Actor Spotlight: Ruth Planey

The Wedding Singer is showing July 27-31! We reached out to Ruth Planey, to find out more about her and what working on this fun production has been like!

What is your favorite song in this show and why?

Pop! It's peppy and fun with a great melody line that sticks in your head. A Note From Grandma is my song to Robbie after Linda dumps him which of course I think is wonderful!

What have you loved so far about working with SART?

OMG - What's not to like??? From the very first moment at the audition to actually working with the cast and crew, it's been a delight. Everyone is SOOOO nice and friendly, helpful, organized, and positive.

Tell us about your character. What’s your favorite thing about them? What do you love about getting to portray them?

Rosie is Robbie's grandma. I get to have a special moment with him and cuddle and with his bandmate George who is a blast to rap with. Best of all the director Richie, let me develop Rosie into a feisty but sweet, old lady who always looks on the bright side of things and is game to try just about anything - even line dancing.

How did you get into theatre?

I'm a late bloomer. Didn't do anything until I hit 60 when a friend asked me to sing in a fundraiser, which got the attention of a director which landed me several small parts in Guys & Dolls, and then I was hooked.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the area?

Soak up the green. I was raised mostly on the East Coast when I was a kid but lived in Southern California for many years. As I got older I missed the four seasons and lush, green landscape so in 2003 my husband and I moved to Weaverville. We're both having so much fun living in WNC in large part because of the wonderful friends we've made.

What about this production are you the most excited about?

I can't wait to see it all come together with costumes, the set and lighting. Wish I could be in two places at once and see it all unfold from the audience.

What’s your favorite part about performing?

Getting to play someone other than myself. I'm a Bluegrass/Country kind of singer but Rosie turns into a rapper! It's fun and there's a sense of freedom in being silly, and singing and dancing plus the energy you get from the other performers. It's infectious.

Do you have any upcoming projects we should check out?

I put together a quartet and we're singing the National Anthem for the second time this summer at the Tourist Baseball game on August 14th.

Biography

Thrilled to work with SART! Mainstage at Asheville Community Theatre: Kiss Me Kate, A Streetcar Named Desire, Guys and Dolls, Dashing Through the Snow plus various Autumn Players Reader’s Theater productions. Soloist - Seven Singers and a Songwriter at NC Stage, and Jesus Christ Superstar at HART. Or, catch her singing the National Anthem at an Asheville Tourist game.

The Wedding Singer opens on July 27th and runs through July 31st! Grab your tickets here: https://www.sartplays.com/weddingsinger