Tony-nominated actress Anika Larsen (“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”) chatted about starring in the play “Finding Dorothy Parker,” which is being performed at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City.
“Finding Dorothy Parker,” was directed by five-time Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre at West Bank Café on March 7th and 8th.
How is your experience doing the show?
We’ve been having a fabulous time! I’m embarrassed to say I wasn’t familiar with Dorothy Parker before this, and it’s really gratifying to help to deliver her words to the world in such a dynamic way. She was a remarkably good writer.
Funny, yes, of course, but so insightful. It’s just the juiciest material to dig our teeth into, and Douglas Carter Beane has fashioned the evening in a really delicious way.
What’s it like working with these ladies?
I love telling people about the show, listing the names of the women in it, and watching their eyebrows lift as they become more and more impressed. I’m very proud to be performing alongside them.
I’m generally thought of as a musical theater actor, and I was flattered when Douglas reached out and asked if I’d come be part of a piece that requires such acting chops.
The dressing room for the four of us is about the size of a phone booth, which, for a different group of actors, could be a recipe for disaster.
These women are so lovely, generous, professional and funny that we’re having a grand ole time in there before every show.
How does it feel to be performing at The Laurie Beechman Theatre?
They did a beautiful renovation there! It’s a unique cabaret space, perfect for this show. They serve food and beverages beforehand, and it’s always nice to do comedy for people with a couple drinks in them. Dorothy would no doubt approve.
How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age?
I am pretty willfully ignorant of social media. Someone else set up my Facebook fan page for me, and on my Instagram account, I only post about the intersection of theater and sustainability, and only follow climate activists and organizations.
I’ve never actually scrolled on Instagram, I’ve never even been on TikTok, and I’m sure I’m a disappointment to my agents because I don’t have lots of followers anywhere.
I’ve been living IRL in the gorgeously analog world of theater, where real humans commune in the same space with each other, and it’s been working for me so far.
What do your plans for the future include?
I have two kids who are 8 and 10, and at this stage in my life, I’m really focused on their future and whether we’ll be leaving a planet for all our children to have a future on.
Dorothy Parker was very vocal about the wrongs she saw in the world, and I hope I can be as brave as her.
I’m on the board of the Broadway Green Alliance, doing all I can to help educate, motivate and inspire the theater industry and beyond to live and work and create sustainably.
Tune into the Livestream of our 5th Annual Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert in the heart of Times Square on April 25th because I’ll be there!
What is your advice for young and emerging actors?
Well, Dorothy was pretty hilarious about discouraging people from becoming writers, as you’ll see in our show, and I know there are lots of actors who tell young people, “If there’s anything else you love to do, do it,” because the life of an artist is so hard. But I say the opposite.
I think regret is the worst thing you can feel looking back on your life, so you should always try to achieve even your most unlikely goals.
If you don’t get where you hoped you’d go, you may end up somewhere you never imagined that’s just as fulfilling.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Oh, for sure it’s a version of the thing my mother used to say to me when I would go babysit for my after-school job: “Always leave the place nicer than you found it.”
What would you like to tell our readers about “Finding Dorothy Parker”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
Dorothy Parker was a more extraordinary woman than most of us these days have any idea of, and if you check out the show, you’ll be deeply moved while you laugh out loud.
To learn more about Tony nominee Anika Larsen, follow her on Instagram.
