Meet Alesa Bryant, she is joining us for our next production of In the Middle of Nowhere written by Bret Murphy and directed by Katie Jones!
This production is about Cynthia Scott is a retired art professor who escapes to the Black Mountains of North Carolina after a harrowing experience in her "previous" life. Despite her fiercely independent nature, she eventually forms a relationship with Del, a young man who has recently been released from prison. They challenge each other in unexpected ways... but the question remains, will either of them accept forgiveness?
We reached out to Alesa to tell us a bit about herself and about what her experience has been like working on this production!
1. Have you ever felt like an outsider in society, or in a group that you’re expected to feel comfortable in? If so, why, and how did you cope?
I have certainly felt like an outsider, but the country is too divided for me talk about that here. How did I cope? I cried....and finally stopped watching the news.
2. Do you relate to your character? How similar / different are you?
Cynthia is a self-absorbed curmudgeon. I hope we not alike at all, although I guess we all carry a burden of guilt.
3. What's your favorite line in your show? Why?
Trudy's line, "People don’t realize that Jesus Christ could be anything or anyone." I love this line because, as Emerson said, "Jesus is, not was."
4. What do you think makes an artist truly gifted?
All those things over which he has no control: circumstance, genetics, environment, and experience.
5. Do you enjoy hiking, camping, or otherwise being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the outdoors? If so, why?
When I get up in the morning, I go outside, and I do not come in until it is too dark to see. I live outside, coming in my house only to sleep. Why? God lives there.
6. What, in your opinion, is the difference between religion and spirituality?
Religion is a drawer in our life structure, along with family, career, entertainment, friends. They all open and close. Spirituality is the chest all the drawers slide into.
Biography
Alesa Bryant (Cynthia). Thrilled to be back in the theater, this is Alesa’s first appearance at Magnetic Her previous roles include Momo in The Humans, Vernadette Simms in Dixie Swim Club, Chief Inspector Hubbard Dial M for Murder, Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond, Ouiser of Steel Magnolias, Amanda Wingfield of The Glass Menagerie, Ida May Combs in The Quiltmaker, Mattie Rigsby of Walking Across Egypt. Some of her other productions include Morning’s at Seven, Steel Magnolias, Oklahoma!, Our Town, Look Homeward Angel, Big River, My Fair Lady, You Can’t Take it With You, The Boys Next Door, and others.
Alesa taught drama and english at Mountain Heritage High School, directing the drama department to as many as thirty regional and state titles awarded by the North Carolina Theatre Conference; some award-winning productions include: All in the Timing, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Laramie Project, Wit, The Rimers of Eldritch, Proof, The Diviners, The Sunset Limited, and more. Alesa is a native of Mitchell County where she lives with her family.
In the Middle of Nowhere runs April 30th - May 16th grab your tickets here 👉 https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=122922