An Ode to a Broadway Actress

Seminar

An Interview with Hettienne Park

I won’t lie, when I heard Seminar was coming to Broadway with Alan Rickman, I was all over that. Much to my delight,  by the end of the show, all I could think about was what a great time I had and how impressed I was with the entire cast – and what a cast it is. I was immediately captivated by Hettienne Park – any time she was on stage she had my attention. We got the chance to throw a few questions by the hilarious and extremely talented Hettienne Park who plays Izzy, a sexy and talented writer who knows what she wants.

Read on to find out what her all-chick alter ego band name might be!

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Tell us about yourself – something fans aren’t able to Google!
Hmm… I guess people Googling me probably won’t know that I have a dog named Sunny. She’s a rescue – super smart and sweet. I love to play sports, video games, and dance. And I also make some mean dumplings.

You have done work both in front of the camera and on stage. Which do you prefer?
Performing on camera and on stage are so different, it’s difficult to say which one I prefer. I love both for different reasons. The greatest thing about performing on stage is sharing that live experience with the audience. Performing on camera requires a different sort of skill set in a way, and I think you have less control over what you deliver to your audience since whatever you do is then edited by someone else.

You’ve also done work on television and in films. If you had to pick one, would you prefer to act on – movies or on television show?
I love doing both film and television. I guess my preference depends more on the role and the director than the medium. In the end, it’s all a great collaborative process. If the writing is good and you’re working with cool people, that’s all that matters.

You have an impressive repertoire of musical talents! Who or what got you started in this?
When I was three-years-old, my older brother was taking piano lessons, and I’d pick up on what he was learning and mimic what he was playing. So my mom signed me up for piano lessons and I started a long and early career performing and competing. A few years later, by my own volition I also tried the violin, cello, viola, and settled on the flute. I still tinker around now and then, and have toyed with the idea of starting an all-chick alter ego band.

What type of music would the all chick alter ego band be?
My alter ego band would be sort of like the Ting Tings and Lauryn Hill meets Rebecca Black. I’m currently deciding between calling it, “The Ming Mings,” “Vertical Hymen,” or “Nocturnal Snake.”

You have a partial nude scene in Seminar, how did you prepare for this?
I tried doing “I-must-I must-I-must-increase-my-bust” exercises every night, but I don’t think it helped. Then I practiced flashing my boobs to strangers, but that wasn’t quite right either.

I think that’s my favorite answer! You are acting alongside some great actors, are you all close? Any rituals or traditions you have before or after a show?
Lily, Hamish, Jerry, and Alan are all incredibly talented, intelligent, genuinely awesome people. And hot. And sexy. We’ve definitely all forged friendships and we hang out together as much as possible off stage too. 

Rituals? Well before the show, after “places” has been called, we’ve got our own little routine down with how we check in with each other. And after the show, we go out near the theater and throw down some wings and martinis.

What does the “check in” routine with the other actors involve?
Our check-in routine is nothing that would make any sense to anyone if I detailed it. It’s probably similar to how NBA or NFL players greet each other in a locker room before a big game… weird handshakes, ass smacks, chest bumps, moon walking, wood knocking, etc.

Tell us about that first night on Broadway.
It felt like a dream. There was a palpable buzz in the air, and the combination of putting forth this brand new work in this old historic Broadway theater… it was exciting, terrifying, thrilling, and so rewarding. It’s a great pleasure and a blessing to be a part of this production with this family of people. The entire experience before during and after I will never forget.

If you could perform in any show on Broadway, what would it be?
Honestly, I can’t say I’d rather be in any show on Broadway right now other than Seminar. We get the best houses, and we have the most fun.

And with that I’m off to discover what my own all-chick alter ego band name might be!

Follow her on Twitter and visit her website! Make sure you check her out in SEMINAR on Broadway right now with Alan Rickman, Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Jerry O’Connell. You can also find her in the new movie alongside Charlize Theron in Young Adult!

-Ashley, January 2012