Meet Kirby Gibson! She will be joining us for our next production, Wandering With Magnetic: something i cared about which follows the story of Alyx and Dru, as it unfolds throughout their lives, performed along the Reed Creek Greenway.
Audiences will walk the trail and see scenes of the same couple, played by a different pair of actors in each scene. We reached out to Kirby to tell us a bit about herself and about what her experience has been like during this production.
1. Do you relate to your character? How similar/different are you?
I can relate to Dru's hesitance to commit to a family, or to being tied down. Independence is important to me. I can see why they don't feel ready to be as selfless as a child demands. And also their slightly manipulative nature. There's something in Dru's mentality, dare I say immaturity, that I see in myself, and am trying to work on.
2. What are the biggest challenges of this rehearsal process?
Rehearsing over Zoom has been tricky. Trying to perform sitting down and facing a screen. I'm lucky to be in the same house as my scene partner. I'd imagine that it's only more challenging having to act and connect with someone through a screen. All the performers have been doing great given the constraints.
3. What makes this experience special for you?
It's rare to get to play a character that will be played by many other people within the same show. Only being responsible for one scene, and not necessarily seeing how the rest of it plays, is exciting. In a way it feels like the pressure is off, and that there is a little more freedom to explore the importance of your particular scene within the bigger picture. It's also unique for an audience to experience multiple endings. I can't wait to see how it all comes together by remaining separate.
4. How did you get into theatre?
My parents both worked in theater, so I spent a lot of time in rehearsal rooms as a youngster. As an only child, I naturally wanted to join in and have been doing so ever since.
5. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
Soon I'll be involved in Persephone at Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective, also written by Travis Lowe.
Biography
Kirby Gibson is just giddy to be back at The Magnetic Theatre! Previous theatrical credits include: Linda in Evil Dead: The Musical (Black Button Eyes Productions), Liz in Musical Therapy at the 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival; Emilie Martin in The Submission (Different Strokes PAC), Camae in The Mountaintop (Different Strokes PAC), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (Haywood Arts Regional Theater), Marta in Company (Haywood Arts Regional Theater), and Sally in Reefer Madness (UNCA). Thanks and love to Scott and her parents.
Wandering With Magnetic: something i cared about shows February 27th-March 14th with staggered showings on Saturdays and Sundays. Grab your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=121100