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| photo by Paige Craig |
Mom, wife, food blogger, playwright and, oh yeah, actress, Angelica Howland wears a lot of hats. As one of Phoenix's most gifted actresses she has also starred in an almost non-stop string of plays in the Valley over the past 20 years. Her recent stage credits, in a span of just 9 months, found her appearing in four comedies: The 39 Steps at Phoenix Theatre, All New People with Stray Cat, and the summer comedy duo of The Cottage and The Book Club Play at Actors Theatre as well as having her play The Nothing Place featured in last year's Hormel Festival's 24 Hour Theatre Project. Her latest play Forward is receiving a full staged reading in the Festival this year, with three performances. Having worked for most of the major theatre companies in town, this ariZoni winner for In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) is also a skilled dramatic actress and is one of the directors for the upcoming one night only benefit production of The Vagina Monologues this Saturday at the Pressroom.
Name: Angelica Howland
Name: Angelica Howland
Where you were born and or raised?
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to Manila, Philippines when I was
still a baby. When I was five years old,
we moved to Utah. I lived in several
Utah towns until we moved to Mesa, Arizona when I was sixteen. I moved to Phoenix, Arizona when I was
twenty-six. I consider Phoenix my
home. I always end up happily back here.
What made you decide to
stay in Arizona? I lived in LA for a bit and my little family went
back to Utah for a short while but, I love the desert and I hate to be
cold. I also love the sunshine. The smell of the desert after the rain is one
of my favorite smells. And my family is
here. My husband, my son, our dogs, two
of my brothers and my urban family of choice.
Phoenix is the definition of what home is to me. It is where I am most comfortable in my own
skin. Anytime I’ve been away for a
significant time and I come home, as the plane hits the tarmac or I drive into
Phoenix, I find myself taking a deep, happy breath.
What your parents did/do for a
living: My dad was in the Air Force, worked for Job
Service, and became a Land Surveyor in Utah, a job that moved us to Mesa,
Arizona where he became a Land Engineer with SRP. He is now retired and living in Utah. My mom was a paralegal. She’s retired now too and back in Utah with
my dad.
Siblings:
I am the oldest of five children and the only girl.
Family/Children:
I have been married to Brian Howland for sixteen years and we have a
nine year old son named, Harrison. He is
the love of my life. Brian’s a-okay too…
*chuckle. We also have two West Highland
Terriers named, Charlotte and Hansel.
Charlotte for Charlotte’s Web and Hansel for Owen Wilson’s character in
Zoolander. Hansel’s full name actually is, Hansel He’s So Hot Right Now. Charlotte’s is, Charlotte 8080. 8080 is after the IMSAI 8080 which was an
early microcomputer based on the Intel 8080.
FYI: You’ve just discovered that
I am a huge nerd. An aside… I’m not
really a fan of new technology, just the history of it. I actually have a hard time wrapping my brain
around a new phone or computer as I am a creature of comforts.
Day job/part time job (if not
acting full time): I am a full time mom and homemaker when I am
not acting. I also have a food blog
called Scrumptious Angel (scrumptiousangel.com). I ran a small bakery and catering service out
of my home for a couple of years, also called Scrumptious Angel but, the food
biz is challenging and I found I couldn’t keep up with supply and demand. I’m cool with it. I still play in my kitchen often and create
recipes which, I share on my website when I am not too busy working in the
theatre or entwined in writing a new story or play. I’ve
recently started sharing my plays. I
love to write and have written my entire life.
Poems, stories. I shared a play in
public for the first time last year at The Hormel Festival of New Plays and
Musicals at Phoenix Theatre. Every year
they have the 24 Hour Theatre Project where a handful of playwrights, directors
and actors get together and put up a brand new ten to twenty minute play in
twenty four hours. It is a kick in the
pants. I wrote a piece for it called The Nothing Place. I’ve never been so nervous in my life but, it
was well received. This year one of my
plays, Forward, has been selected for the Second Draft Series and will get a
public reading in March. Whoa… I just
got butterflies.
First show you ever saw:
A touring company came to my elementary school in Utah when I was ten
years old. They did a production of a
strange version of Snow White and the Dwarfs that a member of the company had
written. There were far more than seven
dwarfs. Then they held a little acting
class and had an audition so that the students could perform the play too. I got cast as Echo. She was a dwarf who repeated herself whenever
she spoke. ‘Hello! Hello!
