Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is Joy van de Ligt and I am playing the role of Margaret Leavitt, Henrietta’s older sister. They are daughters of a pastor and Margaret, in particular, follows a more traditional path than her sister with marriage and a family. She loves music, however, and discovers a passion outside of the expected.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have enjoyed many productions as a performer/singer including Jekyll & Hyde, Miss Saigon, The Full Monty, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and White Christmas. I directed Disenchanted for the Fringe in 2017 and was the musical director for Company in 2018. I also occasionally accompany auditions and cabarets. This is my first Walterdale show.
What brought you out for this show? I was a late addition to the cast, so I came to know about it later than the others, but I’ve been artistically challenged by the material and am personally close to, and inspired by, the extraordinary women you will see in this show.
Why do you think people should come see this show? People are aching for connection, and to matter to each other. The show and its characters delve into astronomy and questions of “what’s out there” as their way to connect to each other and to something greater than themselves. The themes of the show are beautifully relatable and the script is intelligent, witty and poignant. The audience will experience a whole lot of heart and see something of themselves – maybe a little differently.
As this show deals with women in science who have been overlooked, who is your favorite female scientist that you think history hasn’t recognized? Since Margaret is a composer, not a scientist, here is a little something about one of my favorite unsung female pianists/composers:
Clara Schumann (1819-1896) was the wife of Robert Schumann and herself one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era. She changed the format and repertoire of the piano recital from displays of virtuosity to programs of serious works. Clara enjoyed a 60-year concert career. Her father, Friedrich Wieck, taught her to compose and she wrote her Piano Concerto at the age of 14. She largely lost confidence in her composing in her mid-30s tragically saying, “I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea. A woman must not desire to compose – there has never yet been one able to do it. Should I expect to be one?”