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While summer 2021 will begin a partnership between Smith Scripts, U.K. and Face to Face Films, producer/director Anthony Laura concludes his spring season with a pair of new works from his own hand.

Korinne, a drama involving mental illness, written by Anthony Laura, featuring C Gabe Calleja, Vivien Cardone, Jose Duran, Madison C. Gray, Jacqueline Guzman, and Callie Medley, will air on YouTube, Saturday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m.

And closing the season will be another Anthony Laura work entitled Hayley, a one-person show, featuring Alexandra Rooney. This will air on Facebook on June 27, also at 2:00 p.m.

Visit Face to Face Films on YouTube to learn about Face to Face’s web-series, interviews, and other artistic endeavors.

Ai spoke with cast members from Hayley on this play, which actually is a prequel to another Anthony Laura play.

What was your first reaction upon reading the script?

ROONEY I loved the script and I was so excited to play Hayley again.  I thought it was a fun script and I liked the new characters. 

SALTER What was your first reaction upon reading the script?   I loved it! Anthony wrote a beautiful script about a young girl coming out of her shell and feeling heard for the first time in her life. And that’s something I think everyone can relate to. 

CALLEJA I was quite impressed with the vulnerability that these characters show, especially at such a you g age. It’s a sweet and relatable coming of age that feels modern and appropriate.

What has surprised you during the rehearsal process?

ROONEY I was surprised that we all got into our characters so quickly. 

SALTER What has surprised you during the rehearsal process?  I haven’t done much online theatre before this, and it surprised me how connected we all could still be, even through screens. Everyone is so present and connected to their circumstances that it feels like we are all in the same room. 

CALLEJA It is a very mature piece of writing for a preteen to tackle as the lead. And through it all, she manages to overcome all those obstacles and deliver a stirring and relatable performance. She never ceases to amaze!

What do you feel is unique about the telling of the story and how do you feel your character is different from what we usually see?

ROONEY The telling of the story is unique because we get to see Hayley interact with others but we also get to see what she is thinking at the same time.  My character is different than some kid characters because she interacts with a lot of older characters instead of kids her age. 

SALTER What do you feel is unique about the telling of the story and how do you feel your character is different from what we usually see?  Our story is unique because we have seen these characters before and now we get to take a deeper look into their past. My character, Elise Bell, is different from what we usually see because on the outside, she seems like the kind of person who might not care or relate to what Hayley is going through, but underneath she is the only one who can truly understand her.

CALLEJA: Following a young girl struggling with her mental health is very appropriate for the times we live in, but it is not shown enough. This story normalizes and humanizes counseling, homelessness, and mental health in ways that aren’t often done. My character is a young therapist who has a side to him that is not often shown in media. 

Can you describe your relationship working with Anthony and Face To Face?

ROONEY I love working with Anthony and the ensemble of Face to Face. The actors are all amazing and I learn so much working with them. Anthony is an awesome director because he helps me learn about my character and then he gives me freedom to develop her as we go. 

SALTER Can you describe your relationship working with Anthony and Face To Face? Anthony is such a great teacher and director. He has created a community for us all to feel inspired and supported in. The process is very collaborative and I feel welcomed by all the members of Face to Face. It is an honor to be working with so many talented individuals. 

Can you speak about what it’s like working on a show where a character has previously existed in another work?

ROONEY I played younger Hayley when she first existed in the 2019 version of The Girl With the Red Hair on stage. The older version of Hayley did exist before that in several other performances of the show so I did work with the actress that played the older Hayley so I could learn about the character from her.  We also worked together singing and dancing so we could match some things.  She knew the character already so she helped me learn about her.  

SALTER Can you speak about what it’s like working on a show where a character has previously existed in another work? It’s really fun to work on a project where the characters have been seen in another work before. We get to explore their lives and who they were at the beginning of their journeys. And we get to experience those very human journeys with the audience as they grow into the people we already know.

CALLEJA It’s really fun to expand this universe and be a part of an anthology! There’s a continuity that you rarely get in theater. Usually when you’re done with a show, that character dies with it. It’s a beautiful process that actors get used to, but now I have to start thinking about how my character evolves over time. Really interesting stuff.