Toni Trucks is a celebrated actress of stage and screen. She has been seen in such films as “Ruby Sparks” and “Breaking Dawn: Part 2” of the Twilight Series. Her new TV show “Hostages” premiered last week on CBS, and her character, Angela Nix, will appear in the show for the first time this Monday, September 30. For a limited time, she will also be seen on the Alliance Stage in the title role for our production, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.” We had a chance to chat with Toni about her career and the importance of this role.
Q: We are so thrilled to have you in Atlanta! For folks who don’t know you yet, what might they recognize you from?
A: I am thrilled to be in Atlanta! It’s my first time so, I’m excited to get to know the city and people here. As far a where folks might recognize me, I tend to look very different in the roles I play in TV and Film. We have a lot of fun with creating new looks for each character. Vera Stark will be no different. I think I have counted 5 different wigs so far. People might recognize me from the final installment of the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 where I played “Mary” one of the new vampires introduced into the Cullen Family Circle. You can also find me in the FOX Searchlight film Ruby Sparks. Television has been a major platform for me. My first series was Barbershop on SHOWTIME where I played the razor tongued female barber Terri Jones. Since then I have worked on Veronica Mars, House, CSI:NY, Do No Harm, Made In Jersey, the Soul Man and many more. Starting Sept 23, I invite everyone to watch the new CBS series Hostages staring Toni Collette where I have a recurring role.
Q: You are playing Vera Stark in “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.” Tell us about this character and what excites you about this role?
A: I am so honored to have the opportunity to play Vera Stark in this production. Vera is such a special character. An unconventinal but true heroine of her time. What some people may not know, is that this play spans from 1855 to 2003. This sort of period and genre expanse in a play is an actors dream.
Q: Lynn Nottage, the playwright, is Pulitzer Prize winning for important social commentary. This play is not different, wrestling with themes of racial and gender identity. How does this story resonate for you personally? Why do you think it’s an important story to tell?
A: Racial Identity is a wildly complex topic that is ever changing and continues to ignite people today. I am so excited to be able to tell the story of a Black Actress in Early Hollywood. It was during this time that images of African Americans and many people of color were by and large, dominated with submissive roles that ultimately produced caricatures and damaging stereotypes. YET AND STILL, these images were important and crucial to the growth and healing of our nation and beyond. It is easy and tempting to judge the actors that played these submissive roles in early film making. Rarely do we hear about the actual people. We just end up scrutinizing what we saw on screen. Vera Stark tells the story of a young hungry actress determined to work in a field that was impossibly plagued by its time. We get a glimpse at the person underneath these sort of roles and in the process explore one of these beautifully complicated tales. I have no doubt it will fascinate and intrigue your audiences.
Q: I know it’s early in the process, but tell us about your cast mates.
A: I can say confidently after only a short time of rehearsal, that I am in brilliant hands and in top notch company. Any actor would be thrilled to be playing with this group on stage. I should also thank the good city of Atlanta for providing our cast with the talents of Courtney Patterson, Andrew Benator, and Daniel Triandiflou. All of our understudies are also Atlanta Natives. So… Thank you Atlanta!!
Q: Do you have any previous experiences in Atlanta? Any good Atlanta story?
A: This is truly my first time in Atlanta. Please know that I am happily taking suggestions for Atlanta Adventures as well as food recommendations. Just leave a comment below with your thoughts. 😉
Q: If you weren’t an incredibly successful actor, in another life, what would you have wanted to be?
A: It’s hard for me to imagine what my life would be like outside of performing. That being said, I do take great joy in baking. So I think if I wasn’t an actor, I’d like to believe I would spend my days covered in flour and sugar making sweet treats for the people. I am currently exploring the limits of the toaster ovens provided in our Hotel. If our show was here during Thanksgiving, I think things would have gotten very interesting. For now… Cookies are a green light!
