Spotlight On...Lena Hudson

Name: Lena Hudson

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Education: BFA NYU

Select Credits: Debutante (Ars Nova), Folk Wandering (Joe's Pub/Ars Nova)

Tell us about Debutante: It's a wonderful, exotic bird of a play. It’s about how we learn to measure our own worth, and figuring out what we want for ourselves even when it might be at odds with what the outside world tells us we should want. It’s also got a hefty dose of weird.

What is it like being a part of Debutante?: There's a great sense of camaraderie, everyone is trying to figure it out together.  The world is pretty wacky, which means there's not a lot that's out of the realm of possibility; there’s a lot of funny happening.  Annie Tippe (our director) has such a great sense of musicality and timing. I'm always fascinated by how that works its way into her stuff.  It makes you have to trust action and timing over subtext.  The characters sense of forward momentum becomes paramount; you can’t let yourself sit in anything too long.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I mostly just want a good story, told by people who care. I like things that are messy, not too easy to figure out. I’m really lucky to be surrounded by a community of artists who have a lot of heart and guts. They inspire me all the time. Also, right now, Joan Didion, a true warrior against sentimentality.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Oh god, too many to list! I've always wanted to play Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? All the ladies of Tennessee Williams, and then I guess--all the ones that haven't been written yet.

What’s your favorite showtune?: “Tonight” (the full choral one) from West Side Story. We used to sing it in the car on family road trips. Everybody took a different part. We were probably all in different keys, but we had a blast.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Again, too many! David Cromer, the Annie Baker/Sam Gold duo, I also recently got to be in the same room as Reed Birney and I turned into a teenage fan girl, so him too.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Most recently, A Doll’s House at BAM. It’s (embarrassingly) not a play I had ever spent a lot of time thinking about, but holy crap, it’s revolutionary!

What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell. I have a lot of feelings, what can I say?

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Just--all the TV. All of it.

What’s up next?: Can’t wait to find out!