Over fifty ferociously imaginative emerging artists are working together to bring our world premiere of Folk Wandering roaring into reality. In advance of our first performance on February 23, we’ll be sharing interviews with each of these artists. These conversations will bring you inside this show’s very unique process of creation, and bring you a bit closer to this brilliant and wild group of emerging artists. Today, we are pleased to bring you a spotlight on Dan Tracy, who is a Pipeline ensemble member and who is playing the dual roles of Harlan and Steve.
Read the full interview below and get your tickets to performances February 23 – March 18 today!
Pipeline Theatre Company: What first attracted you to Folk Wandering?
Dan Tracy: The music. Plain and simple. I first heard a concert performance of an earlier draft of the show back in 2013, and I was struck with how deliciously period-appropriate all the songs were, while at the same time being congruous with each other throughout the show—and being utterly and hauntingly gorgeous.
PTC: What aspect of the Folk Wandering story do you most relate to?
DT: I like to think I relate to (or at least aspire to be) Everett in Kai’s story of pure survival (in a much more metaphorical way than hers). The other two stories are complications of life after the basic necessities have been taken care of, but the characters in Kai’s story literally need food and water. Everett has these needs and yet finds beauty and kindness in the world while starving. And secretly I want to run away and camp in the mountains and hunt for food with a bow and arrow. I would surely die.
PTC: If you were to write a tagline for Folk Wandering, what would it be?
DT: A Song of the America You Think You Know
PTC: What big dreams have you been chasing recently (or would you like to chase)?
DT: I’m originally from Nebraska, and I’ve never felt like I was able to take my heart entirely with me when I moved away six years ago to come to this crazy city. Maybe I won’t move back, but I’d love to find a spot of land somewhere to homestead the good ol’ American Pioneer way; you know, chickens, tomatoes, composting toilets.
PTC: Two truths and a lie, go:
DT: In sixth grade, I broke my leg by kicking somebody else. I’ve never seen the movie Dumb and Dumber. I can whistle over four octaves.
PTC: Tell us about your character in Folk Wandering.
DT: Harlan isn’t a Newsie, but he’s friends with all of them. He’s a classic New York factory kid-turning-grownup who can’t help but see the bright side of everything. Nothing is very complicated in his head.
Steve isn’t a stranger. He’s Steve.
Folk Wandering begins preview performances on February 23, opens on March 4, and runs through March 18. Tickets are now available to all performances. Get your tickets today!
