"Never Stop Putting in the Work." - Chatting w/ Dames at Sea at Bucks County Playhouse Actress Brianna Ascione!
Brianna Ascione.
By. Kevin Ray Johnson (Staff Writer for OnStage Blog)
I would like you to meet the wonderful Brianna Ascione. This recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College graduate will be seen in Dames at Sea at The Bucks County Playhouse which opens this Friday, August 12th where she will be understudying the roles of Ruby and Joan. Her credits include Off-Broadway: The Little Match Girl: The Concert (Goose Two/Ensemble). Regional: Grease (Sandy Dumbrowski), West Side Story (Anybodys), A Chorus Line (Cassie), Into The Woods (Little Red Ridinghood), Big Fish (Jenny Hill). Television/Film: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Marry Me. Brianna is a true triple threat with endless talent. I am so thankful to have the chance to feature her in this series!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a Performer?
I started dancing when I was two years old. At that same age, my grandparents would watch me throughout the week while my parents were at work and we would watch a bunch of videos on a VHS tape of Broadway classics. Clips of shows like Annie, 42nd Street, Cabaret, and Cats were on the tape. I would sing and dance along while watching. I would always have to put on a performance, too, when my parents came to pick me up. I’d be dressed up in my grandma’s fancy scarves and would have to be announced before coming out from behind the curtains in the living room to sing “Tomorrow.” I think quite honestly from that age on I always knew I wanted to perform.
Where did you study? Are there any mentors that genuinely helped make you the Wonderful Performer you are today?
Oh, my goodness, where do I start? I grew up training in dance at The Dance Academy of North Jersey in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. The professional training that is offered is unlike anywhere else and they truly do prepare you for the real world. People like Jason Luks, Jaclyn Walsh, Angelica Stiskin, and more have given me more than I could have ever asked for in mentors, teachers, and friends. They have helped me in more ways than one. I owe everything to them. Since graduating high school in 2018, I still continue to go back and take classes at the studio every week and whenever I can. It’s truly my second home and I’m forever thankful for them. Sheila Barker and Geoffrey Doig-Marx are also two people I credit a lot with. I trained with them during my time at Marymount Manhattan College, and without them or their classes every day I don’t know what I would’ve done. They were my favorite part about college by far. Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ is also a place I call home. Director Cathy Roy is someone who really gave me a true lesson in acting and performing and I couldn’t be more grateful. MPAC produces a Spring Youth Musical every year and I’ve been lucky enough to be in two of them that have completely changed my life. The shows Cathy Roy directs are absolutely incredible. I also credit Matthew Corica at Delbarton School in Morristown, NJ for my acting abilities. Both he and Cathy Roy truly taught me how to be a real actor and storyteller, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with him on the creative side of a show as well. My vocal coach, Marianne Wells, is who I credit my singing to. Without her, I most definitely would not be the singer and performer I am today. She’s given me confidence in myself and in my voice. Lastly, I of course have to thank my parents for always pushing me to keep going and to never stop believing in myself. Without them, I truly would not be the person or performer I am today.
Congratulations on Dames at Sea at Bucks County Playhouse. How has your time been in New Hope performing in this classic?
Being a part of the company of Dames at Sea is an absolute dream come true for me. Not only am I working with the loveliest group of people ever, but with the one and only Randy Skinner as well. I’ve dreamed about working with Randy ever since I first took his class at my studio at our annual tap boot camps in the summer, and every year after. I feel so incredibly lucky I get to work with him! This is also the first full-length musical I’ve done since 2019 due to the pandemic, so getting the chance and opportunity to do what I love most is such a blessing and I’m having so much fun. The people I work with in this show are some of the most talented people I’ve ever met and worked with in my life, and I’m truly blown away by what they do – and they’re the sweetest ever! Tap is also one of my favorite things in the world and I’m working with and learning from the best here. I’m absolutely loving every second of this experience. I couldn't have wished for anything more!
Are there any other shows, performances, or moments in your career that will always stick out and be near and dear to your heart?
In 2017, I was contacted by an old friend of mine from my hometown telling me that they were doing West Side Story at Mayo Performing Arts Center. They were doing the original Jerome Robbins Broadway choreography and were looking for strong dancers. I ended up going to the audition, got a call-back, and was cast as Anybodys. Directed by Cathy Roy, this was my first professional theater experience. I had done musicals in summer camps and in middle school, but nothing was like this. I had the chance to work in a professional theater with the most amazing team and cast, which included a couple of Equity actors, so to learn from them was a very cool thing as well. And the original Broadway choreography is such a blast to perform! I was 17, and this was the same year I took off from competing in dance to focus more on theater. This show and experience was such a beautiful gift and I wish I could go back and do it again. One of my all-time favorite shows and one I’ll remember for a lifetime. Anybody was also my most favorite role I've ever performed and would play it again in a heartbeat! This experience really gave me the realization and reinstalled the dream in me that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
What advice would you give any young artist who would like a career in the performing arts?
Never stop dreaming. Never stop putting in the work, no matter how hard it gets. Always take a class. Always take lessons. Do something every day to help yourself reach your goal, even if it is just belting out a show tune in the shower. Surround yourself with like-minded people who want you to succeed. Never let doubt creep in. If anyone ever tells you that you can’t do something, let that drive you even more. Most importantly, never give up on yourself.
Dames at Sea opens on Friday, August 12th at The Bucks County Playhouse. For more information make sure you visit -https://bcptheater.org/dames-at-sea/; Make sure you follow Brianna @briannajascione