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Actor (Quickies 17, June/July 2017)
BIO: Francesca (Cessa) Betancourt is an actor and teaching artist based in the Seattle area. Favorite credits include Nina in The Nina Variations (HERON), Juno/Boatswain/Spirit in The Tempest (Taffety Punk Theatre Company), The Woman in The Treatment (Fairhaven Performing Arts Center), Val in These Mistakes (Columbia University), as well as several original devised works. Cessa holds two BAs in Theatre and Sociology from Western Washington University and most recently trained with Intiman Theatre in their Emerging Artist Program.
What was your favorite moment so far working on this show?
In our first rehearsal we did a little bit of physical playing and exploring through different exercises with our characters and relationships. There was a really lovely cohesion in the cast and it was great to feel that kind of connection and sense of play right off the bat.
What has been your biggest challenge so far working on your piece/s?
My character is supposed to be scary and powerful, and learning to be scary and big without overdoing it is a tough balance to strike. It’s been challenging for me to try to hype up the supernatural themes of the play while staying honest.
What’s the most interesting thing you have found on the street?
A stray puppy!
If you could instantly find something today that you have lost in the past, what would it be?
My mom’s first boyfriend when she was 16 gave her an old spoon handle ring that she gave me when I turned 16. I lost it visiting Western for the first time as a high schooler and I cried forevvvvver about it. I’d really love to have it back, even though it ended up being a sign that Western was the university I would later graduate from.
What future projects are you excited about working on?
This September I am performing in and choreographing for a production at 18th & Union with an ensemble of crazy talented people that I love a lot called HERON. The script will be created for our collective, and it’s based on ‘Antony & Cleopatra.’ I’m really stoked about that!
Finish this sentence- “I love theater that…”
surprises me. I want to watch anything that I haven’t seen before. I love thinking to myself “I never see this demographic’s story onstage” or “I have no idea how they accomplished that.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?
Embrace failure as an essential and positive part of the process.
Outside of theater, what are you really into right now?
I just bought an inflatable kayak that I’m reeeeeal excited about, I’m generally trying to spend more time outside now that the weather is nicer.
Any other thoughts you’d like to share? (About Live Girls! Theater, Love, Life, Puppies, …really – anything at all?)
That is a list of all good things! So much gratitude to Live Girls! for having me 🙂
Live Girls! is a theater company dedicated to producing and developing new plays by women.
