Karole Foreman

I’m asking actors and designers to name their five dream roles/projects and say why. The answers not only reveal aspirations, they may put an idea in the minds of artistic directors and producers — even choices that seem outside the box.

“I don’t have that burning passion to do any particular roles right now. It is not because I have lost a love for acting or performance, it has just changed," says Karole Foreman. "Most of my choices are for very practical reasons, and I am attempting to be more conscientious of the types of stories people are inviting me to be a part of. I try to think about the writer’s intentions and about the larger conversations and considerations these stories might bring to communities. I am still excited about being part of work yet to be created. But in the meantime, while I am still crawling around on the planet (and while I still have the physical endurance), I’d be most excited to explore the following roles”:

As the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara)

photo by David Bazemore

1) Queen Margaret, Richard III, by William Shakespeare. “Her scene with Richard III is one of the most epic smack-downs in the canon. How absolutely satisfying to be able to confront someone who has done you so wrong and lay down that kind of curse. She’s one bad mother!”

2) Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare. “Been living with this show for many years, as I am adapting it as an urban opera. You have to be absolutely fearless to take on Cleopatra, just to keep up with the emotional and intellectual shifts she pulls off. It would be a tremendous challenge. Historically she was a formidable woman, politically and personally. It would be interesting to illuminate those aspects into performance rather than just relegating her to a seductress/vixen who brought down the Roman triumvirate.”

As Esther (with actor AK Murtadha) in Intimate Apparel (Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara)

photo by David Bazemore

3) Caroline, Caroline or Change, by Tony Kushner. “I’ve played the role before and it was one of the most satisfying artistic experiences I’ve had on stage. It was also one of the most sacred. I felt like I was stepping into the shoes of my mother, my aunt, my grandmother, and all the strong women who came before me. Someone described the role as ‘the Medea of musical theater.’ They may be right because the role and material are so rich, so deeply emotional, and incredibly complex I feel like you can never stop discovering who Caroline is.”

4) George Washington, Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I’m crazy about this show! It’s theater history. Of course, what musical theater actor wouldn’t want to be part of this incredible story? Just a fantasy — if they ever do casting without regards to gender. Hey, a woman can dream! Now…if I were only about a foot taller…”

5) Donna, Mamma Mia!, by Catherine Johnson. “I played the role of Tanya, which I loved, when the show premiered in Las Vegas. But I would love to do Donna, too. It’s such a great role, but also a beast of a singing challenge. Would love to do it while I still have the endurance!”