Spotlight On...Keilly McQuail

Name: Keilly McQuail

Hometown: Newtown, CT

Education: NYU Tisch and the Atlantic Theater

Select Credits: Most recently, Albee's The Death of Bessie Smith (New Brooklyn Theater) and I'M MISERABLE BUT CHANGE SCARES ME with New Saloon and The Brick.

Why theater?: Another lonely little kid to add to the pile, I think. I feel happy doing it. I think empathy is important and it's getting harder to come by.

Tell us about Debutante: It's about coming out and into your own. Or not. It's strange and sad and funny. I've never been a part of anything like it.

What is it like being a part of Debutante?: It's been wacky, man. Good and great.  I'm very lucky to be working under such smart, bold women. Director Annie Tippe and playwright Ryann Weir are my dream girls. Get to know them.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I love Tennessee Williams--the Catherines, and the Blanches, and the Carols in trench coats. I'd love to be a McDonagh girl, an Enda Walsh girl, too. I think Lucy Thurber's women are gorgeous. In another life, it'd be fun to be a Bond Girl, right?

What’s your favorite showtune?: Oh, tough. I recently unearthed Boy George's Taboo. I had forgotten how beautiful some of that music is. That's on my mind right now.

Who would play me in a movie and what would it be called?: A talking dog. But it would be a sequel to "Baby's Day Out" called "Baby's Day In" where baby doesn't leave her couch, and all her friends stop by. They are also talking dogs.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Too many. The National Theater of Scotland seems fun.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: It recently closed, but I had such a good night seeing Charlotte Miller's BARN in the back of Jimmy's No. 43. Daniel Talbott and the gang over at Rising Phoenix know what they're doing. It's the cool, good stuff everyone should know about.

What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: Fiona Apple's "Daredevil"

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Watching garbage television with my mom. "The Real Housewives" will eat my brain cells for breakfast. Andy Cohen is a diabolical genius.

What’s up next?: Lots of stuff. Busy and broke as ever. Keep up with me. www.KeillyMcQuail.com