Brittney returns to GCT for a third time! We are SO lucky to have Britt back here with us for this incredibly moving show.

Brittney is glad to back with her Goochland Theatre family for a 3rd year back on stage. You might recognize her from her hilarious portrayal of Nanny in  GTC production of Baby with the Bath Water. She is grateful to be 3 for 3 after a 10 years hiatus from theatre after working with Theatre IV in show such as Winnie the Pooh, Harriett Tubman, and Hugs and Kisses. Brittney as always sends her love to her daughter, budding reader and future Oscar-Winner (so she decrees). She wants to also send her thanks to her dear cousins at T-Mobile and the DEI crew’s interest and support of this project. Most importantly she dedicates her performance to her former colleague and good friend Erica Stovall, and every mother who has suffered the loss of a child. May you always find the strength and support to tell their story.

What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?

I find myself having to place the fact that these are the words of real people affected by this ordeal on a shelf in order to memorize my lines. I have been in historical plays an i remember vividly how younger students use to ask us was a “character” like Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr. “real live people”. And of course the same is true here, but it’s more candid in these moments they create in portray these citizens. Just ordinary people navigating a very extraordinarily horrific thing.

Why did you want to be involved in this production?

Is it a cop out if I blame Syndey again?? Seriously I have heard of the play years prior and heard the way Covid stole her moment to produce this play years ago. We spoke over the summer about portraying difficult emotions on stage and she gave the example of all the prospective of the different character of Laramie Project. Not only to have empathy for the victim but the perpetrators too? Challenge Accepted!

Who should not come see this show?

Honestly it’s probably the longest play I’ve been in. So it’s is not one for short attention spans. It’s also sad in a lot of places. So if your not have no capacity to feel through this story the way we are this lovingly don’t come…

As you play many characters, can you tell us which one is most like you and which one is least like you?  And why?

My 2 favorites characters I play are Cathy Connelly and Zubaida Ula. They are both similar and completely different from me. Cathy is a lesbian and I am for the most part straight. Zubaida is Muslim and I would say i am more spiritually in tune than devoutly religious. But they are both moms (I’m not sure if she was a mom when this show was made but i looked her up and she has 2 beautiful daughters now). The fact that they both have a heart for all parties effected as well as dealing with their own internal fears is all too relatable in the female experience for me.

If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be?

I would say I want to be the character Doc but I honestly just want to sit a have a drink with him (that guy is a hoot!!). I would love to be Reggie. I love her dedication to her job and the care she had for everyone involved. She went above and beyond the call of duty and that honestly says more about the heart of Laramie than anything else.

What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?

I think people will go back in time and think about themselves at Matthew’s age; what we whole heartedly believed at the time. I think it will have people confront their own experience with cruelty and inequality (which in my experience is basically the same thing)

How is this production bringing something, if anything, new to this story?

The decision on casting has been very interesting to see. In the past few years I’ve seen the progression of non binary identity embraced in society and I’ve always loved seeing it in art. It has been exciting seeing the genius character development for these characters regardlessof gender or orientation.

Why should audiences be excited for this show? 

Because this show in particular is literally Goochland Theatre Company’s heart on stage. There is so much care and thought being put into telling this story. Not only for the sake of Matthew’s legacy but for the sake of untapped compassion so badly needed in the world today.