Dana Green is playing ‘Laura Benson’ in the world premiere comedy The Psychic by Sam Bobrick and directed by Susan Morgenstern – now playing at the Falcon Theatre! She took a few minutes out of her busy rehearsal schedule to sit down and chat a bit – let’s see what she has to say!
Dana Green
Falcon: What was your first experience with the theater?
DG: In 7th grade I played ‘Mrs. T Muse’ in Oxford Ohio’s community theatre production of Thorton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth. I got the part after singing a bone chilling rendition of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up Now Tell Me”.
Falcon: What is your favorite part about the character you play in “The Psychic”?
DG: I love the “did she or didn’t she” aspect and keeping the audience guessing.
Falcon: What is it like to originate a role in a world premiere play such as “The Psychic”?
DG: Working on a world premiere is always very rewarding because you are figuring out everything for the first time and don’t have any previous models to rely upon. It’s an extra treat when the playwright is working alongside you and getting ideas as you work, as has been the case with The Psychic. You really feel like you get to be a part of shaping something.
Falcon: What is your favorite mystery novel, play or movie?
DG: I’m going to go with The Maltese Falcon.
Falcon: What is the funniest thing that has happened during a rehearsal, either for this show, or another one?
DG: I don’t have any specifics but everyday in rehearsal for this show was a blast. Lots, and lots of laughter.
Falcon: Why should people come see you in “The Psychic”?
DG: I think it’s such a funny play with a really fantastic cast that keeps the audience on their toes. As for me? I do mostly a lot of classical theatre so this for me is a wonderful experience to stretch in a more contemporary and comedic work. Hopefully the joy of that comes through in my performance.
Falcon: Why do you think theater in general is important for Los Angeles audiences?
DG: I think the communal experience of everyone being in the same room when a story is told is
a timeless and valuable one.
Dana Green is delighted to be making a return to the Falcon after performing in Surviving Sex last season. Most recently she appeared at Anteaus in Cousin Bette. She has spent four seasons with the Stratford Festival of Canada where she appeared in Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Orpheus Descending, The Brother’s Karamazov, Love’s Labours Lost, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Regional theatre credits include Yale Repertory Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Old Globe, California Shakespeare, Asolo Reperatory Theatre, Court Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre, and The Shakespeare Festival of Dallas. Her television credits include “Early Edition” (CBS)
