BWW Blog: Jessica Gould - Interview With Tina Stafford

During my week in New York, I had the opportunity to interview Tina Stafford after watching the off broadway show she is in called Liberty. Tina is a working actress in New York City and was a part of the tour of Once the musical. It was really interesting talking to Tina and learning about what it's like to be an actress in New York City. Here are the questions I asked her and her responses!

Q: What made you start performing?

A: I came from a family of four boy cousins and a brother, and we all lived in the same town. We would always watch them go play baseball, and one day I said to my mom, "I want everybody to watch me do something." I didn't know what that was, but I was a joiner. I tried everything. I was taking baking classes at a community center. One day, at the center, my mom and I saw auditions for Sleeping Beauty, and the show was being directed by a friend of hers from high school. She asked me if I wanted to audition, and I said yes, even though I didn't know what that meant. After I auditioned, I got in and I was in the chorus. I continued to do the next play and the next play until I was in high school and could perform in the high school shows.

Q: What is a hidden talent you have?

A: It's not so hidden, but I play a lot of instruments. I enjoy making music anyway I can, so I play piano, guitar, and the accordion. I played the accordion for Once, so it's nice as an actress to be able to say I can play instruments.

Q: What are you best at: dancing, singing, or acting?

A: I took ballet, tap, and jazz in elementary school, junior high, and throughout high school so that I could be in plays and musicals. When I was thirteen or fourteen, I started to sing. However, I would have to say acting is my favorite part of theatre and my strongest point. There's just something about a commitment to the reality. You have to one hundred percent make it your reality. I just love that and I think that's what I do best.

Q: What would you say is your weakest?

A: Dancing for sure. I couldn't finish my turns. I didn't have that physical one hundred percent commitment that my acting has.

Q: What is it like performing in an off broadway show?

A: It's surprising how many people are coming out to Liberty because they are marketing it to tourists. In this situation, it is unusual in that they are marketing it for the Liberty boat tours and the Ellis island tours. They want people who come into New York City to learn more about New York City. There were always people who didn't want immigrants, and there still are. Yet, our founding fathers made it so this was possible for everyone to have a right and the pursuit of happiness if you will.

Being in an off broadway show is awesome. The contract is open ended so that if we keep running, I have a paycheck every week. It is slightly different than most off broadway contracts in that I perform eight matinee weekday shows because it's marketed for tourists. There's never been a show that has done this, and it's nice because I have evenings and weekends free. In previews, the director is there, and all of the producers and writers are there to give us notes before opening. There still might even be changes. That's what previews are all about: making the director's vision clear.

Q: How do you prepare for your roles in Liberty?

A: This show is a little bit of what I like to call outside in where I differentiate my two characters differently. I worked hard to make sure that I was upright and nose in the air for Regina Schuyler, and Moskowitz is low to the ground and more hunched over. For that reason, my voice became lower. That was the main thing for me: the physicality. I always warm up vocally for fifteen minutes and do some yoga. I try to take care of my physical instrument.

Q: What is the rehearsal process like for this show?

A: This show has been around for eight years, and I was one of the new people who was brought in last year, so I didn't have a proper rehearsal schedule. I was in rehearsals for about three weeks so it was fun because a lot of people already knew the music, which meant that I could focus on myself. This group is a great group of people. They are nice and try to make each other laugh, so rehearsals are a lot of fun.

Q: What is the pay structure like?
A: Our union protects our pay, so no matter how many people come to the show, we have to be paid the same amount every week. I don't recommend that younger actors try to turn union as soon as possible because I believe that limits your marketability. If you go to auditions and you are competing with people who have been in the business for a long time, you might not compete as well. At my age, I am happy to have a union job because it also includes pension and health. I am very grateful that our Brothers and Sisters from the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century fought for those rights.

Q: What was it like going on tour with Once?

A: It was great! It was a beautiful show. I thought it was beautiful to watch people communicate, fall in love, and play music together. I just think that show had something for everyone. The touring aspect of it was a challenge, but I got to see the world. We went to Japan and all over Canada and the US. I got to play in my hometown, San Francisco, and San Jose. My mom got to bring her tennis friends and her golf friends, and that was the most important thing to me. I was able to say that I had this measure of success and do what I love doing in my hometown. That was really the greatest joy. My husband and I were able to see each other every five weeks or so. Sometimes only for thirty-six hours, sometimes for a week. We spent a lot of time and money making sure that we got to see each other, and I always tried to get a nice room by myself. The hardest part of the tour was staying sane, making sure you eat well, and not getting sick. Health, staying sane, and my relationship were my priorities. But, I got to go to so many places I would never see without going on tour. It was a gift to have that job, and I made some great friends.

Q: So now that I've seen Liberty, I know you play two characters. Which do you prefer playing more?

A: I don't like her, but I enjoy playing the society matron, Regina Schuyler. I believe that there are still people like that in the world, and I am trying to make her real and show that people like that can turn around, even if it is for her own enjoyment. Playing a relatively bad person, or at least a person with self centered thoughts, and bringing that person into the light of human rights, freedom, love, and enjoyment of our great country, that is really enjoyable. I love Moskowitz too, but Moskowitz is nice from beginning to end. There is not much of a journey there.

Tina had some advice for the readers on Broadway World:

One thing I like to talk about in theatre is that you still have to be kind. I can't emphasize that enough. There are going to be people playing the leads or stars even. Everyone is going to be nice to the star, but the assistant stage manager is way more important to be nice to, or the dresser, or the guy who tapes up your microphone. It's so important to remember that we are all human beings, and in our world today, it's easy to become full of yourself in this business. There's no place for it in this world to be full of yourself. We have to include everyone and I feel really passionately about that.

That was my interview with Tina Stafford! Thank you for allowing me to interview you, Tina! I had a great time talking to you, and I wish you much success in the future with your fantastic career!

*this interview was conducted in June of 2016.