Artist Interview: Molly Jacobson

Top 3 TV shows: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s sad, but that’s it.
Top 3 films: The Royal Tenenbaums, Little Miss Sunshine, and O Brother Where Art Thou?
Top 3 bands: The Ditty Bops, Rasputina, and The Village Green.
Top 3 foodstuffs: Baked Lays Potato Chips, cranberry sauce, and green tea.
Currently reading: Fluke, by Christopher Moore.
Favorite things to do for fun: Reading, singing, and good ol’ procrastinating.
Favorite places to visit: Charleston, South Carolina (my grandparents’ hometown) and the Saturday Morning Market.
Favorite article of clothing: My gray oversized sweater from Salvation Army.

What’s it been like to work on a professional show in a lead role?
This show is different from anything I’ve ever been in before. It’s by far my biggest part in a professional show, which is pretty exciting.

You were also the little green kid and the girl who got crucified during The Pillowman. Anything you want to tell us about working on that show?
Working on The Pillowman was a lot of firsts. That was my first real dramatic show, and it was a nice change from musical comedies. Also, I got to be beaten, crucified, buried alive, and painted green and didn’t have to say a word the entire show. How many times do you get a chance like that?!

What’s your favorite part of rehearsals?
I personally like the point in time where everybody starts to slip into the groove of things, and the show really starts moving along.

What’s your least favorite part or rehearsals?
The very beginning, when nothing is really happening,and you’re anxious to get into blocking and setting things down.

Have any challenges been greater than expected? Any obstacles more easily overcome than you initially thought?
When I first got the script I was terrified at the thought of having to memorize all those lines. 1/3 of the lines were mine, and I had never had to memorize that many before. Surprisingly though, I did much better than I had expected in terms of memorization.

What do you think that people will enjoy most about Eleemosynary?
Everyone has a family member or a close friend whom they’d like to confront about some issue, but could never bring themselves to. The characters in Eleemosynary say those things, and resolve most of their problems too. It’s a little bit like a therapy session for everyone.

Tell us a little about your character:
Echo is smart. Really smart. She knows it too, but doesn’t flaunt it unless she needs to. She has trouble connecting with other people, which she inherits from her mother, and is also a wee bit eccentric, which she got from her grandmother. Actually, she’s probably the most normal of the three, which isn’t saying much.

Do you think there are any similarities between yourself and the role you’re playing?
I see Echo as a side of myself which really doesn’t come out much. I’ve never won a spelling bee, but I try.

What are (or do you hope to be) working on next?
Being only thirteen, I generally take the parts I’m offered. I don’t have any preferences.

Any final words/thoughts?
I’m glad beyond belief to be a part of this wonderful show. But audience members are going to be even more glad than I am once they’ve seen it. I’m really excited.