I’m Echo! I’m Echo!’ When I look back on that experience, the only
word that comes to my mind is, ‘bizarre’.
But, my dwarf hat was cute. I
wish I had a picture.
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| Doubt - Actors Theatre, 2008 |
The one performance you attended
that you will never forget: There are so many. I truly love to attend the theatre. Um… forgive my ramble: The
Hasty Heart at Mesa Community Theatre, they are called Mesa Encore Theatre
now. A
Prelude to a Kiss at Phoenix Theatre.
Maria Amarocho blew me away. I
wanted to be just like her. West Side Story at Valley Youth
Theatre. All the performers were finally
the actual ages of the characters in the story.
Nick Cartell. Wow. The
Whale at Stray Cat Theatre. Edward Tulane at Childsplay. There is not just one. I really could go on and on and on.
First stage kiss:
Meh. He put his tongue in my mouth. Unnecessary.
I now have a little, prepared speech every time kissing in a scene is
involved. ‘Do what is necessary to the
storytelling but, please don’t put your tongue in my mouth unless the script
says, ‘He puts his tongue in her mouth.’
It makes me uncomfortable.’ I
also ask, ‘I’m going to mack on you now.
Is that alright? The safe word
is…’ It is usually raspberry or
blueberry, pineapple or some other silliness.
Relieves the pressure. So does
laughter. My last stage kisses were with
Joseph Kremer and Tyler Eglen during the Summer Season at Actors Theatre. Sometimes we would just giggle, shrug our
shoulders and soldier on.
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| Angelica Howland and Erica Connell in In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) - Actors Theatre - 2010 Photo: John Groseclose |
What has been the most fun or
fulfilling aspect of your current/ most recent show?
I have not worked since the closing of the Summer Season at Actors
Theatre in August 2014. I needed a break
after that. Both for my family and for
myself. I was wiped out and I missed my
men. I was supposed to go back to work
in February on Stage Kiss and then
direct The Year of Magical Thinking
at Actors Theatre but, they have closed.
I’m very sad about it. I
considered Actors Theatre my home theatre and I feel a bit orphaned now. I am directing a few pieces for the V-Day
Phoenix 2015 Vagina Monologues + One
Billion Rising event on February 14, 2015 benefitting the Arizona Coalition
to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
And, as I mentioned before, I will be participating in The Hormel
Festival of New Plays and Musicals at Phoenix Theatre in March. Other than that, I am jobless. I plan to be a wife and mom, do a lot of
kitchen experiments, write and see what else comes along.
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| with Michael Kary in The 39 Steps, Phoenix Theatre 2013 |
Leading role you've been dying to
play: I really want to do some Pinter. Specifically, Betrayal. I’m itching to do
a drama.
Leading role of the opposite sex
you wish you could play: Othello.
Pre-show rituals or warm-ups:
I speed read the play the morning of a performance. I try to take an hour for yoga and meditation
the afternoon of a performance. I like
to be at the theatre an hour and a half before curtain. I have a Dressing Room playlist that changes
according to the era and themes in the play I am doing and I listen to that as
I get into hair, makeup and costume. And
I have a cup of tea. Mint is my
favorite. I make up my lips last so that
I can brush my teeth as close to curtain as possible. I like to be backstage 10 minutes before
curtain. I speed run my longest speech
in a whisper. And I tell myself to
breathe because at that moment, a wave of crippling stage fright usually
engulfs me and I want to run and hide.
I’ve been doing this for twenty years and I still get so frightened.
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| Angelica Howland, Michael Peck, Kim Richard and Joseph Kremer in All New People - Stray Cat Theatre -2013 (Photo, John Groseclose). |
Worst costume ever:
When I was doing Pterodactyls
at In Mixed Company years and years ago, I wore this completely hilarious and
amazing bright green wedding dress. When
I sat down, the crinolines were so voluminous that they hid me completely
except for my legs. I loved that dress
but, it ITCHED something awful. I got
rashes from it. Paul S. Wilson, the
costume designer, tried several ways to line it and relieve my discomfort but,
in the end, I just lived with it. And
used a lot of Aveeno.
Best costume ever: It is a tie between The Vibrator Play and The 39 Steps. I dig being costumed by Connie
Furr-Soloman. She is brilliant and
always makes me feel gorgeous.
