IRTE 2014: Say "hello" to Nannette Deasy!

The new year is here and with it a new season of shows for IRTE!  We have an exciting, fresh new line-up of shows and a couple of not-so-new faces joining our ranks this season!  So say "hello" to the 2014 cast!

Rounding out the cast this season is the lovely and talented Nannette Deasy!  Nannette is the Artistic Director of IRTE and we're thrilled to have her at the helm again this season!  We sat down with Nannette for a chat.

What do you love most about IRTE?

I love working and playing with people I truly enjoy and respect, performers that are not just talented and funny but reliable and dedicated. I also absolutely love that, instead of waiting around for someone to approach us about their new fun project, we go right ahead and create our own fun, new projects. There's a lot of freedom in realizing you can do that. That you can create just about any type of show you want. No lines. No waiting.

What are your thoughts on this season's cast?

 

They look great in clown makeup. Though Jamie complained a lot about how it made his face sting. (It's a face masque, Jamie, it'll make you pretty! Suffer for your art!)  Actually, I feel lucky to have the cast that I do. I think everyone works well together. I'm also excited to have Graceann and Marcia join us as full ensemble members after guesting last year. It feels like they were always a part of the group, they just showed up a little bit later...

 

 

What are some memorable moments from last season? 

 

Flying to Tampa with vIRTEgo Circus on Halloween for a festival; yelling at Jamie to just get out of his wheelchair and WALK ALREADY at the Del Close marathon (it was a prop for Jamie's character - people thought I was screaming at a disabled man. oops), Robert's Cajun accent for Groovy Gang, Graceann mentioning that she just happened to have a stripper robot costume, the audience reaction to musical guest David Johnston when he stepped onstage as Gift of Tongues and sang a rather catchy tune about Jeffrey Dahmer, some drunk college kid showing me the painful tattoo he just got plastered across his ass after the New Orleans Comedy Arts Fest. It goes on and on.

Who are some of your favorite IRTE characters?

My all time favorite character that I've played in IRTE has got to be Lorna Blue. She was the nerdy teen sleuth from Groovy Gang (actually she made her first appearance in Hint!, IRTE's very first show ever). She was pretty much a lower status Velma from Scooby Doo.  She wasn't as bright or as respected, but she was sincere and earnest. (Her voice still tends to pop out a lot whenever I improvise).  I also loved Curt's cannibal character from Interludes, Chompers, the anthropomorphic drum playing gator from Groovy Gang (played by Jeff O'Leary), and just about every private school kid played by Alex (including Tad, the overconfident leader of the GG).

 
 

What are you most looking forward to this season?

More theatricality, stretching what we do with our shows a little further. I'll also get to play a blonde again in League of Extraordinary Blondes (unless I'm an evil brunette). I enjoy wigs.



Thanks Nannette!  We're thrilled to be back with you this season!