Spotlight On: Kate Micari
Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Sordid Lives. Get to know Kate Micari who is portraying Noleta Nethercott in our production!
Introduce yourself to our audience.
Hey, y’all! My name is Kate, and I have the privilege of playing Noletta Nethercott in “Sordid Lives”.
What drew you to your specific character in this “sordid” world?
I love Noletta because she’s chaotic, impulsive, unintentionally hilarious, and ride-or-die loyal to her best friend, LaVonda. She may not always make the best decisions… but she makes them boldly.
How are you approaching the balance between playing a cartoonish character and keeping them real/grounded, as the script demands?
Noletta lives right on the edge of tragedy and comedy. She finds herself in a mortifying situation at the start of the play—through absolutely no fault of her own—and then has to survive it publicly. Add in a husband who isn’t exactly handing out compliments, and there’s real hurt underneath the humor. I try to let her feel those stings before she finds the courage to flip her hair, reclaim the room, and find freedom in the chaos.
What is the biggest challenge of taking on this role, particularly with the required West Texas accent?
Listen… I can’t promise it’s West Texas authentic, but it is confidently Southern. The bigger challenge? Owning the insults thrown at Noletta onstage. Everyone has insecurities, and it’s a vulnerable thing to stand under stage lights and let those land. But honestly? There’s something powerful about surviving them out loud.
Which line are you most excited to deliver?
It’s a tie between “Like I was some kind of circus freak” or “Woohee! In the words of Thelma, I think I’ve got knack for this shit.”
“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)?
I found the series on YouTube first, then watched the original movie followed by the sequel. I immediately fell in love with the absurdity of the characters and the underlying message of acceptance and self-love.
How do you think your character has evolved—or hasn’t—if you were to imagine them years after the play ends?
I hope she’s working somewhere she can wear a little sparkle or leopard print and feel powerful. I’d love to think she’s stepped out of the “Southern housewife” mold she feels trapped in and claimed something for herself. Still dramatic. Still unintentionally funny. Just more in control of the spotlight.
“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
