Lisa Fergus is a familiar face at the Coaster Theatre both on and off stage. She is an actor, dancer, singer, director and choreographer who has more than 30 years stage experience. She can currently be seen on the Coaster Theatre stage tackling 3 different roles in The Apple Tree. In The Apple Tree, she steps into the role of Eve in “The Diary of Adam and Eve,” followed by Princess Barbara in the “The Lady or The Tiger” and Ella / Passionella in “Passionella: A Romance of the 60’s” deftly switching personality, character, age and costumes throughout the evening. Her recent Coaster Theatre acting credits include Once Upon A Mattress, Into The Woods and The 39 Steps. Choreography credits include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Scrooge: The Musical. In 2014 she took on the role of Director and Choreographer for the holiday production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and this summer she will again take charge as Director and Choreographer for our 2016 Summer Musical – 9 to 5: The Musical.
- What is your present state of mind?
Content, which is unusual for me. I’ve always wanted bigger and better. I am usually chomping at the bit for the next step in life, career, etc. I’ve spent the last several months trying to reprogram that part of my personality and I think I’ve done a pretty good job. When things are good, it’s okay just to let them be good and enjoy them without trying to force things. It’s a very freeing way of looking at things for me, and its helped in many aspects of my life; work, relationships, parenting, and on stage.
- Who are your favorite playwrights?
I don’t know how I could narrow this down. My favorite playwrights would be any that ever wrote a piece that I enjoyed.
-
Your favorite musician?
I feel the same about this as the previous question. I enjoy music of all kinds. Frank Sinatra is my go-to standard.
- Who are your favorite characters?
Characters that I’ve played would be Alice in You Can’t Take it With You, Lady Olivia in Twelfth Night, and of course the 5 characters you’ll see in The Apple Tree are my favorites right at this moment. Favorites that I haven’t played would be Lady Macbeth, Mother from Ragtime, and Scarlet O’Hara.
- Who are your heroes in real life?
My parents. my sister, and anyone who has the courage to make their passion their life.
- What natural gift would you most like to possess?
A photographic memory. No question. I’d use it to study music. It would be a dream come true if I could read a piece of music and play it, or change keys without sheet music, or compose my own.
- What is your most marked characteristic?
I’d say my size. It isn’t unique, but it is rare. It makes me easily identifiable and sets me apart from everyone else.
-
What do you most value in your friends?
Their loyalty. And I don’t mean that in a possessive way. My life doesn’t allow me a lot of time to spend with friends. I greatly value the friendships that pick up right where they left off even if you haven’t seen each other in a long time. (my theater friends will understand.)
- If you could be anyone throughout history, who would you have been?
Queen Elizabeth. She was her own woman when that was all but impossible. She followed her heart and ruled a man’s world. Her decisions altered the future for arts, women, religion and government.
- What is your motto?
Surgit esse genus asinus calce. Wake up. Be Kind. Kick A**.
Photos by George Vetter/Cannon-Beach.net
Leave a Reply