Jennifer Lee Taylor, Seattle-based actress, co-founder of New Century Theatre Company and voice of Mario Bros.’ Princess stars in Village Theatre’s production of Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, opening this week. In a recent interview with City Arts, she reveals auspicious beginnings, early roles and unusual side projects.
City Arts: You grew up in Issaquah, right? Jennifer Lee Taylor: Yes, up on the Sammamish plateau — it’s now actually Sammamish. But my parents didn’t move; their address used to be Issaquah...that was before all the influx we’ve seen.
What was that like? It was a lot like living in the country but only twenty minutes from the city. It was a lovely, wonderful place to grow up. When I was twelve years old, I went to the Village Theatre to see a summer production of Bye, Bye Birdie. I had the realization of: “Oh my goodness, kids can do theatre. It’s not just adults. These are kids — I could do this!”
Did you know Brian Yorkey, award-winning co-creator of Next to Normal, when you were growing up in "the place formerly known as Issaquah”? Yeah, we were buddies. We went to high school together. We met at Kidstage [at Village Theatre], doing the Jungle Book. I was a monkey. Yes...back in my glory days...
At least you haven’t been type cast since then. [She laughs.]
What year was that? Ha ha. Let’s see, what year was that? I was fourteen — must have been 1987. Is that right? Yeah.
So since you’ve grown up and launched your professional career—oh, no actor grows up! What are you talking about? We’re perpetually stuck...what was the question?
Have you worked with Brian since Kidstage days? Last year we did The Importance of Being Earnest [also at Village Theatre]. We had a great time. That was the first time I worked with him as an adult.
Tell me about Lost in Yonkers. It is a Neil Simon play. He wrote it in 1991. Apparently—Brian would be better to talk about this since he’s done so much research—it’s semi-autobiographical, set in 1942, about two boys. Their mother dies of cancer and their father finds a job, but he has to travel. So he has to leave them with his mother, from whom he’s estranged. The play is about the boys’ ten months with their family, their crazy Aunt Bella, their thuggish mobster Uncle Louie and another aunt as well. It’s about the relationships they have. Situationally, it is funny — and the boys are so good —but it’s a drama; it’s intense. I get to have a little break down on stage.
Are you playing “crazy Aunt Bella”? I shouldn’t say crazy. She’s developmentally stunted. This woman is like a thirteen-year-old girl trapped in a thirty-five-year-old woman’s body. It’s a struggle.
What’s remarkable about Brian Yorkey’s directing style? I’m biased, because Brian is my high school buddy. In my experience, Brian’s just really a fun presence to have in the room. We’re doing some heart-breaking work in this and, yet, I still want to come to rehearsal. That’s got to be good. The cast doesn’t suck, either.
What has been your favorite role you’ve played so far? Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice at Book-It [Repertory Theatre]. But I’m a big Jane Austen freak-o, so that has a lot to do with it.
What role, which you have not played yet, do you covet the most? Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. I really enjoy doing Shakespeare.
How are things going with New Century Theatre Company, which you helped launch last year, when you starred as Daisy in The Adding Machine? We’re getting ready to start fundraising for our next show, which should start rehearsing in April. It is a Stephanie Timm play. It’s such a quirky, fabulous, awesome piece of work. It’s been an interesting lesson for me. I’m still trying to figure out what inherent gifts I have to give that theatre company, other than just being an actor.
What voiceover work did you do for Mario Bros., the video game? I was Princess Peach and Toad for a while.
What does that involve? When you play the video game you can hear me going “ah!” “ooh!” and “uh!” My boyfriend would always have me say to people, when they didn’t believe it was my voice: [in perfect Princess pitch] “I’m the best!” That’s one of the things I had to say.
And what about Halo? Your bio says you’ve done work for that game also. In Halo I voiced the role of Cortana who is this A.I. in your head throughout the game, basically telling you what to do.
Those are great roles. I’ve done a lot of video games, I just figured those are the two people have heard of. I got into voiceover work through Megan Adams, who is Rob Hunt’s daughter. I met her at Kidstage. See? Bringing it all back!
When you’re not acting or fundraising, what can people find you doing for fun? Standing in a field throwing a ball for my little black dog, Adelaide (shown above).
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