30 Minutes with Valerie Curtis-Newton

Photographing the artists of Intiman Theatre: 17 of 35

 

Q&A with director Valerie Curtis-Newton

PhotoSister:   When you were young, did you imagine you would be on this particular journey in life?  Why or why not?
Valerie Curtis-Newton: Not really. I always envisioned a career in Law. There were lots of debates at our dinner tables. I grew up with the civil rights, gay rights and women’s rights movements as a backdrop so the idea of justice was very potent for me.

PS:  Who or what inspires you the most in your personal life?  And in your professional life?
VCN: The answer is the same for both: courage in action.

PS:  What is the one thing you splurge on for yourself?
VCN: Electronics.

PS:  What 3 countries would you like to visit and what would you like to experience while there?
VCN:  Spain: Barcelona for food and photos. Costa del Sol for golf. Fiji: for the water and photos Senegal: to visit the Slave castles.

PS:  What made you want to do theatre?
VCN:  I found community there.

PS:  What is your hidden talent (any party tricks)?
VCN:  The Beatles or Elvis? Beatles. My first album was their second album.

PS:  Name one play or musical that you would like to direct in your life?
VCN:  A lice Childress’  WEDDING BAND.

PS:  What makes you happy?
VCN:  Time alone with my lovely wife.

PS:  What personal adventure do you have in store for yourself this summer?
VCN:  A trip back east complete with shows and a friend’s wedding.

PS:  What’s next on your horizon?
VCN:  Work on a couple of writing projects and quality time at home.

   

Go see Valerie Curtis-Newton’s work in “Dirty Story” at Intiman Theatre

Catch “Dirty Story” at Intiman Theatre in Seattle, July 11th – August 25th, 2012.

Head of Acting and Directing at the University of Washington’s School of Drama and an artistic associate at A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) where she oversees the Hansberry Project, Valerie previously served as the Artistic Director of Hartford Connecticut’s Performing Ensemble, Inc. and the Artistic Director for Seattle’s Ethnic Cultural Theatre. National credits include work with A Contemporary Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop and Southern Repertory Theatre. Her most recent work was the critically acclaimed ALL MY SONS at Intiman. A participant in the National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Career Development Program for Directors and was also a recipient of a SDCF Gielgud Directing Fellowship. Valerie holds an MFA from the University of Washington.