Q: How did you first get involved with Unrehearsed?
KAMRON: Jessie Mutz directed me in The Rover and she mentioned Unrehearsed was having a workshop. I’ve always enjoyed Shakespeare, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Q: You recently hit the Unrehearsed stage as Young MacDuff (and the Bleeding Captain) in MacBeth. How was it?
KAMRON: I don’t have that much experience with the technique, so I was pretty nervous. It’s really easy to miss something another actor says if you aren’t listening with the utmost care, but in the end I was thrilled. It’s a really exciting way to perform Shakespeare.
Q: Why do you do Unrehearsed? Do you just like Shakespeare, or do you enjoy the freedom that comes from no rehearsal? Or some other, equally cool reason?
KAMRON: I started doing it mostly because I felt I needed to be doing something I wasn’t comfortable with. I’m a huge fan of classical text, but it also terrifies me as an actor. On top of that there’s a lot of improv skills involved, and I am one of the five actors in Chicago who completely lacks that skill set. But I love it because of how much control I have over the performing a role. As long as you follow the rules of the technique, you can do almost anything, and I think any actor would appreciate that sort of freedom.
Q: Has Unrehearsed changed the way you approach more conventional shows? Or is it more like apples and oranges?
KAMRON: Well, it’s definitely changed how I approach some classic text (not so much contemporary shows) and particularly the comedic ones. There was a clown monologue that I found ages ago that I hated, but I went back and added a few things from the technique and I adore it now. For me, the technique frees up my tendency to become rooted with classic text. I’ve always heard actors talk about how it’s particularly important with Shakespeare to feel it in your body. I may not take it to the extremes we do during a performance of Unrehearsed, but I move differently and that has profound effects on my delivery and approach to more conventional Shakespeare.
Q: What does 2014 hold for Kamron Palmer?
KAMRON: I’m applying to grad schools. My interest lies in voice over for animation, so there are very few MFA acting programs that synergize well with that focus. I’ve got Emma coming up in the spring, and I expect to spend a lot of my free time recording in my makeshift sound booth (aka my closet). I will also be hoping beyond hope that Winds of Winter is released by the end of the year (I can dream).
Make Kamron’s dream come true! Come see Twelfth Night tomorrow!
January 7th
JUSTIN’S, 3358 N Southport Ave, second floor
Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 7:30
$5 Suggested Donation
PLUS: After the show, we’ll be announcing our Season lineup for 2014.
