Interview: 6 Questions & A Plug with BUYER AND CELLAR's Sasha Andreev

Local actor Sasha Andreev is well versed with selling things on TV from his stint on Evine Live (formerly ShopNBC) but now he's all about "selling" stuff in Barbra Streisand's basement. In BUYER & CELLAR, he plays Alex Moore, a shopkeeper in the basement of Streisand's extravagant home. More on that in a moment. You may recognize him from other appearances on HGTV and locally on Twin Cities Live, but he's been working steadily in the Twin Cities stages for years, too. Learn more about him and this crazy sounding basement in 6 Questions & a Plug:

So, BUYER & CELLAR is about a man working in the basement mall of Barbra Streisand's Malibu home. Is that for real? Does she really have a mall in her basement or is that tongue in cheek?

Though the tone of the play is often tongue and cheek, Barbra's basement mall is anything but! Jonathan Tollins, the playwright, was inspired by her 2010 coffee-table book "My Passion for Design," which chronicles every nook and and cranny of Barbra's massive Malibu estate. This includes the basement where she keeps all the stuff that didn't fit any of the other homes on the property, organized in a series of "shops." Alex is hired as the shopkeeper, to manage the "inventory" and to engage with his one and only customer, which is where things get interesting.

Can you give us a flavor of what to expect from Alex Moore's experience in Barbra's basement?

Initially, Alex nearly paralyzed by Barbra's mere presence, but soon learns to play his part, negotiating with her as she tries to "buy" one of her own dolls, working overtime to cater to her late night fro-yo cravings, and ultimately becoming so absorbed into her world that he perceives a special bond between them. Much like myself when I was researching what Barbra was about, Alex begins to really sympathize with her character, which causes some tension with other people in his life.

This is a one-man comedy - and a full 100 minutes without an intermission! -- what's the most challenging part for you, and what do you love the most about it?

Doing a one-man show has actually been a dream of mine since I was a kid. A major part of my high school experience was competing in speech, doing pieces that involved multiple characters. I loved doing that and always hoped I'd get to utilize those skills again. The initial challenge was definitely the vast amount of text. Though the official rehearsal period was only couple weeks, I started preparing months prior, getting off-book, as well as delving into all things Barbra, from movies to the many TV interviews she's done over the years. Another challenge has been to not only define the individual characters, but to switch between them on a dime, while keeping track of their arcs through the play. It's been incredibly satisfying to bring this story to life, which I couldn't have done without the guidance of my director Wendy Knox.

You've had a lot of experience on Twin Cities stages - can you name some of your favorite roles and tell us why they're your picks?

Ten years ago I got my first major paid role playing Tony in WEST SIDE STORY at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. That was a pivotal moment for me because not only was it an iconic role, but I was making my living doing it. A few years later I had the chance to perform with Theatre de la Jeune Lune in DON JUAN GIOVANNI and FIGARO, two operas in rep. Working with that company was truly a coveted experience, and the material was both a challenge and a thrill. Learning BUYER AND CELLAR reminded me of preparing for those operas. I also can't forget a small but but well-received production of THE SEAGULL, in which I played Treplev, directed by Genevieve Bennett, at the Bryant Lake Bowl of all places. I love Chekhov, and I'm originally from Russia, so I've got the tortured brooding artist thing down. More recently, Latte Da's STEERAGE SONG, chronicling the immigrant experience, is a show close to my heart. Having been part of the original musical's years-long development process, the cast felt like family, and it really resonated with my own journey to the U.S.

Many people will recognize you most from your TV experience on HGTV and others. How do you juggle the reality shows and host duties along with acting on stage here in Minneapolis, and do you think you draw new theatre goers when your fans follow you to your next live gig?

I've definitely been fortunate to have times when I had to juggle multiple projects, shooting for HGTV, being a regular guest on Evine Live (formerly ShopNBC) or working on camera in the commercial/print/video world, all while acting on stage. There have also been definite dry periods when I had no idea what was next. It's a matter of meticulously maintaining my Google calendar, or learning to say no and prioritizing the projects that are most important to me. I don't know if people necessarily follow me gig to gig, but with the supportive theater audiences we have in the Twin Cities, it's always been rewarding to see familiar faces show to show.

How did you end up living and working in the Twin Cities? What was your background and training before moving here, and what keeps you here?

My mom and I moved to Minnesota from St. Petersburg, Russia, when I was nine years old. While in high school I moved to live with my dad in NYC, subsequently getting my degree in Drama from Vassar. After a year in Kentucky (on an acting apprenticeship at Actors Theatre of Louisville), I "temporarily" returned to be closer to family and to bring my bank account back into the positives. 11 years later I'm still here. I never expected to have some of the professional opportunities I've had and that's something that has definitely kept me here. I did recently spend six months being an "LA actor," much like Alex More is in BUYER AND CELLAR, so I definitely sympathize with his struggles. Building a sustaining career anywhere can be difficult, so I'm grateful I can call myself a working actor in the Twin Cities.

What is coming up next for you after BUYER and CELLAR?

After this, I'll be going into rehearsals for SONS OF THE PROPHET at Park Square Theatre, directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. It's a very funny play about two brothers who must deal with a family tragedy and a controversy that surrounds it. Following that, I'm excited to premiere Philip Dawkins' new play LE SWITCH at the Jungle Theater, directed by Jeremy Cohen. This is a romantic comedy in which I play commitment-phobic guy who falls for a young florist while in Montreal for a bachelor party, and must reconcile his hesitations about marriage, love, and what it means to be queer. Coincidentally, I workshopped LE SWITCH in Playlabs at the Playwrights Center, working with Stephen Brackett and Doug Nevin, who respectively directed and produced the original production of BUYER AND CELLAR.

Sasha Andreev bio:

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Sasha Andreev has been performing in the Twin Cities since 2004. Stage credits include Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theatre, Jungle Theater, Theater Latté Da, Mixed Blood Theater. Yellow Tree Theatre, The Playwrights' Center, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Thirst, and Actors Theatre of Louisville, where he was part of the '03 - '04 Acting Apprentice Company. Film credits include Best Man Down (with Justin Long), Ghost From the Machine, and How You Look to Me (with Frank Langella). Sasha has been seen as host of the HGTV series Curb Appeal, as a regular guest on Evine Live (formerly ShopNBC) and Twin Cities Live, as well as in numerous TV commercials. He is a graduate of Vassar College, and the National Theatre Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center. Following Buyer and Cellar, you can catch Sasha in Park Square's production of Sons of the Prophet.

More information:

Hennepin Theatre Trust presents BUYER & CELLAR, the outrageous comedy about the price of fame, the cost of things and the oddest of odd jobs at the New Century Theatre (615 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) March 31-April 24, 2016. The New York Post praised the show as "fantastically funny" when it premiered off-Broadway in April 2013. The Minneapolis production stars local actor Sasha Andreev as "Alex Moore" and is directed by critically acclaimed Wendy Knox.

Tickets are on sale now at the New Century Theatre Box Office, charge-by-phone at (612) 455-9501 and online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Pictured: BUYER AND CELLAR starring Sasha Andreev. Photo by George Byron Griffiths.

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