Spotlight On: Lisa Bynes

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Sordid Lives. Get to know Lisa Bynes who is portraying Sissy Hickey in our production!

Introduce yourself to our audience.

Hi, I’m Lisa Bynes and I’m playing Sissy Hickey.

What drew you to your specific character in this “sordid” world?

I just love her openess and her spirit!! She’s one of my favorite characters I’ve played!!

How are you approaching the balance between playing a cartoonish character and keeping them real/grounded, as the script demands?

I’m trying to be as honest with this character as possible..the events are funny and cartoonish, but my character work is all real.

What is the biggest challenge of taking on this role, particularly with the required West Texas accent?

I think the toughest part about Sissy is getting out all the words ..she tends to travel with her thoughts..and expresses them openly…

“Sordid Lives” is a massive ensemble piece. How are you collaborating with the cast to create that specific, chaotic family chemistry?

How did you first discover the world of Sordid Lives (the movie, the series, or the play)?

To be honest I had never heard of the play when I auditioned..Then when I got cast, I heard there was a movie version…didn’t know that either..

How do you think your character has evolved—or hasn’t—if you were to imagine them years after the play ends? 

I think Sissy would get married for a 6th time .I can see her still heavily involved with family and her close friends . I think she’d likely stay in Texas forever.

“Sordid Lives” opens on March 13th and runs through March 22nd at Connecticut Theatre Company.  Tickets on sale now!

“What I really liked about SORDID LIVES was that, despite all of the ridiculousness, it wasn’t just funny. Don’t get me wrong, it was very funny! But it was also moving.” — KRISTA GARVER of BroadwayWorld.com

“Playwright Del Shores is the master of characters: dude-at-the-bar characters, one-Coors-too-many characters, hell-hath-no-fury-like-a-woman-done-wrong characters, and men-who-adore-Tammy Wynette characters.” —  LANA SWEETEN-SCHULTS of Times Record News

“Chain smokin’ and fast talkin’ housewives, crazy and eccentric characters, bizarre situations, a ‘coming out’ story, are loosely based on real life stories, as observed by young Shores who grew up in a small Texan town as “a Southern Baptist preacher’s damaged by religion child,” and lived through his own ‘coming out’ later in life. The authenticity of the characters explains the power and popularity of Sordid Lives with both gay and non-gay audiences. “Not only is it (the play) funny, but people really relate to the characters and feel safe to share it outside the gay community” Shores has said.” —  ELIZA ANNA FALK of DC Theater Arts