By Denny Patterson
May 18 – June 18, 2023
Island City Stage | www.IslandCityStage.org
Actress Niki Fridh is no stranger to South Florida’s local theater community, and we will see her as the titular character in Island City Stage’s upcoming production of Tracy Jones, playing May 18 – June 18, 2023.
This four-person play follows Jones, who is sort of going through a midlife crisis. Feeling unconnected to the world and the people around her, she throws a party for all the people named Tracy Jones that she could find. As she sits alone for over an hour, nursing her Diet Coke, wondering if anyone will show up, epic loneliness is about to be tested beyond anything she has ever imagined. The anxiety that she’s already experiencing in life escalates.
Full of comedy and heart, audiences are in for another magical evening at Island City Stage. Fridh took some time to talk more about the show and her role with OutClique.
Denny Patterson: Let me begin by asking, how excited are you to perform Tracy Jones at Island City stage?
Niki Fridh: Very excited! First of all, I love Island City Stage. Andy, Marty, and Michael are wonderful people and wonderful to work with, and I love the script. I think it’s hysterically funny and very touching. It’s like a farce with heart (laughs). When Andy offered, he was like, I want you to read this play and tell me what you think. I’m thinking about casting you as Tracy. After I read it, I was like, oh my gosh. I love it. It’s challenging and fun. It’s been a while since I’ve worked at Island City Stage, so I’m excited to get back in there and work with that crew again.
Denny Patterson: Playing the title character, what are you looking forward to the most about this role?
Niki Fridh: I’ve read this show several times now, and each time I read it, I love it more and more. I think what I’m really looking forward to the most about playing Tracy is the challenge of it. There’s a ton of physical comedy, and there’s a lot of eating and drinking on stage. People are like, you eat and drink all the time in real life, but when you’re doing it on stage, it has to be very well choreographed. You have to keep up with it and keep it real, because this is a very realistic play. So, I’m looking forward to that challenge, and I know I’m in good hands with Andy. He’s a great director, especially with comedy. I’m also looking forward to making Tracy as human as possible and understandable. I want people to connect with her and be like, I know exactly how she’s feeling. I think the script really lends itself to a lot of connection between the story, the characters, and the audience.
Denny Patterson: Have you previously done shows with a lot of physical comedy?
Niki Fridh: I’ve done physical comedy here and there before. It’s been kind of spread out over my career, but I will definitely say it’s been a while since I’ve done this kind because I really feel like this show is a farce. There’s always a ton of physical comedy in a farce, so this is a role that I really have to pay attention to. The play isn’t like, oh, look at all the silly things we’re doing. That’s not what the play is about. It just happens to be set in this place where a lot of physical comedy is happening, and it’s very much realistic. It’s character driven.
Denny Patterson: What do you ultimately hope audiences take away from Tracy Jones?
Niki Fridh: Number one, I’m so happy that audiences are coming back to the theater after the pandemic. That was so hard for everybody. Theater makers, creators, artists, and audiences – we were all watching and doing Zoom readings, and it just wasn’t the same. So, I’m happy people feel safe enough to come back, and I believe this show is going to really connect with audiences because it’s all about finding connections in strange, unexpected places. Same with the characters and who they are. I believe audiences will laugh, have a good time, and enjoy themselves.
Denny Patterson: Have you always had a passion for acting and performing?
Niki Fridh: Yes! When I was a little girl, I was always putting on shows, singing, and dancing. If relatives were coming over, there was going to be entertainment (laughs). I was living in Rockford, Illinois at the time with my family, and when I was around five, the local college had auditions for A Christmas Carol. They needed little kids to play ragamuffins, the poor little homeless children. My mom was like, you should audition for this. You’re always singing, dancing, or putting on shows. So, I went to the audition, and I got cast as Ragamuffin #3, and even though I don’t have a ton of memories of it because I was five or six, that was kind of my first introduction into theater. It obviously had a huge influence on me. I did theater all throughout school, and in high school, that’s when it really ingrained in me. I knew it was a passion and love of mine because I had a wonderful teacher and I was always in shows. I didn’t want to go to math or history. I wanted to go to drama class! So, yes, I’ve always had a very sincere passion for theater. I’ve done some TV and commercials, but I prefer the theater. I prefer the live interaction with the audience, and even though you run the same show for three weeks, it’s never exactly the same because there are tiny little things that change, and every audience is completely different. There’s something thrilling and terrifying about getting up on stage and performing live in front of people.
