Corine Cohen talks to Stephanie D'Abruzzo Actress I Love You Because

Corine Cohen: Congratulations, on your new role in I Love You Because. Tell me about what you love about the show.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo: I really fell in love with the score as soon as I heard the demo recording. It's filled with genuinely charming songs and moments, and I truly love singing.

Corine Cohen:Does it feel weird not being in Q? You were in it from the very beginning.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo: December 26 was a very strange night for me. It was the first night that I was healthy and in New York and not doing a performance of "Avenue Q." I was sitting on the sofa with my husband watching TV and I don't think I said a word between 8 and 10:15 PM. I do miss the people there terribly. That said, I was absolutely ready to move on to the next project, and have been for some time. As soon as I got to work rehearsing "I Love You Because," all of the odd feelings about not being at "Q" disappeared instantly.

Corine Cohen: How is Diana different from other characters you have played?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo: I'm not sure how to answer that - I've played lots of different kinds of characters. Diana really is the classic "best friend" character in the spirit of Rhoda Morgenstern and the like. The great part about her is that she plays both the comic and the "straight man," depending on who she's in a scene with. That's a fun challenge, to ride that line.

Corine Cohen: I know you have been doing puppetry for a very long time. Does it feel strange not having a puppet on your hands?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo:Not one bit.

Corine Cohen:What do you love about your new character Diana and do you relate to her?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo:I love that she is no-nonsense and confident, but that she also has a warmth and heart that Jeff (played by David Austin) brings out in her.

Corine Cohen: Is this your dream role?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo:Diana is a very fun role, but I have the feeling that my dream role has not yet been written. I can only hope that when it does get written, that I get to play it!

Corine Cohen:Tell us about the show. What do you love about it?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo: Basically, the story revolves around Austin Bennett (Colin Hanlon) and Marcy Fitzwilliams (Farah Alvin), two very different people who fall in love in spite of their initial dislike of each other. The show explores some of the rules and perils and pitfalls of dating, and Austin and Marcy are guided (or misguided) along the way by Austin's brother Jeff (David Austin) and Marcy's best friend Diana (me)...who have a little love story of their own, as well as some various New York characters they meet along the way (played by Courtney Balan and Jordan Leeds).

I love that the show doesn't try to change the world; that it's a nice little romantic comedy with catchy songs and funny moments and a compelling love story. Simple and fun.

Corine Cohen:What is it like to work with the cast?

Stephanie D'Abruzzo: I am blessed and lucky to be part of this stellar company. Everybody brings their "A" game every day, and to be in a room full of people who are just so damned good is incredibly humbling. And I have the best partner ever in David Austin. He is the most amazing hyphenate I've ever known (actor-singer-dancer-composer-lyricist-musical director-etc.) and we've become very close in a very short time. Playing opposite him is sheer bliss and joy.

Corine Cohen:Thank you, Stephanie. You can see Stephanie in I Love You Because. Catch her and the rest of the cast at my Talkback series which takes place on February 16th where I will interview her and the rest of the cast live!

See this great show with people who love to love - and add a great After Party, too - for less than the price of a ticket - details below.

Farah Alvin, Colin Hanlon, David A. Austin
& Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Photo: Lorenzo Bevilaqua


I Love You Because
Special Talk Back with Corine Cohen
Thursday, March 23rd: 8 pm - arrive by 7:45
Village Theatre

See the fabulous production of I Love You Because - Stay for a special talkback and Q and A with the cast. Ask the cast questions about the show and stay for the After Party

Set in New York City, I Love You Because follows Austin Bennet (Colin Hanlon), a young greeting card writer whose life is turned upside down when he finds his long-term girlfriend in bed with another man. Forced back out into the treacherous New York dating scene, Austin meets Marcy Fitzwilliams (Farah Alvin), a flighty photographer whose spontaneity is matched only by her ability to drive him insane.

To buy tickets call: (212) 802-7277 - Seats are Limited - Order Today!
For more information, copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.corinescorner.com/corinescornertalkbackseries1.htm

The Village Theatre |158 Bleecker Street
(between Thompson and Sullivan Streets.)
Subway Directions: A, B, C, D, E, F, Q to West 4th Street station.
Walk south on 6th Avenue to Bleecker Street, then head east to the theatre.