Annabella Sciorra is currently making her Broadway debut in THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT alongside Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Yul Vázquez. Directed by Anna D. Shapiro, the production opened Monday, April 11, 2011 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street, New York City).
THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT is a new high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity, and misplaced haberdashery from playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Jackie (Cannavale) and Veronica (Rodriguez) have been in love since the 8th grade. But now, Jackie is on parole and living clean and sober under the guidance of his sponsor, Ralph D (Rock), while still living and loving with his volatile soul mate Veronica who is fiercely loving, but far from sober. Still, their love is pure. And true. Nothing can come between them - except a hat.
Sciorra took some time out of her busy schedule to chat with BWW about her debut on the Great White Way.
BWW: To start off, let's begin at the beginning. Tell me about your first night on Broadway. What did it feel like? Any unexpected moments?
Annabella Sciorra: Aside from the fact that it was a "dream come true" it was smooth sailing with a little extra adrenaline. We did have 4 weeks of previews to work our way into that moment so I think we were all pretty relaxed opening night.
How has it been working with Chris, Bobby, Yul and Elizabeth?
Chris is fantastic to work with on stage and off....he really came into the experience wanting to learn something different and he's worked really hard. He's on of the more disciplined actors I've worked with and considering this is his first play, his level of commitment and enthusiasm is inspiring. Bobby and I have a great time onstage.....our scene is kind of a high speed train that you can't get off of or slow down.....you can't meander in it....so it's a real blast going head to head with him and throwing our stuff back and forth every night. Unfortunately I have no scenes with Elizabeth. I think it would be fun to see what Victoria and Veronica had to say to each other. The one scene I have with Yul is one of my favorite in the play. Yul is so present and in the moment I never know how that "introduction" between Cousin Julio and Victoria will go from night to night.
With such a small cast, do you feel like you carry a lot of responsibility on your shoulders?
I love being in a small, intimate cast because it becomes very familiar and a family that takes care of each other onstage and off.
Clearly Chris Rock is a big draw for the show. How do you feel about famous actors and comedians getting involved with theater?
I think if they are like Chris and have the discipline and the chops, it's great!
You have received an Independent Spirit Award and were nominated for an Emmy. Are you now set on a TONY?
I think doing the play is a gift. I hope the play is acknowledged more than and above anything personal....I truly am so proud to be a part of this play.
The characters are all poor or middle class minorities, and as a Latina I found that there are certainly identifiable moments. However, do you feel that it may perpetuate negative stereotypes?
I think the play is universal and speaks to all people. It doesn't matter if those characters are African American, Caucasian, Latino, Asian, etc. It is a peek into the lives of working-class, multicultural New York City in these times. Who doesn't grapple with self-love, with love, with trying to make a way out of no way in that New York? The play is honest, raw, social realism. It is that powerful a piece. Lot of folks will get hung up on the race of the characters. What I hope people take from the play is some morality lessons, and that the meaning of life really depends on where you are in your own journey.
What do you prefer, TV, stage, or film work?
I love it all. I have had great experiences working in film. As for TV my experience is not as a vast but I worked with a fantastic creative team of writers, directors, and actors on the Sopranos. The theatre is something I wanted to do as a child. I never really aspired to do anything else. My first play was "the Pajama Game" at the Mary Queen of Heaven Drama Club. I started a theatre company in a church basement on the Upper East Side when I was 17 with 5 other actor/writer/directors. The movies and TV happened and I went with it. However I love the process of working in the theatre. I love rehearsals, I love getting to know the character, getting to know the other characters and what our relationships are. It's a very exciting time......and then I love feeling that audience out there. This experience has been really special in that the audience is really in tune, really listens and stays with us right till the end.
