Midsummer for Haters is showing June 3-18, 2022! In this collaboration with Nemesis Theatre Company, Shakespeare’s beloved classic gets a new treatment by the people who can’t stand it, resulting in a kidnapped Amazon, mystified mortals, sadistic fairies, and mechanicals gone wild! Will any of them survive four nights in the magic forest?
We reached out to actor Christine Hellman to find out more about her and her experience working on this unique production!
What do you love about Shakespeare?
I love that Shakespeare has the ability to dive down to the depths of what it is to be human, in all of it's beauty and ugliness.
Do you relate to your character or to any character in the show? How similar / different are you?
Initially, I thought I was more different than similar to Helena. As it turns out Helena is just more unafraid to speak and act in all of her love and determination in the world than I am sometimes. We both are deeply feeling, vulnerable, and loyal humans who believe in deep love- romantic and in friendship.
What are 5 songs that you feel represent the mood of this show?
Everyone's in Love with You- David Byrne
In the Morning- Nicole Reynolds
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want- The Smiths
Change- Big Thief
Hello Hello Hello- Remi Wolf
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
My passion project is Misery Is Optional and we will be touring again soon! Miseryisoptionalplay.com
I am also finishing up my certification with The Lucid Body- a physical acting technique that I will soon be teaching in Asheville! Lucidbody.com
How is working with Nemesis different from working with other theatre companies?
Working with Nemesis has been an actor's dream come true. Everything is done in the spirit of understanding, collaboration, and a whole lot of laughs. Melon has created an incredibly curious space for all of us to explore deeply and safely. I am truly grateful to be in the company of all of these amazing artists!
Biography
Christine is a performer, playwright, and teaching artist based in NYC and Asheville. Through the scope of consent-based practices and physical storytelling, Christine guides actors to find physical and emotional depths of intimacy on stage in a sustainable and non-harming way. Developing tools for the actor to safely step in and out of deep work is at the core of her work. Christine is currently a teacher in training with The Lucid Body House in New York City and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200). She is the co-creator of Misery is Optional. Miseryisoptionalplay.com
Recent acting credits include- No More Waiting, Sweat (Jessie), Barbecue (Barbara), The Flick (Rose), Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Mrs. Shears, voice 1), MIsery is Optional (Voice 2) Trustus Theatre. Some Girls (Bobbi), Don't Dress for Dinner (Suzette), String of Pearls (Amy, others) Workshop Theatre. Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) CTC.
Midsummer for Haters is showing June 3-18, 2022 at The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville, NC. Grab your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=134503