Szavanna: Hi Maria - thanks so much for agreeing to answer my questions again. It makes such a difference that since the first interview I got to follow almost every step of "the Making Of Baaahhh" and I learned so much through this journey. I did form some kind of an idea about the process. What would you say are some important facts one must highlight - how does one setup a show like Baaahhh - from choosing the script - to playing that last show - what are some of the important tasks one must remember to do - what are some crucial acpects to focus on to make it a success - feel free to say anything that comes to mind based on your experiences with Baaahhh.

Baaahhh: First of all I do want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your endless support...you have no idea how much it means to me, to us!!!

I jumped into this project without thinking about it too much...when Stefano told me the story I remember laughing immediately...and then I remember reading the first couple of scenes and be ready to really go for it...

When I got back to NY from Rome I started thinking about what would be the next step for me...and slowly the show started to take shape...I put together our website (www.baaahhh.com) then our merchandise (www.cafepress.com/baaahhh) and we started working with Stefano to prepare all the material for the FringeNYC application...we were working non stop on the text, on all the technical aspects of this project.

I think one of the most important things for us was to be surrounded by people who would believe in this as much as we did...and we were lucky enough to find so many of those amazing human beings...

From our producer Danette Sigut, to our graphic designer Marcello LaFerla, to our wonderful cast, to our amazing assistant director Corina...and the list goes on and on...

I think something I did learn from this process was that adverting is THE key...I wasn't worry about the artistic part of the process...me and Stefano were so much in tune...always on the same page, we absolutely had the Same vision of this play and it was great to work together...

But it's so very important to be able to "push" your work...to let people know who you are...

That is definetely something very important.


Szavanna: There is a big difference between playing right in front of your audience - and showing Baaahhh on TV. How does your audience interact with you during your shows - are Italian audiences different to those in New York?

Baaahhh: Very true!!!
I have to say the audience is different every night and as an actor you do feel their energy, and it's so very important to be able to keep your performance and you energy level up at all times...no matter what kind of reaction you get from your audience...

I was very pleased with the response we got here in New York...people were laughing and clapping and cheering for our heroes...it felt just so good!!!
You could feel that they were right there with us...that they were following the whole story, curios to see what would happen next...

I'm not sure what kind of response we would get in Italy...I haven't been there in a looong time...but I know Italians will be able to recognize them selfs in this bureaucracy madness...that's for sure;)


Szavanna: You also had an ever growing "cyberflock" following the process online. What role did the Internet, blogs and bloggers and other tools like YouTube had in making the show more popular?

Baaahhh: I started to blog a while ago, I had my own little blog about my life here in New York and I realized how amazing this blog word was...I "met" a lot of wonderful people and I remember thinking about opening a blog for "Baaahhh!!!" almost as soon as we decided to start this project...

So I did...I opened one in English (http://baaahhhny.blogspot.com/) and one in Italian (http://baaahhh.splinder.com/)...I just could not imagine we would have got such an Amazing Response...

I was so very touched by every single person who stopped by, by all the people who were following us daily (and still are), by all the love and support we got...

We had people buying things from our on line store to support us, we had bloggers from Italy buying a ticket for our opening night even though they weren't going to be there, but they wanted to show us support, we had people in Italy staying up until very late at night for our opening night...to be "there" for us...I just couldn't believe it...

I was mesmerized by all that...so touched...I remembered sending an email to my cast letting them know about all this...and they were so touched...and it gave them so much energy for that opening night...

I know I was very tired when I was getting home, but I always found the time to update the blogs, to post pictures...beacuse I knew people were following us...and I wanted to keep them informed...

There was something magic in knowing that there were people all over the world (Europe, Asia, Africa, America...) following our journey, keeping their fingers crossed for us...sending us so much love an support...

That's also why in our programs under special thanks I put "Blogsphere"...



Szavanna: What is next for Baaahhh - future performances - possible cyber versions?

Baaahhh: We are working very hard to keep our sheep going ;)

We do have contacts already in London and in Italy and I do want to try to take this sheep to her next step here in the US as well.

We are working on a video as well and I might be able to put some moments from the show up on our You Tube site soon (http://www.youtube.com/youbaaahhh)...of course you'll be the first one to know...

Next week I'll be in Washington DC for a few days at the NIAF gala and hopefully I'll be able to introduce our little sheep there as well...you never know;)


Szavanna: My last question is about your profession - can you tell me a bit about your reasons for becoming an actress. What are some of the things you love about preparing for shows day after day and spending your evenings standing on the stage.

Baaahhh: This is a great question...I was always fascinated with this world...I remember my Mom telling me stories about the big Hollywood stars...I remember watching all the old movies with her and falling in love with these characters...I remember watching Peter Pan when I was just a little girl and wanted to be Wendy (but I also remember saying that I would have stayed at Neverland hehehe).

My brother got into acting and directing for a while and he was absolutely amazing...I remember being 8 years old and standing in the wings looking at him on stage...I remember feeling that energy and thinking that THAT was pure magic...

There's something so sacral about acting, about being on stage.
I'm a method actress and my preparation for my characters is very deep...and I love doing it...that is the fun part!!!
I'm very meticulous...I go down to the kind of underwear she would wear, I do a lot of research, a lot of exercises to make the character mine, to feel her...

Then on stage I feel safe, I know I have her...I understand her...

My character in "Baaahhh!!!", Dermendzjieva, was absolutely fantastic...I felt in love with her from the first time I read the play...there was something so beautiful and sad, and dorky and funny in her soul...she finds her voice in the show...she stands up for the very first time in her life and she decides to fight, to follow a dream as well...her passion and her vision of life was very touching.

I couldn't wait to be on stage...I couldn't wait to take her through her journey each night...

I never stop researching a character...I always try to go deeper and deeper with them.
I discovered things about Dermendzjieva every single night...

I adore being on stage, I adore being able to give "an emotion" to someone...that's what actors do...they make you "feel", they make you laugh, they make you cry, they make you think...that is priceless to me...

Being on stage and feeling the connection with your scene partners, is wonderful...and I was very blessed to have found amazing actors to be with me on stage for this process.

I cannot wait to keep going...