Share a little bit about yourself. I grew up in a creative and non-traditional family in a small town in the San Gabriel Mountains, my father a painter and my mother an archaeologist. For a while I wanted to rebel against my roots and become a lawyer, but halfway through college and after several trips to New York City I came to my senses and nurtured my artistic-self. Best decision I ever made… I think. My business cards say, “Teresa Yslas: Actor, etc.” because I enjoy a wide range of interests and I can’t just pick one. I am a member of an Off-Broadway company called FAB (For and By) Women, where I hold the position of co-chair on the literary committee which searches for new plays to produce readings and productions of. I also enjoy collaborative writing projects and am currently writing a soul piece called Portraits of Washington Heights which is a sort of anthropological/theatrical peek into the neighborhood of central Washington Heights where I live and very much love. Also, I love food: all kinds of it. |
What made you want to be part of Encanta?
When I read the description of the play I thought, “Well, it’s a little weird but what the hell.” Originally I was walking in for the role of Maria, which wasn’t something that really moved me but when I saw the sides for Penzima, I knew we were meant to be. The day before, I had a terrible commercial audition. I knew my lines, I gussied up, I did everything you’re supposed to do but the director said to me, “How tall are you?” - 5’9” – “Oh, too bad. Our guy is 5’7”" I couldn’t believe I lost my chance at the job because I was 5” too tall. Frankly, I was looking forward to taking out my anger and frustration with the Penzima audition and it was FUN! When I met Asia, I thought, “yay! A tall woman!” And I really loved how easy going she and Shawn were. They made even the audition room feel like a safe, creative environment, which is good fortune for any actor. The deal was sealed at the table read when I met everyone else <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
What is it like to work with characters who are all LGBT and Latinx?
This isn’t my first time playing a lesbian but it is my first time playing a pirate, a hero, and a Latina. Believe it or not, and though I’m a mutt, I identify with and am very proud of my Latin heritage. I rarely get a chance to show it off because I don’t speak Spanish very well and I am very guera; therefore, I am often excluded from Latinx social situations. Latinxs are a whole spectrum of looks. I don’t have to explain my skin color to be an active or accepted part of this conversation and it feels good.
My theatre friends and I are always complaining about how there aren’t many delicious roles for people of color. When there is opportunity for actors of color and when there is opportunity for Hollywood, etc. to branch out from its traditional casting scheme it will go towards its safe choices or even worse – “blackface”. I’m not just talking about Black roles when I say “blackface." I’m just unsure if there is a term for physically forming actors of one ethnicity to look like another. It happens all the time: Native American, Hawaiian, Asian, etc. And not in a, "You look like you could be…” kind of manner. This phenomenon I see mostly on television or in movies. It’s taking away work from many very talented actors.
Stories featuring LGBT characters are coming up in popularity with regard to film, television, and theatre, which is really exciting particularly with the recent passing of SCOTUS federally granting gay marriage rights. What is notable is that everyone in the cast (director and writer included) either identifies with or is an ally of the LGBT community. The characters in this piece do not identify with traditional gender roles, either. We all are of equal humanity; we are equally strong and fallible. Being apart of this piece, where everyone is Latinx and LGBT is, in a social sense, rebellious in some way. And if there’s one thing about me that people should or do know is that I am all about rebellion.
My theatre friends and I are always complaining about how there aren’t many delicious roles for people of color. When there is opportunity for actors of color and when there is opportunity for Hollywood, etc. to branch out from its traditional casting scheme it will go towards its safe choices or even worse – “blackface”. I’m not just talking about Black roles when I say “blackface." I’m just unsure if there is a term for physically forming actors of one ethnicity to look like another. It happens all the time: Native American, Hawaiian, Asian, etc. And not in a, "You look like you could be…” kind of manner. This phenomenon I see mostly on television or in movies. It’s taking away work from many very talented actors.
Stories featuring LGBT characters are coming up in popularity with regard to film, television, and theatre, which is really exciting particularly with the recent passing of SCOTUS federally granting gay marriage rights. What is notable is that everyone in the cast (director and writer included) either identifies with or is an ally of the LGBT community. The characters in this piece do not identify with traditional gender roles, either. We all are of equal humanity; we are equally strong and fallible. Being apart of this piece, where everyone is Latinx and LGBT is, in a social sense, rebellious in some way. And if there’s one thing about me that people should or do know is that I am all about rebellion.
Do you have any insights about the story or character?
As actors in this piece, we get to play people with characteristics that we wouldn’t normally be cast for. Like I said before, this is my first time playing a pirate and a hero. Looking for inspiration, having read the script, and getting to know Shawn – I noticed several references to The Princess Bride (which is a movie I love!) just sitting there waiting to be picked up. I knew from that instance that on some level I had to live up to the energy of Inigo Montoya and Wesley. I tried to stay away from popular pirates like Jack Sparrow but on some level you can’t help but be influenced on some level by them. But each of the characters isn’t so individual; in fact, I think we all kind of defined each other in a way. You learn so much about yourself when you learn to think like your character and react in some way to everyone around you. It’s all a collaboration.
Anything to say about the team?
My favorite thing about us is that we quickly grew into the dysfunctional loving family that is Encanta – in fact, this is what theatre is all about. I live for being stuck in a rehearsal room hours out of every day with these people. I love that our job is playing games and making relationships and telling stories. I love that Carlos brings cake to rehearsal everyday. I love that we rehearse barefoot. Finally, I love that we play really theatrey theatre games in between cake and work. Shout out to Famoosa!