OK, here's the premise for you…..Death Row. Two men. Separated by a wall. Desperate for hope. Is there life after impending death? Can an unlikely friendship defy limitations while also exploring levels of forgiveness, fear and compassion? You never know who's on the other side…
Still, interested… Well then, you get to hear some more from the two stars of RED HERRING, one of the shows being presented at the 2006 International Fringe Festival in NYC in August. In 2003, Byrd was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He has also appeared in major roles in five feature films directed by Spike Lee, including CLOCKERS, GET ON THE BUS, GIRL 6 and HE GOT GAME with Denzel Washington. In addition, Mr. Byrd was in the most controversial film of the new millennium – "BAMBOOZLED" where he appeared in blackface in the character of Hunnicutt. Most recently, Mr. Byrd played a principal role in the Academy Award winning motion picture – "RAY" directed by Taylor Hackford and HBO's critical acclaimed production of "LACKAWANNA BLUES" directed by George C. Wolfe.
McRae scored his first role in the Tony Award-winning TAKE ME OUT on Broadway. He later appeared in RICHARD III at the Public Theatre. Shane has also made TV appearances on HACK for CBS and played Bobby on the new NBC comedy "FOUR KINGS". He can also be seen in the upcoming feature film, KILLER PAD directed by Robert Englund. In a recent interview, I asked McRae about his role in the show and about life after TAKE ME OUT.
TJ: OK a political question -since you are playing characters on death row, what's your stand on the death penalty?
MCRAE: I'm against the death penalty. This play has really challenged me to think about why. I'm by no means an expert, but the fact that almost all people who have been executed are poor speaks volumes to me about the problem with capital punishment in this country. People can argue all day about the philosophies behind putting someone to death, but the economic and racial discrepancies are too much for me to get past.
TJ: Was it difficult playing these roles, especially with your views on the death penalty?
MCRAE: It has definitely been a great challenge to play Scrap. Has my view of the death penalty made it more difficult? For me I don't think that has played into my thinking very much. I don't see Red Herring as a political play. I think it is all based on the relationship between these two men. The politics haven't been in the forefront of our discussions.
TJ: What can you tell me about your characters in the show?
MCRAE: I play Scrap who sees the world as random and often harsh. Things happen, simply because they happen. The world is "ugly" and "nothin's gonna change that." Montgomery sees meaning and spirituality in everything. So their world views are directly opposite.
TJ: How do you prepare for these types of roles, outside of just rehearsals? Do you do any type of case studies?
MCRAE: I've been reading "Dead Man Walking," which of course was made into a movie. It really brings you inside the reality of what it means to be on death row; to be waiting to die. It's an idea that is so overwhelming, that one has to find ways to avoid it. The author of Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen Prejean, talks of how she would find herself in seemingly mundane conversations with the condemned even as they were on the brink of death, "You can only attend to death for so long before the life force sucks you right in again." So trying to make the "wait for death" as personal and specific as possible has been a key into the play for me.
TJ: How did you both get involved with RED HERRING?
MCRAE: I've known Michael for awhile and we both wanted to work together. Luckily, the timing was right and it worked out. How intense have the rehearsals been for you? They have indeed been intense, but they have been incredibly organic. Jonathan has really created a great space. He and Michael are incredibly open so that makes for a very collaborative process.
TJ: Is this experience everything you expected it to be?
MCRAE: Yes. I knew with that with the shorter rehearsal period and the other challenges that the Fringe provides that it was a really ambitious play to undertake. I wasn't wrong. But it has also been amazingly rewarding.
TJ: So Shane, your first time out and you landed a role in the critically acclaimed TAKE ME OUT. Did you expect to get something like that so soon? What was that experience like for you?
MCRAE: I never expected to come out of the gate and go into a play like TAKE ME OUT. What an overwhelming intro to NY theatre! I was walking around in a daze for days on end. The whole experience was fantastic. The guys were really great to me. Which medium do you prefer, acting on stage or in film/television and why? I really enjoy all the mediums. They all offer such different challenges. Theatre of course is my first love, but I really like the other two as well.
TJ: What's up next for you after RED HERRING?
MCRAE: I'm headed out to LA the day we close to finish up post production on a comedy I did called, Killer Pad, which should come out later this year. So I am very excited to see how it turned out.
TJ: OK, here's the part where we let our readers find out a little more about you by talking about some of your FAVORITE THINGS so here goes. FAVORITE AUTHOR?
MCRAE: James Baldwin.
TJ: FAVORITE SHOW?
MCRAE: Since I've been in New York, I have seen quite a few shows that really, really moved me. It's hard for me to choose. I really loved TOP DOG/UNDERDOG. And I was blown away by Phillip Seymour Hoffman in LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. But I must admit that I am biased toward TAKE ME OUT. I replaced Kohl Sudduth 6 months into the run, so I saw the show before I was ever involved with it. It had so much joy in it, and Denis O'Hare was just amazing. So I know I am biased but I think I would have
to say TAKE ME OUT.
TJ: FAVORITE PART OF THE WORLD?
MCRAE: I really don't think I'm well traveled enough to even have a favorite part yet. I loved Italy, in my short stay, as well as Paris. Hopefully, eventually, I'll be able to answer this question with authority.
TJ: FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?
MCRAE: Saturday.
TJ: FAVORITE PASTIME ACTIVITY?
MCRAE: I love going to see live music. My sister's a singer/songwriter, and I've always loved music of all kinds, so it's hard to beat going out to see a great band.
RED HERRING was written by Michael Albanese and directed by Jonathan Silverstein. The production will be presented on August 23rd and 26th at the Connelly Theatre on 220 East 4th Street in New York City. For more information and tickets, call (212) 279-4488 or go to
www.fringenyc.com. Have a great time and as always, theatre is my life. Ciao!