Besides the opportunities to create and perform, our Teen Ensemble is also invited to the first preview of every production this season. Our teens were on hand for the very first public performance of Harmony, and here are a few of their reviews:
Harmony the new musical is a humorous and very entertaining show. It shows how faith and friendship can come together to bring audiences into a world that we have all but forgotten. The comedian harmonist were one of the best selling artist groups of the mid 20th century, selling millions of albums as well as having 12 complete movies. This story was beautifully written by the great Bruce Sussman and music by the one and only Barry Manilow, whose teamwork has come together to bring us this truly beautiful show. Overall this show brings an amazing cast of characters including a quirky doctor, a boasting baritone, and riveting rabbi that will have you laughing and crying till the curtains come down. So come see this show at Atlanta’s premiere palace for the arts The Alliance Theatre.
Pedro Rios
12th Grade, North Cobb High School
There are so many adjectives that come to mind when attempting to describe everything that Harmony is: inspiring, emotional, funny, clever, etcetera etcetera. From the feeling evoking, beautifully blended score, to the set and lighting design, costuming and smooth transitions, tears of joy were brought to my eyes from pure satisfaction. There were of course, some hiccups as most shows on preview night do have, but this only feeds my superstitious belief that this only means opening night will be a banger.
Saharah Jimenez
12th grade, Grady High School
Harmony is a new musical with music by Barry Manilow, and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman. The Alliance Theatre hosted the premiere, this weekend. A singing group called the Comedian Harmonists build the story. Set in Germany around the time of World War II, the story follows the lives of these six aspiring singers, along with their struggles for work, love, and religious freedom.
Vocally, the show was quite strong. On stage talent got the opportunity to show their musicality as they conquered complex rhythms, and of course, harmonies. A wide range in voice parts existed among the cast as well. For example, Will Blum as “Lush”, the tenor of the group hit extremely high alto, and even soprano notes throughout the course of the show. On the other hand, the bass of the cast, Douglas Williams held down the low notes. Stark contrasts like these kept me as an audience member engaged, and amused.
Though not a mainly dance show, cast members of Harmony faced some heavily choreographed numbers. One even included various lifts of Chris Dwan, in the role of Erich Collin. Even the scene changes were choreographed! It was beautiful to see cast members, in character, twirling across the stage holding chairs over their heads. Props to JoAnn M. Hunter, the choreographer of Harmony. Obvious need for some rehearsal, but I thought the dance steps were very fitting for not only a musical, but a realistic male singing group.
Musicians played a huge part in the show as well (get it…played?). These talented instrumentalists never missed a note. Not only were they clearly audible, but forceful enough to fill the whole theatre. Together as one, this brilliant ensemble added an artistic element to the production that aided in the continuation and development of the storyline. An overall wonderful job to conductor Patrick Vaccariello and his talented colleagues working in the pit.
Elaborate set pieces captivated the audience even before the lights dimmed for the start of the show. Bright, red curtains caught your eye as they appeared from the ceiling. Then suddenly, they would disappear to make room for moving pillars and a bridge, putting you in a train station. A very technically advanced show. Once all of the timing and coordination is figured out with the flys and rigs, audiences will be in awe.
I have not one negative comment to convey about the acting of this production. Every actor stayed in their element for the entire show. Characters from all over the spectrum appeared as the plot drew on. Serious characters such as the Fuhrer, played by Chad Lindsay, set the scene appropriately for the broken state of Germany in the early 1930s. However, the audience got a chance to experience some comic relief. Leigh Ann Larkin, as Mary Hegel lightened the mood with her rendition of an awful lounge singer.
I am truly glad that I had the chance to see this production of Harmony at the Alliance Theatre. Barry Manilow has proven that he’s not just a writer of songs for the radio. His infectious show tunes have been replaying in my head since I saw the production, and I couldn’t be happier. The cast and crew of this production have clearly put in so much time and effort into this production. This is a show that I would recommend to any of my peers. Anyone who knows how to laugh, cry, and clap at the same time, needs a buy a ticket for this show.
Rachel Jordan
11th grade, Dekalb School of the Arts