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What expectations did you have going into the process of creating ‘MARJANA’?
This is my first show with Target Margin so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming into the rehearsal process. After my audition and callbacks, though, I gathered it wasn’t going to be super traditional because we’d be building the show from the ground up instead of working with a set script- and that was honestly thrilling. I’ve done a fair amount of devising work, and it’s some of my favorite kind of work to do. I love that I get to bring so much of myself to the rehearsal room and really help shape the story in a personal and unique way.
Marjana is adapted from the tale of Ali Baba, but the production is telling the story from Marjana’s perspective. What compels you the most about the character of Marjana?
She’s the hidden hero of the story. She consistently saves Ali Baba’s life with little credit or screen time, and she isn’t necessarily painted in a traditionally “delicate” or “beautiful” way. She’s a smart and observant woman who saves the day four separate times, and I’m so glad that this production celebrates that and brings her to the fore instead of letting her slip into the background.
What does this story mean to you? And how does this production fulfill you artistically?
My mother was born in a rural town in Lebanon. She was the first woman in her village to go to medical school. When she was 27, she left Lebanon for the first time to complete her residency in Memphis, Tennessee. As a first generation American, The One Thousand and One Nights (especially the later-added orphan tales like Ali Baba) represent the power of cultural exchange and the necessity of storytelling that transcends borders. This story comes from so many places and has been influenced by so many cultures (not unlike myself) and it is such a blessing to be able to work on material that feels so complicated in such a familiar way.
You and the cast have been creating ‘MARJANA’ from the ground up. What can audiences expect in this production, and what are you most excited about sharing with them?
There is such an arc to the show—the audience will experience all different kinds of storytelling and explore a variety of content throughout the evening. I think we have developed such a sense of ensemble among the cast and creatives and I am so excited to share that world and the relationships we’ve created to our audience. You can expect to laugh, question, and play!
Creating ‘MARJANA’ has taken over your like for the past four week, and will continue to do so for the four week run beginning March 28th! But people want to know, what’s next for Sophie when the production closes?
I’m not sure yet! I hope to continue telling stories like this—stories about underrepresented populations in unique and multi-disciplinary mediums.
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Sophie Laruelle is a Lebanese-American actor and singer based in New York City. She is passionate about new work, and creating multi-disciplinary theatre that complicates our current social understanding. She has performed at The Public, The Cherry Lane, Abrons Art Center, The Hangar Theater, English Musicals Korea (in Seoul) and more. Sophie graduated from Columbia University in 2017 with a B.A. in music. Find out more at sophielaruelle.com.