Spotlight On: Susan Bailey

 

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Miracle on 34th Street. Get to know Susan Bailey who is portraying Dr. Pierce in our production!

 

 

Introduce yourself to our audience.

I’m Susan Bailey and I’ll be playing Dr. Pierce (and others) in Miracle on 34th Street.

 

What makes the stage version of Miracle on 34th Street different from the classic film, and what does the live theater format bring to the story?

This more recent play has some interesting updates since the original movie staring Maureen O’Hara and a very young Natalie Wood. The most obvious change (to a Boomer like me) is that the original story staged a battle between Macy’s and Gimbels, the powerhouse New York department stores. Clearly Gimbels lost that war, since it no longer exists, so the updated play now pits Macy’s against Bloomingdales.

 

What’s your process for memorizing lines?

Practice, practice, practice! And maybe a little more practice, now that I’m older.

 

What’s the most challenging role you’ve ever played and how did you prepare for it?

I’d have to say it’s when I played Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker”.  The knockdown, drag out fight Annie has with Helen Keller is the most physical (and rewarding) scene I’ve ever done so we rehearsed it a lot. My Helen (played by Terry Byrne who is now the GM of the famous Westside Theatre in NYC) legit smacked me in the face every performance, because we wanted the power and reality of it. But sometimes things go wrong. At one show, she swung a glass pitcher at me that hit me in the head and broke, which left me to complete the scene with blood running down my face. The audience thought it was amazing stage craft, but no, it was just me — bleeding. Of course, the show went on.  Later that night I ended up in the hospital with a mild concussion but the show was a huge success!  Trust me — theatre is no place for the faint of heart!

 

What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage / the curtain goes up?

I take a beat to appreciate how much this art means to me and how luck I am to get to participate.

 

What is your favorite Christmas memory, and why?

When I was about 5 I was down with the measles at Christmas time and was feeling awful.  But I remember my dad scooping me up in a blanket and carrying me out to the car.  We then drove around several neighborhoods looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights and holiday decorations. It was a magic elixir that made me feel better and I have loved holiday lights ever since.

 

What do you hope audiences, particularly those who already love the film, will take away from this live production?

There is a kinetic connection between a live audience and the actors on stage. We are very much in this together and together, we can make a little Christmas magic to lift all our hearts this year… if we simply believe.

 

 

 

“Miracle on 34th Street” opened on December 5th and runs through December 14th at Connecticut Theatre Company.  Tickets on sale now!

 

“Miracle on 34th Street remains one of the most popular classic Christmas films in the history of cinema, and is so in large part because of its themes of family, new beginnings, and trusting in what we believe.” — GREG HEILMAN of The Sound On Stage

 

“At its heart, Miracle on 34th Street champions the triumph of faith—not just in the extraordinary but in the goodness of others.” —  SABRINA WALLACE of BroadwayWorld.com