Tracy Lynn Olivera and Evan Casey have just completed performing in The Hollow and The Boy Detective Fails at Signature Theatre. You have seen Tracy in many productions at Signature including Les Miz, Ace, and The Happy Time. Other credits include Candide at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Liberty Smith at Ford’s Theatre and Kennedy Center in Ragtime, which transferred to Broadway. Evan’s credits include Little Shop of Horrors at Ford’s Theatre and Perseus Bayou at Imagination Stage. He is also a member of the world famous DC-based political satire troupe the Capitol Steps. All that talent – and such a nice couple!!
How many productions have you performed in together?
Evan Casey and Tracy Lynn Olivera. Photo by Clint Brandhagen.
Evan: The rep musicals at Signature mark our fourth production together. We first did Allegro at Signature Theatre, and then also Shenandoah and Meet John Doe at Ford’s Theatre
Tracy: We also regularly perform The Book of Mormon in the car.
How did you meet?
Evan: We met doing that same production of Allegro at Signature in the winter of 2003. Tracy played “Sally” and I was a member of the ensemble.
Tracy: Yep. That’s pretty much it. It was in the garage. Our first impromptu date was at Capitol City Brewing Company.
How did you get into performing?
Evan: I took my first drama class my sophomore year of high school and immediately fell in love with it. In addition to being enamored with the creative possibilities and liberating opportunities performing provided, I was lucky enough to have an inspiring teacher (Mo Dutterer) who motivated and encouraged me in my artistic goals.
Tracy: When I was little, I wanted to be a paleontologist. Then an astronaut. Then a defense attorney. Then a translator. THEN a singer. It turned out I was only good at one of those things. I’m glad it worked out this way. I don’t think I’d have fun being a defense attorney.
Being happily married – how hard is it when one of you goes on the road with a show?
Evan: It’s true that it’s not the most ideal situation – particularly if say, you’re moving into a new house while your wife is debuting on Broadway (just you know, hypothetically speaking) – but we are always supportive of each other’s careers and are each other’s biggest fans, and we as much as anyone know the importance of taking certain gigs out-of-town for the benefit of one’s future career and financial options. We weigh each opportunity (in our out-of-town) with a great deal of care and thoughtfulness for each other and our lives here. We’ve come to learn that not every project has to be a “yes,” and that saying “no” can sometimes be the best thing for you. It makes the “yes” answers that much more valuable.
Tracy: Not gonna lie, it stinks. Especially now that we have a dog. Not that I would miss the dog more, or anything, but, er… Seriously though -it’s a crappy part of the job.
What are some of your favorite productions that you have appeared in?
Tracy and Evan in ‘The Boy Detective Fails.’ Photo by Scott Suchman.
Evan: Each production I do always holds a special place in my heart and memory for any number of reasons, but there are a few that immediately come to mind as being near the top of the list. In addition to these world premiere musicals in rep Tracy and I just finished (which was an amazing and unique experience I am so grateful have had), a few particular productions stand out: I will always remember my experience in Urinetown at Signature as one of my all-time favorites, a perfect cast, perfect direction by Joe Calarco, great design and innovation, and comedy gold all-around. Quite possibly the most fun I have ever had on-stage. A couple of other notable productions that stand out are Lord of the Flies at Round House, Little Shop of Horrors at Ford’s, and Snow White, Rose Red (and Fred) at the Kennedy Center Family Theatre.
Evan and Tracy in front of Ford’s Theatre where Evan was starring in ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’
Tracy: Besides the obvious “whichever ones Evan is in” answer? I do really like working with that guy. But others that come to mind are: The Rep Shows experience was amazing, and getting to work with Joe Calarco again for the first time in 12 years…well, Ragtime, of course (the Broad Way was pretty darn cool, not gonna lie)…getting to play Fantine in Les Miz (Sig) was fulfilling a childhood dream…working on the Sondheim Festival at the Kennedy Center in 2002, and getting coached by “God” himself…I’ve loved everything I’ve done with my crazy Rorschach Theatre family as well – especially Rough Magic…but I really do have fun doing pretty much everything. I love my job.