Your go to audition monologue/song:
I do not do musicals but, if I am asked to sing, my go to song is, I’m Beginning to See the Light, by Duke
Ellington. I read a lot of new plays so,
I rarely do the same monologue twice.
However, if I am caught off guard and asked for something else, I
usually turn to Chekhov, Simon or Shakespeare.
Worst audition experience:
I’m dorky and uncomfortable until I get to know a person well. And I get quite tongue twisted in a crowd of
strangers. I’ve done several goofy things
during an audition. Mostly as
myself. Once I’m able to get to the
audition piece, I’m a little better. And
I have gotten much more able to cover my nervousness as the years have gone
by. I do remember once, very early in my
career, I came in for a general audition for Phoenix Theatre, Arizona Jewish
Theatre, Childsplay and Actors Theatre.
Oh my god! That room was so full
of directors! I thought I was going to
pass out. I did my monologues and
thought, ‘Oh, good! That was okay!’ And then one of them asked me a
question. I froze, babbled something
stupid and ran out of the room. I forgot
my water bottle.
If you could go back in time and
catch any performer or show, what would they/it be?
I would have loved to have been around New York for Arthur Miller’s
heyday.
Famous past stage or screen star(s)
you would have loved to have performed with: Bette Davis
and Gregory Peck.
Actor/actress in the Phoenix area
you'd love to perform with: Louis Farber.
And I’d love to share the stage with Katie McFadzen and Joe Kremer
again.
Your personal acting idols:
Bette Davis, Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson, Steve Martin and Gregory
Peck.
Performer you would drop everything
to go see: Frederic Chopin.
Current/recent show other than one
of your own you have been recommending to friends:
I cannot wait to see Pluto at
Stray Cat Theatre and Buyer & Cellar
at Phoenix Theatre.
Favorite play(s):
The Cherry Orchard by Anton
Chekhov. I’d really like to be in it
someday but, I’m a little too old to play my favorite character, Varya. Dunyasha or Charlotta Ivanovna would be fun
though.
Favorite musical(s):
I like Avenue Q. It makes me
laugh. And I really enjoy a good
laugh.
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| Yolanda London, Toby Yatso, Cale Epps and Angelica Howland in Hunter Gatherers - Actors Theatre |
Favorite showtune(s) of all time:
The Street Where You Live from My
Fair Lady, The Sound of Music from The
Sound of Music, The Life That You Wished For from Chaplin: The Musical and finally, Art Imitating Life from Enter the Guardsman. And nothing is better than Rusty Ferracane
singing it. I absolutely adore his voice
and Craig Bohmler’s music. I can easily
drown myself in both for hours. Craig
has a western opera he’s composing now.
I cannot wait to see it on its feet.
Most listened song/music on your
iPod/Phone? I am addicted to Pandora. Right now my top stations are: Zedd, Glenn
Gould, Paloma Faith, Pink Martini and Morphine.
First CD/Tape/LP you owned:
Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Last good book you read:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and My Perfect Pantry by Geoffrey Zakarian.
Must-see TV show(s):
I love cooking competitions, Top Chef is my favorite. I also like crime dramas. I will try any of them for three
episodes. Sometimes I get hooked,
sometimes I don’t. I really like Major
Crimes which is The Closer spin off. I
loved The Closer. And The Big Bang
Theory.
Guilty pleasure binge watching TV
show: Law & Order SVU; The Office, both the BBC
and the American. I have a serious soft
spot for the American version, though.
BBC’s Sherlock. And 30 Rock.
Last good movie you saw:
Gone Girl was so much fun. Rosamund
Pike was twisted brilliance.
Favorite movie:
Again, I have several. Top five
of all time: All About Eve, Amelie, The Quiet Man, Impromptu and What’s Eating
Gilbert Grape.
Music/book/movie that makes you cry:
Music: The Life That You Wished For always makes me weepy. Book: She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Movie: Roman Holiday. I always cry when Gregory Peck stands in the
emptying hall looking at the place where Audrey Hepburn once stood. It is a perfect moment.
Favorite restaurant in the Valley:
Durant’s and Cibo.
Favorite cities:
Phoenix and San Francisco.
Seattle is a distant third. I
also really like New Orleans.
Sports teams you root for:
Harrison’s soccer team, Man United.
