BWW Interviews: Amanda Card-McCoy, A Life in the Theatre

Earlier this season, Amanda Card-McCoy took on one of the three roles in the Tennessee Women's Theater Project's Secrets of a Soccer Mom, earning good reviews while impressing TWTP artistic director Maryanna Clarke, who has raved about her talent and her work ethic. The Nashville native got her professional start at Nashville Children's Theatre and she counts Nashville theatre stalwarts David Alford, Brenda Sparks, Denice Hicks and Matt Carlton as among her role models - the folks who inspired her to pursue her career in the theatre. Last weekend, Amanda took the time to answer our questions and to give readers at Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com a glimpse into her "Life in the Theatre." Enjoy!

What was your first taste of theatre? I was lucky enough to have parents who felt that it was important to expose me to art at an early age. My dad had me memorizing Shakespeare at the age of five, while my mom was taking me to TPAC to see Phantom of the Opera. Growing up in Nashville, the first plays that I saw were performed at the Nashville Children's Theatre and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre. I grew up watching people like David Alford, Brenda Sparks, Denice Hicks and Matt Carlton perform. I've since been able to work with many of those people professionally, and I am still so star-struck when I get to share a stage with them!

What was your first real job or responsibility in the theatre? My first professional theatre gig was at the Nashville Children's Theatre. Their production of Go, Dog, Go! was going into summer rep performances, and Brooke Bryant, who was playing Green Dog, had an acting gig in New York that was going to conflict with three of the performances. They asked me if I would like to be the understudy for the Green Dog, and I said "Yes!" This was really a dream come true for me, and I was thrilled to be given the opportunity. We rehearsed for about a week or two, and the cast was nice enough to walk me through the show and help me figure out when I needed to do what and where. They were really supportive and encouraging. Go, Dog, Go! was almost exclusively physical comedy, and the performance of it was really like running a marathon: cartwheels, dancing, running, spinning. I don't think that I've ever done anything so physically challenging in my life. It was intimidating sharing a stage with such talented people, and trying to fill the shoes of someone like Brooke who is so incredible. I learned so much and had such a blast, and I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of that show. It taught me that great actors throw 110% of their energy into every single performance, and that was a really valuable lesson.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in theatre? I have wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember. I think that the first time that I decided to pursue it seriously was when I was in high school. I had a wonderful theatre teacher, Vickie Wonders Foltz, who really encouraged me to pursue it more than anyone ever had. She encouraged me to try out for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Apprentice Company. She gave me my first big role, even though there were other people who could have played the role and probably could have done a better job. She taught me that being an actor was hard work. She took a risk and gave me a chance, and I have never forgotten that. She believed in me when other people didn't. I think that's one of the greatest gifts that you can give an artist - the knowledge that you believe in their ability.

Why do you pursue your art in Nashville? What are the best parts of working here? When I was in high school, I went to see a production of The Glass Menagerie by Mockingbird Theatre. I remember seeing David Alford and Erin Whited, being in awe of their talent and their dedication. I remember thinking, "This is what theatre's really about - not being famous, not having millions of dollars - it's about making great, beautiful work that moves people." That's why I love Nashville's theatre scene - this is a community of people who love their ART and are dedicated to creating ART. It's not about being famous or being seen - it's about this beautiful, beautiful art form. Here in Nashville, we can bring wonderful theatre to people who probably wouldn't have the opportunity to see it otherwise. Here, it can truly be about creating something beautiful and moving and doing work that you're proud of.

If you could play any role, direct any work, design any production, mount any production...what would it be and why? I've had the opportunity to play Elizabeth Bennett, and that was really a dream come true. Other than Lizzie, my ultimate dream role is Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Tennessee Williams is my favorite playwright. There's something so beautiful, fragile, heartbreaking, and honest about that play. It's such a well-known play and yet it still has the power to move unlike any other play I've seen. I think it would be a great challenge for me. To be able to speak those words would be an honor. I would also love to play Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glenn Ross, but I can bet that probably won't ever happen since I'm a 5'1" red-headed female.

Who would play you in the film version of your life story? Carey Mulligan maybe? Someone short. 

What's your favorite play/musical? It's kind of impossible for me to choose one, but my top five would be (in no particular order) Glengarry Glenn Ross, How I Learned to Drive, Proof, Mr. Paradise and Fool for Love.

If you could have dinner with any three figures (living or dead, real or fictional) who are a part of the theatre, who would you choose and why? William Shakespeare. Other than my husband, I consider Shakespeare the love of my life. Other than the fact that he is one of the greatest artists who has ever lived, I would just love to meet him because of his ability to see humans so truly. Shakespeare, along with acting, was my concentration in college, and I've never felt more alive than when I'm performing his words. Other than Shakespeare, I would have to say Tennessee Williams, for reasons that I've already mentioned. My third person would be Julie Harris. Her acting is perfect - completely seamless, sensitive, honest. I would love to sit down and talk to her about being in The Belle of Amherst, A Doll's House, acting with James Dean. She is my favorite actor of all time and I'd love to hear about her process and about her life.

Imagine a young person seeing you onstage or seeing a production in which you played a major role coming up to you and asking you for advice in pursuing their own theatrical dream...what would you say? Work. Never stop working. Never stop taking steps to stretch yourself and never stop taking risks. I think that a lot of people have the misconception that being an actor is just something that you're born with, but it isn't. It takes hard work and dedication to be an actor. It takes guts. It takes facing rejection again and again and standing up and trying again. It takes giving all of yourself, making yourself completely vulnerable in front of a room of strangers every night. It takes loving it with every inch of yourself. I had a professor in college who told me, "If there's anything else that you can see yourself doing - anything - do that other thing," and I think that's completely true. It's not just a line of work, it's a completely different kind of life. It's full of wonder and power, but it's also full of dedication and sacrifice.

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