Kati Brazda really goes through it in the powerful and acclaimed off-Broadway drama The Effect, and it's beyond mesmerizing to experience. Brazda plays Dr. Lorna James, a complicated woman who oversees an experimental drug trial to ease depression, only the strange side effect seems to be the participants fall in love. BroadwayBox caught up with Brazda to hear from her about how she bounces back after her gut-wrenching performance, the lines that linger in her mind outside the theatre, and the pulse of Chicago theatre.
1. Is there a line from the play you find yourself thinking about the most outside the theatre?
Yes. Two moments actually. When my character, Dr. James, says to Toby in Act 2, "What if it's a useful pain, throbbing, saying 'Change your life. Change your life!'" And also in Act 2 when Connie says to Tristian, "I swear I would rather get old and argue with you every day than ever love anyone else."
2. What is the most memorable interaction you’ve had with an audience member after this intense show?
It was after a Saturday matinee and I was leaving to go home to walk my dog in between shows. I ran into a woman downstairs who was sobbing. She said that she was deeply moved by the show, and that she never cries. We talked for a while, and I gave her a big hug and thanked her for coming out to see the show.
3. How do you leave Lorna behind at night? What do you do to shake this character and her pain?
That's a rough one. She always lingers a bit, but after a show our company will usually hang out in the Greenroom for a bit and chill. There is a lot of camaraderie and laughter with us and that's important. Barrow Street Theatre is a second home.
I also have the best dog in the world and walking him after a show really helps. I live in Hamilton Heights, so we spend a lot of time at the river. My dog and nature are very grounding for me.
4. What excites you about theatre in Chicago vs NYC?
The Chicago theatre community is a family. For the most part, we all know each other and support each other's work. You can actually afford to go see theatre there, so everyone does. So much exciting work happens there from the larger theaters to the smaller Non-Equity storefront productions. If you want to put on a show there, you can do it.
5. What TV show are you all about right now? Anything you’re hooked on?
I don't really watch much TV in general, but I will alway put on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert when I get home. And I love Seth Meyer's "A Closer Look".
Largely I'm a music person. I always have the radio on and my stations are WFUV 90.7 and WNYC 93.9. I also have a fairly large music collection, so between that and some favorite Pandora stations I'm good to go.
Get yourself over to Barrow Street Theatre before September 4 to see Kati Brazda and Co. in the incredible 'The Effect'.
