Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Mary Sheridan Interview

Mary Sheridan plays Girlfriend in an upcoming exciting production entitled, S.U.N. in the U.S.A.  She’s been entertaining since childhood, and she considers the stage to be her happy place. “I’ve been acting and singing in theatre pretty much non-stop since I was 8 years old. It’s the one thing that always makes me happy even though it’s the most impractical career imaginable.”

Ms. Sheridan was drawn to this play because of its authentic historical perspective.  “I like that it’s about American history but from a perspective that doesn’t get told (until now.)”

S.U.N. IN THE U.S.A BY MICHAEL HAGINS

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2PM

S.U.N. IN THE U.S.A. IS A STORY THAT LOOKS AT HISTORY THROUGH THE EYES OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN EVERYMAN KNOWN ONLY AS BLACK, WHO IS “KINDLY” REMINDED JUST HOW GOOD HE HAS IT IN HIS TIME IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA—FROM THE BEGINNING OF AFRICAN SLAVERY TO TODAY’S CULTURE.  

THEATRE ROW, 410 WEST 42ND STREET, NEW YORK

Ms. Sheridan’s creative process involves building the character by finding similarities between the character she’s playing and people she knows in real life.  “I brainstorm of a person I know (or a collection of people) that are similar to the character I’m playing, and I think about that person and allow the character to be inspired and guided by them.”

 The pandemic changed the landscape of every aspect of life.  One thing that changed is a heightened sense of anxiety towards health and safety which Ms. Sheridan has been exposed to.  “The unfortunate part is everyone is concerned for their health/their family’s health when in a theatre or rehearsal room. But the fortunate part is peoples’ minds have been opened to new perspectives and ways of seeing the world (and I think this play is a perfect example of that.)”

When Ms. Sheridan is finished lending her talents to this production, she’s got more interesting projects to come.  “I’m producing a staged reading of a piece about Jeanette Ranking, the first woman elected to Congress before women even had the right to vote federally. Like Jeanette, I’m also originally from Montana.  Also, along with Michael, I’m an ensemble member of Rising Sun Performance Company and they’re cooking up a lot of exciting projects.”