Something about you that might
surprise people: I read cookbooks like novels. I’ve always got one out and about on my bed
stand and tables around the house. They
are dog-eared and porcupine like with bookmarks. And my favorite numbers are 3 and 69. My car’s air is set at 69 degrees because it
makes me laugh and because I am a 15 year old boy somewhere inside this very
female body. Plus 69 is a vertical
palindrome. And 3 is a prime number and
one of the factors of 69. 3 is also a
prime factor of 69. I find all this number
talk deliciously complicated. It
fascinates me mostly because I do not understand numbers well at all.
Special skills:
I love to bake and cook. And I’m
pretty good at it. I also love to throw
a party. It really turns me on. And I am quite good at it too. You will never leave my home hungry.
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| Tyler Eglen, Angelica Howland, Joseph Kremer and Maren Maclean in The Cottage, Actors Theatre-2014 (Photo by John Groseclose) |
Career you would want if not a
performer: Film Editor
Worst non-theatre job you've had:
I had a telemarketing job once. I
had to sell portrait packages. I got
fired because I couldn’t lie to people and tell them the pictures were
great. They weren’t. They were cheesy.
Best non-theatre job you've had:
Being a mother.
Three things you can't live without: My boys. Also my closest friends. I consider the two my number one, ‘cannot
live out’. Laughter. And coconut oil with a little lavender
essential oil mixed in.
Words of advice for aspiring
performers: Study.
Read plays. Go to as much theatre
as you can afford to see. See
movies. Watch the actors you relate to
over and over and over again. When you
are working, be prepared. And, the most
important: Be nice! Be respectful! To everyone.
Always. Nothing is more
unprofessional than bad manners, bitchiness and an arrogant attitude. Do your best to leave your personal life at
the rehearsal hall door and off the boards.
What you love most about theatre in
Phoenix: The comradery.
What you think needs to be
changed/improved/different about theatre in Phoenix:
The closing of Actors Theatre has left a huge gap. Our community has little now to fill the
space between what Stray Cat Theatre does with style and aplomb and the
classic, beautifully produced theatre Arizona Theatre Company and Phoenix
Theatre do. Especially if one is a
professional actor and one for whom acting is not a second job. It hurts my heart that the financial needs to
produce the kind of theatre Actors Theatre sought to do with integrity was not fully
supported in this city. And it was not
that many, many did not do everything they could to keep the theatre alive. It just wasn’t enough and that makes me so sad. My hope would be that the closing of Actor’s
Theatre, and Arizona Jewish Theatre before it, will ignite some fire. Great theatre does not just happen. It takes the passion, initiative and
dedication of many. If you love theatre…
love to go to it, love to work in it, and want to see it thrive, understand
that it takes not just the desire to create or to see theatre but, also, behind
the scenes support. Then, take a giant
leap and jump into the fray. I also
ache to see more classic modern playwrights professionally produced here. I’d love to act in and see some Arthur Miller,
Sam Shepard, Lillian Hellman, Eugene
O’Neil and Henrik Ibsen here in Phoenix soon. Anton Chekhov is another playwright I want to
see more of. Southwest Shakespeare is
doing Uncle Vanya in March. I’m very
happy about that. And I’ve already
mentioned Pinter… Oh! And I’ll add
Stoppard and Strindberg to that list too.
And, the “Inside the Actors Studio”
10 questions:
1. What is your favorite word? Serendipity.
2. What is your least favorite word? Bundt.
Why would something so potentially delicious have such an ugly name?
3. What turns you on? A handsome dork. Sweet intelligence. I also cannot resist a good looking ear lobe.
4. What turns you off? Arrogance.
A lack of good manners. Stupidity. Bad breath.
5. What sound do you love? The sound of my son reading to my husband. And their laughter.
6. What sound do you hate? Any motor revving over and over. And when someone’s being an ass it really can
start to sound like a motor revving over and over and over.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Fudge!
Hah! Just kidding. I have a potty mouth. I like ALL the curse words. Fucker Face is my current favorite.
8. What profession other than yours would you
like to attempt? Medical Examiner
9. What profession would you not like to do? The President of the United States
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to
hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? ‘Angelica! You’re here!
What would you like for dinner?’
By the by? I’d want Spaghetti
Carbonara, a green salad, simply dressed and a nice Chardonnay. Crème Brulee and a cappuccino for
dessert. Followed by a finger of good
whiskey, while nestled in a comfortable chair in front of a roaring fire.
