Blogging About: Molly Ballerstein Assistant Directs WHALE SONG

Tongue in Cheek Theater's fall 2014 season opens in a few weeks with Whale Song or: Learning to Live with Mobyphobia by Claire Kiechel, which runs 9 performances, from October 29-November 8, 2014 at 8 pm.  All shows are at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor in midtown NYC.  Tickets are available at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

This fall, we're thrilled to be working with such an amazing line up of talented folks, and we recently sat down with Molly Ballerstein, our indispensable assistant director, and asked her a few questions!

Whale Song is set in NYC.  When did you get here, where are you from?
I got here in January of 2011 and was welcomed to the city by a glorious snowstorm that shut down the subways and didn't allow trash to be picked up for a few weeks.  I'm from upstate NY, near the Adirondacks, but came to NYC from lovely Boston.


Do you consider yourself a New Yorker?

Molly Ballerstein

I do consider myself a New Yorker, despite not having been here for a very long time.  New York City is my home and for the near future, I can't imagine living anywhere else.


If you were an animal, what animal would you be, and why?
In a very long discussion with a close friend, we decided that I would be a frog.  The main reason was their being cold-blooded and needing to lay in the sun to warm up.  This along with their short stature... I guess makes me a frog!


Favorite line in the play?
"Because the land is good, but what if the sea is even better?"  -- Maya


This is a beautifully-worded reminder that sometimes in order to find a place where we are really content with life, we have to risk what we've previously found comfortable.

Indeed!  Molly is a prolific and funny tweeter, too.  Follow her on Twitter @fedoramolly.
Get your tickets now at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

Blogging About: Tracy Willet, 'Sarah' in WHALE SONG!

Tongue in Cheek Theater's fall 2014 season opens in a few weeks with Whale Song or: Learning to Live with Mobyphobia by Claire Kiechel, which runs 9 performances, from October 29-November 8, 2014 at 8 pm.  All shows are at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor in midtown NYC.  Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

We recently sat down with the amazing actress Tracy Willet to ask her a few questions!

If you were an animal, what would you be?
I would be a wild horse, running through the outback of Australia.  Complete freedom in nature, with no boundaries or limits.

Tracy Willet

When you sing for fun, what do you usually sing?
Depends on my mood.  Often times, I make up random songs based on how I'm feeling, so it's a lot of original shower compositions!

What's your favorite line in the play?
"You are all very real little people," -- said by 'Maya,' a pre-school teacher, to her students

Kids can teach us so much, especially about being real and honest in the moment.  Especially before they become truly socialized.  Their truth is perfect.

We can't wait to have you see Tracy in Whale Song!  Get your tickets now at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

Blogging About: Shelley Little, 'Maya' in WHALE SONG

Tongue in Cheek Theater's fall 2014 season opens later this month with Whale Song or: Learning to Live with Mobyphobia by Claire Kiechel which runs 9 performances, from October 29-November 8, 2014 at 8 pm.  All shows are at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor in midtown NYC.  Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

We recently sat down with actress Shelley Little, who stars as 'Maya' to ask a few questions about whales and bears and doing her sixth show with Tongue in Cheek!

Shelley Little

You play 'Maya,' the protagonist in Whale Song, who is afraid of whales.  Did you do any research into whales?
After I was cast in this play, I started dating a hot single dad. We're both really busy, so in an effort to multi-task, I asked if he would want to watch Blackfish with me the only night I had free one week.  I felt like I should watch it before rehearsal started.  He said yes.  It was our second date.  Here's what I'll say.

1. Definitely watch Blackfish.
2. Definitely don't watch Blackfish when you want someone to kiss you.

How do YOU feel about whales?
I love whales!  I went through that phase in middle school where I wanted to be a marine biologist.  In high school, I volunteered at a science center and we had an exhibit on whales for a while.  I got to teach elementary school kids all the things I'd loved at their age.  There's something very mysterious about whales -- their secret communication systems, their family units, how deep they go into the ocean (into places we know nothing about).  This play has been a great excuse for me to start geeking out about whales again!

So, what animal would you be, if you could magically turn into another species?
I'd probably be a bear.  I like to sleep all day and I throw a lot of temper tantrums.  All my friends should be warned -- tied your food up out of my reach and don't try to steal any of mine.  I don't share well.

We can't wait to have you see Whale Song or: Learning to Live with Mobyphobia!  Get your tickets now at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.