knew she’d make a great director. 

The harder you work the more fun you are able to have. I’m really having a lot of fun
with my cast on stage and I know they always have my back. 

No projects lined up. Going back to California to revitalize myself. 

ANITA MORENO

Amelia is a smart, pragmatic woman in search for her roots. She is an absolutely
wonderful and complex character that needs to conciliate her strong desire of control
with the chaos that exists naturally in her. I found her fascinating and I am so glad I got
to inhabit her.

The character of Amelia really spoke to me. Amber Brookes and I have been long
time collaborators and it’s a joy to play with. We are obsessed about the work and love
telling compelling stories.

The whole team is a fantastic collection of very gifted multi talented people. The trust
we have developed together makes it easier to feel supported and confident that we are
all one and only one. Plays are a miracle and they require teams to function as one
body. This team in particular has fully embraced the concept and I am so proud and
grateful to be a part of it.

What’s next?
    I will be working on a wonderful interactive BIPOC  murder mystery called PARTY
KILLER at Asylum theater 
(123 E 24th st) June 13th at 7pm and June 15th at 3pm.