Anne Jenness
Anne Jenness (Viola De Lesseps)
Shakespeare in Love
FEBRUARY 11 — MARCH 20
What excites you about Shakespeare in Love and the role you are playing?
Viola’s vibrancy! She is full of passion and gets to exude it throughout an adventurous love story. It’s a dream getting to explore and delve into her character depths.
What’s your process like in preparing for a show like this, and how does that process change (if at all) from other shows?
This process has been completely different from my process for musicals. This is only the second play I have ever done and it has required more research than I can describe. I have seen more Shakespeare in the past two months than I have in my 28 years of life. Studying the Iambic Pentameter (Shakespearean Rhythm) and Blank Verse along with the history of the time, plus heavy dialect study, and then, of course, character development and memorization…IT’S BEEN AWESOME! This process has been delicious!
What’s your biggest challenge about taking on this role?
Though dreamy, the process has not been without its challenges! Covid has been frustrating to work around in rehearsals and has created many obstacles we have had to think outside the box to overcome. Additionally, this is my first time doing Shakespeare which can feel, at times, like trying to drink the ocean. There are so many levels and depths to his works and mixing in our world with the world of Shakespeare has been quite an exciting challenge.
How did you get started performing?
I did my first professional show at the age of 14 years old! Been ticking off birthdays on stage ever since. I actually will be turning 29 on stage playing Viola De Lesseps in March!
Why do you still perform?
It is the only thing in this world that truly fulfills and sustains me. There is nothing like creating an entire human, breathtaking experience from thin air and getting to lose yourself in another world. Putting in the work and emotion and movement all feeds into this cathartic rush where you pour your everything out into the floorboards and audience. I am a firm believer, the theater is not just an escape for the audience.
What’s your dream role, and what do you feel you would bring to it?
Eek! I have a fondness for Jerusha Abbot from Daddy Long Legs as well as an obsession with Kathy from The Last Five Years…I still have a few boxes yet to tick on the ole’ dream role list.
What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
My side hustle is a business called Aroma Gnome! I make Gnomes that double as both diffuser and decor. It started as a fun craft discovered out of my inability to sew and has become a legitimate small business I am passionate about and love to pour my creativity into.
Follow Arome Gnome:
Instagram: @aromagnome
Facebook: @aromagnomes
