Lola Hassan-Adams talks about her role as Calpurnia in the last week of "To Kill a Mockingbird"...
GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
LH: Calpurnia is the hard-handed, softhearted cook for the Finches. She has raised Scout and Jem and been a constant help to Atticus. She is also the bridge between the white and the black communities.
GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
LH: "Nuncrackers," "Peter Pan," "Pippin," "Jane Eyre," "Hello, Dolly!," and that's just within the past two years!
GCP Girl: Why did you audition for this show?
LH: Haha! ACTUALLY, I didn't audition for this show. It is one of my all-time favorite stories, but between Nuncrackers and the holidays I just didn't have the time or energy to even try. Then, about a week and a half/two weeks before opening, I got a phone call from the production team, and the rest is on the stage. Don't judge me! I'm just glad I got most my lines memorized in time!
GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
LH: The welcoming cast. I was an outsider (a diva of a musical actor) who got called in and took over the part... I didn't know how they were going to act. But they were AMAZING! Helping me with my lines and blocking. Giving hugs and smiles and words of encouragement...the cast of this show is so wonderful and loving, AND talented!
GCP Girl: Why do you think "To Kill a Mockingbird" is such a popular story?
LH: It teaches so many good lessons about how our world was and, in many ways, still is. It's not just about race, although that is the main focus; it's about fighting your battles, keeping your head up, not judging someone because of their skin, their age, gender, or ability....we are all fighting our own battles....but we don't have to do it alone.
GCP Girl: What do you hope audiences take away from this show?
LH: Love for their fellow human beings...
GCP Girl: What inspires you?
LH: My family, my friends, my girlfriend, my kids (I don't have any but my friends do, AND I get to work with a group of great kids on stage), life, nature, music, I love it all!
GCP Girl: Tell me something about yourself you'd like everyone to know!
LH: It's felt great to do a straight show again. I haven't done one in over five years, so it's felt good to be a dramatic character and not "goofy/sultry Lola" – though that is NOT saying I don't want to get back to goofy/sultry Lola again! It's just a nice change of pace. :)
Thanks, Lola! Only three more shows for "Mockingbird"!
xo xo GCP Girl
