Orient’s own Jennifer Babtist is switching up from her on-screen specialty to take the stage on the North Fork.
On Nov. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. and Nov. 9 and 16 from 5 to 6:45 p.m., catch her as Grandma in Edward Albee’s The American Dream, directed by Corchaug Repertory Theatre’s Christian Lepore.
See the first weekend’s show at Jamesport Meeting House and the second at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
In mid-September, Babtist made an appearance at the North Fork Arts Center screening of the 1984 version of The Toxic Avenger, in which she plays the main antagonist, Wanda. During the screening, Mark Heidemann and Erika Wood-Heidemann, members of Corchaug Repertory Theatre, approached her to ask if she was interested in their modality.
From there, Babtist was introduced to Lepore. “Chris was kind enough to just really take a chance on me and cast me in a lead role,” says Babtist.
Through rehearsing the role, she has adopted some of Grandma’s vocalisms.
“I play a woman that’s roughly 20 years older than I am, which is a lot of fun actually,” says Babtist. “And she says a lot of things that are really fun to say.”
In the 1990s, Babtist co-managed Surf Reality’s House of Urban Savages, a performance space on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Surf Reality hosted theatrical performances, among other comedy and art shows.
“It’s been some time since I’ve been active in theatre,” says Babtist. “And the difference is you’re on stage. If you don’t remember a line, you better say something.”
Despite the challenges and learning curve of getting back into the theatre scene, Babtist has enjoyed memorizing dialogue and cues.
They show’s plot toys with family dynamics through surrealism and euphemisms. “It’s kind of a bitey satire on the nuclear family circa 1960 and the difference between the façade and what’s the on the underside of things,” says Lepore.
The show was picked as part of the Corchaug Repertory Theatre’s annually selected theme. This year, the focus is ‘We the People,’ inspired by the upcoming 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The entire cast was sought out by Lepore — a perk of being involved in the North Fork’s theatre scene. When it came to casting Babtist, he was thrilled thanks to her skill and experience.
“I told her I didn’t cast her because of her celebrity, but I’m not averse to trading on it to get people into the theatre,” says Lepore. “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with her.”
For more information and to buy tickets to the show click here. Tickets are $20 at the door.
