10 Questions — Julianne Brienza | Washington Theatre Guide | TheatreWashington

10 Questions — Julianne Brienza

June 27, 2012 | by Manny Strauss

First show you saw:
I grew up in a small town in Montana — we did not have a lot of live theatre options to choose from. I believe the first show I saw was at the Virginia City Players Theatre in Virginia City, Montana. The Virginia City Players Theatre Company is a great little theatre company that performs authentic 19th century melodramas and has a vivacious vaudeville act.

First involvement in a theatrical production:
My first production was when I was three — Annie Get Your Gun. I got to play Annie’s little sister. I wore a purple taffeta dress. My sister was Annie.

Favorite play / musical:
The one that has probably stuck with me the longest is Baby Case. It was first produced in 2001 at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia. It is a new musical by Michael Ogborn about the media circus surrounding the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. The music is so fantastic! It is actually going to be produced again this July at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

What you like most about Washington area theatre community:
Its varying levels one can enter into it and the dynamic that comes being an “area” and not just a scene that happens in the city proper.

Something others are often surprised to find out about you:
Oh, I don’t know. I actually don’t think most people in DC know me very well as a person . . . I think I am really just associated as the Fringe most of time. I have done and tried to be a lot of various things. I love learning and tend to be all too passionate about everything I do — from making sandwich’s to working as a puppeteer in the process have tried and been a lot of different things.

Other than your significant other, who would be your dream date (living or dead)?
Jim Morrison or Tom Petty.

If not theatre, then what?
If I had never been into theatre I would probably work in advertising or as a graphic designer . . . or maybe become a farmer.

Why do you do what you do?
Making room for independent producers in the theatre scene in DC is very important to me. Also, I love the energy festivals and events that have thousands of things going on all at the same time. I feel very lucky to do what I do.

Advice for an 8 year-old smitten by theatre / for a graduating MFA student:
Be a theatre artist. Check your ego at the door. Be a sponge learn and do it all!

07/07/2012 08:48am

Catherine Asaro

Great interview. I enjoyed reading it.

06/28/2012 09:12am

Sean

Be a sponge and check your ego at the door. Great advice.