Interview with Rachel Sanford from "A Catered Affair"

    Starting this weekend ARTS presents the musical A Catered Affair, and it has an amazingly talented cast. We have several interviews to share with the show’s actors, and let’s start with the lovely and talented Rachel Sanford, who plays the part of Aggie:

Q. Tell us about A Catered Affair. 

Rachel: A Catered Affair is a modern musical by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, based on the 1956 dramatic film starring Bette Davis, Debbie Reynolds, and Ernest Borgnine. It is the story of a young woman who wants to have a quick and simple wedding in front of a City Clerk, but her mother insists on giving her a large wedding with a fancy reception, which the blue-collar family can barely afford.

Q. What role do you play?

Rachel: I play Agnes Hurley, the mother-of-the-bride.

Q. What's your favorite song in the show?

Rachel: Robert Hutchens, who plays Uncle Winston, has a herculean number called "Immediate Family,” which ranges in emotion from bitingly funny to devastatingly honest. He does a tremendous job with a piece that is so challenging. Other favorite songs of mine are "I Stayed" (which is performed by James Holley) and "I'll Never Stop Saying I Love You" (performed by Abby Manis and Chad Arthur).

Q. What's been the most challenging aspect about the show?

Rachel: Aggie is a very emotionally challenging role, tackling issues like regret, grief, and bitterness. Aggie wants this wedding so desperately as a mother who wants to provide for her child and a woman who wishes her own life had been more fulfilling. I think people will find her story very relatable, however, which makes the challenge worth trying.

Q. What makes this show fun for you?

Rachel: It's set in Brooklyn, and I adore using that accent. It makes little-old-midwestern me feel stronger as a person.

Q. Why would you recommend this show to our readers?

Rachel: This show is likely to be a new experience for most audience members as neither the musical nor the film it is based on is very well known. While I also like going to more familiar shows like Phantom of the Opera or Oklahoma!, I think it's great going to something that will keep me on the edge of my seat as I discover something new.

Q: Thanks, Rachel!

   A Catered Affair - ARTS presents the musical on Aug. 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 at the Renaissance Theatre Ballroom at 900 8th Street in Huntington. General Admission is $15 show only and $30 for dinner and show. You must reserve reservations for dinner by calling 304-733-2787. The dinner menu for this show is: fresh kale lemon salad, baked steak with mushroom gravy, rice pilaf, apricot glazed carrots, and three tier wedding cake for dessert.