Andy Drachenberg: What is it about the story of You Can’t Take It With You that attracted you to the play?
Annaleigh Ashford: This show is literally the title: You Can’t Take It With You, which I think is an incredible theme that is as relevant today as it was in 1936. And even though we’re not in the Great Depression, we are just out of a recession ourselves. The play is a beautiful reminder that the good things in life are not money or materials, but they’re love, and this family has a whole lot of it!
AD: Who is your favorite character in the show and why?
AA: Well, our leader Grandpa Vanderhof, who is played by James Earl Jones, has such a beautiful speech in the third act that really talks about the good stuff in life, and what one should be aiming for in a happy life rather than what most people aim for. On top of that, he’s silly, kind of wacky, and has an interesting story to tell as a character, so I’d have to say grandpa is my favorite. Also James Earl Jones is so magical. Every once in a while he’ll look up at me and say something, and the American history of stage and screen just flows through my brain. What a gift to be sitting next to him in a room every day. I get to call him “Grandpa,” and that’s so much fun!
AD: Who is the character you play, Essie, and what is it about her that is so compelling?
AA: Essie Carmichael is the eldest sister of the family. She loves her family immeasurably, and has recently begun ballet dancing–by recently I mean for eight years. She thinks that she has a future as a prima ballerina, but sadly she is blissfully ignorant t to her shortcomings as a dancer (and there are many). But her family and her sweet husband Ed, (who plays the xylophone for her every night), celebrate the joy that she has as a dancer instead of the success she has as a dancer.
AD: Is there any story in your life or with your family that reminds you of these characters and this eccentric atmosphere?
AA: The beautiful thing about the Sycamore family is that when somebody comes to their home and has a lovely time, they’re welcome to stay for as long as they want, so some of the people stay for years. My Great Grandpa Ashford used to open his doors to anyone who needed a home, and I think that’s such a wonderful comment on the humanity of man and how helpful, loving, and warm it is to open our doors. Also, my family is kind of silly and wacky: my grandma and grandpa on my mom’s side had a lot of stuff around their house, so in that way they were very eccentric. They used to own an auction house and an antique store. At one point they also owned twelve Greyhound dogs! My grandpa would fall in love with animals and he would just buy them and bring them home. At one point they had a litter of Greyhound puppies running around the backyard! They also owned an RV business for a while, so at one point they had three campers in the front yard with nobody in them. You could have come over and stayed in one if you wanted to! Another kind of weird family quirk we have is that when I go home we usually play Dominoes together, and every round we speak in a different accent. So there are elements of my family that are definitely like the Sycamore family.
AD: What would you take with you?
AA: I actually would just leave it all behind because where we’re going, we don’t need it. Which is a beautiful thought if you choose to look at it like that. I just got deep.
ANNALEIGH ASHFORD (Essie Carmichael) Broadway: Tony nominated for her role in Kinky Boots (Lauren), Hair (Jeannie), Wicked (Glinda), Legally Blonde – original cast(Margot). Off-Broadway: Dogfight (Marcy), Rent(Maureen). Chicago: Kinky Boots(Lauren), Wicked (Glinda). Workshops/Readings: Kinky Boots, All New People, Carrie, Bring It On, Banana Shpeel Cirque du Soleil, Catch Me If You Can, Pal Joey, Black Suits. National Tour: Wicked. New York: Feeling Electric, NYMTF ‘05. Feature Films: Sex & the City, Rachel Getting Married.TV:“Masters of Sex” (series reg.), “Made In Jersey,” “Smash,” “The Big C,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Law & Order,” “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (MTV). Annaleigh was also nominated for Drama League and Clive Barnes Awards for her performance as Maureen in Rent. Graduate of Marymount Manhattan College.