The following is an interview with Tinks Lovelace and Paulina Gamiz regarding their currently running production of Shakespeare and Chill at the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Lovelace and Gamiz about the inspiration behind the show, the creative process of working with the cast and crew, what they hope that audiences will take away from the show, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: The one-act, Shakespeare and Chill, is currently running at the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June. For our readers who may be unfamiliar with the show, how would you describe its premise?
Tinks Lovelace: It’s a dreamscape of Shakespeare’s poetry set to an modern-day soundtrack of Banks, Chet Faker, Blood Orange, Kendrick Lamar, and others. We have singing, spoken word, movement, and mime. Plus, we throw in some slick visuals and chill.
Paulina Gamiz: Yeah, it’s like entering a dream, one of those that keeps on changing: One moment you are in one place and the next you are in an other – it’s seamless. And in this particular dream what links everything together is love. Like entering a part of your subconscious that you don’t need to explain each and every moment to but yet you understand and know it all.
BD: The production involves a great deal of movement and music. Paulina, as the show’s choreographer, what can you tell us about your creative process in working with the cast and crew to bring the production to life?
PG: It has been such a great and fulfilling experience being able to create so freely, yet collaborating and having someone like Tinks so open to new ideas but that still knows exactly what she wants. Tinks and I really worked on polishing the ideas and making sure we had a very clear understanding of what each story was and then from there developing the movements. And just listening to all the beautiful music that Tinks choose so wisely fills my head with inspiration and images. The cast has also been great at being collaborative, and I’ve just taken what their natural impulses were and chosen what best fits the show and their character.
BD: What do you hope that audiences will take away from the show?
TL: Shakespeare is not scary or difficult to follow. His poetry on love is relevant and unparalleled.
PG: A sense of what it feels like to be in a dream and that Shakespeare is pretty chill, too.
BD: Shakespeare and Chill marks the second production in the Fringe Festival by the Bag O’ Bones art collective. How does the production further the mission of Bag O’ Bones?
TL: I think with this one we got more creative. We really pushed and challenged ourselves to new and exciting places visually, while juxtaposing someone as old school as Shakespeare into such a modern feeling and taking on the performance and visual art aspect of a show. We were hoping to emulate Saint Heron and others like it. We demanded a new and fresh way of experiencing Shakespeare. The response has been lovely, so I think the risk was worth it.
BD: What makes the Hollywood Fringe Festival the best venue for Shakespeare and Chill?
PG: The Fringe is known for accepting all types of shows and of having a great supportive community where a lot of new shows premiere. You get to try stuff and see things you wouldn’t normally do in regular theaters. I think Shakespeare and Chill fits right in, because people at Fringe are excited to see new, creative, and original shows.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects that you would care to share with our readers?
PG: I’m currently developing a web series and pursuing the rights for a play in Mexico City.
TL: The upcoming release of Lulu V’s music video that I directed, as well as my book in stores this year, A Picture Book of Adults. Get a copy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble now.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about and purchase tickets for Shakespeare and Chill?
PG: We have two shows left. Please head over to the Fringe website to purchase tickets and find times. Come and chill with us.
*Photo (above) by Gus Sanchez of Gus Photography
