An Interview with TV, Stage, & Film Actor: Didi O'Connell

Explicit content warning

08/03/22 • 54 min

Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater

In this episode, Rachel speaks with veteran TV, stage, and film actor: Deirdre O'Connell.
Didi is the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Dana Higginbotham in Lucas Hnath's Dana H. She is also the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement award this year, and has racked up multiple awards over the years, including a 2005 Obie for Sustained Excellence. Rachel was eager to find out more about Didi's process and what it takes to maintain such a storied career.
Tune into this episode to learn:

Didi's trick for auditioning for TV & Film
Her experience doing Corsicana right after her Tony win
What it was like for her starting out as a newbie in New York

For any theater practitioner, this is truly not an episode to be missed. You can catch Didi in this Lincoln Center's production of Sarah Ruhl's Becky Nurse of Salem this fall. Or watch her Tony acceptance speech as a reminder to keep doing what you're doing.
Follow the podcast at: @upstageleftpodcast
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Intro music: Angles of Light by David Hilowitz

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Didi's trick for auditioning for TV & Film
Her experience doing Corsicana right after her Tony win
What it was like for her starting out as a newbie in New York

Support the show

Previous Episode

Upstage Left Host, Rachel Lin, chats with Kendall Cafaro

For the 32nd episode, we decided it might be a good idea to introduce our listeners to the host of this podcast: Rachel Lin. After much convincing, Rachel zooms with social media manager and actor, Kendall Cafaro, to discuss Rachel's time in the theater and how this podcast came to be.
Recorded in April of 2022, turn in to learn about the actor, writer, and person asking the questions. Kendall & Rachel discuss:

the artistic communities & spaces Rachel has been a part of
some goals and hopes for the pod
how Upstage Left has fared through the pandemic, and how we're feeling about theater at large now that shows are up and running

Thank you so much for tuning in. As always, you can find us on IG @Upstageleftpodcast and on Twitter @Upstageleftpod
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Intro music by David Hilowitz

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Next Episode

An Interview with Actor, Director, and Co-Founder of Big Dance Theater: Paul Lazar

We are thrilled to chat with Downtown Theater Icon: Paul Lazar. From making appearances in movies that became cult classics (Married to the Mob, Silence of the Lambs, Old Boy, Snowpiercer), to his recent Broadway appearance in Macbeth directed by Sam Gold with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga -- following Paul's career is like a game of Where's Waldo? You never know where you'll spot him next!
In this episode we talk:

Early beginnings - how Paul found his way into the Downtown world
The current state of "Downtown Theater" - what is it? And where is it now?
What it's like to work so closely with his wife, choreographer and co-founder of Big Dance Theater, Annie-B Parsons

You can currently see Paul in Maria Irene Fornes's seminal work: Mud/Drowning at Mabou Mines, alongside May 2019 guest: Wendy Vanden Huevel.
If you liked this episode and want to hear more -- check out Manhattan Theatre Club's Beyond the Stage podcast! The latest episode features our host chatting with playwrights: Martyna Majok and Jeff Augustin. With a handy discount code to their upcoming plays at MTC in the shownotes!
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Intro Music by David Hilowitz

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