Sara Dries-Coons
MM: What is your most memorable theater moment?
Sara: I was performing in UCI's Madrigal Dinner...(wonderful production by the way, set in the royal court of King Henry VIII, and the food is great!)...It was King Henry's coronation year and I was Queen Katherine of Aragon. We were preparing for the next course (of dinner) and shift in the action, it was figgy pudding time and a flaming liter is carried in for the king to taste and pronounce edible or not....well, the liter wasn't coming out, and still wasn't coming out, and then I leaned over to my friend Mike, who was King Henry that year, and asked if he smelled something burning....well, a friend of ours had poured too much steno fuel gel on the top of the "figgy pudding" (was really a terra cotta pot inverted and decorated to look like pudding) and some had dripped down the little hole in the bottom/top of the pot and so, where did the flame go when he lit it? Down onto the wooden liter....which proceeded to catch on fire...and of course stall the whole production until he was able to put it out and then start over again...was frustrating at the time, but hilarious once we found out what really happened and who did it. :-)
MM: What is your favourite passage of scripture?
Sara: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7;13 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. [NIV]
MM: What is the tackiest thing you own?
Sara: Tacky? Me? Never! Only if someone else gave it to me...Santa...holding a wreath, tanned, wearing swim trunks.
MM: What is/was your favourite subject in school?
Sara: Does choir count? Well, math and English were favorites. I write very well, don't do it much now, but always loved when I got an assignment finished. The sense of accomplishment! And then got an A even though I wrote it the night before...that was true of high school and college :-)
MM: What would we find in your refrigerator?
Sara: Do you mean what in the refrigerator is actually mine? Right now, anything from Trader Joes, really the only place I shop right now. Yogurt, hummus, eggs, milk, oatmeal, cereal...leftovers, either from something I made or dinner out. And if there were only my food in the fridge....there would be very little indeed!
MM: Do you have any pre-show traditions?
Sara: Aside from warming up my body and my voice....not really. Prayer has always played a part, either with a group or on my own.
MM: What are some differences between regular, & ministry theatre?
Sara: Regular theater....not so much emphasis on the community of the production, to each his own, if you needed help you had to ask, it was never offered....Ministry theater...this is a first for me, and I love it!
MM: What are you currently reading?
Sara: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett best book and musical of all time! Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. S.H.A.P.E. Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life by Eric Rees.
MM: When you're not at Masquer, what would we find you doing?
Sara: Right now...planning a wedding. Not every moment of the day, but it's always there! Babysitting and office work and singing.
MM: What's your favourite Masquer memory?
Sara: Since this is my first experience with Masquer Ministries I'm a little short on memories...thus far it would have to be working with amazingly talented people in this cast...who think I'm amazing too. That gives me warm fuzzies inside. :-)
MM: What has been the most challenging aspect of this ministry?
Sara: Thus far it has been an extremely positive experience. I know there will probably be some friends of mine who will have something to say about a Christian musical, but not yet, and who knows, maybe they'll gain some insight.
MM: How is it working with such a diverse group of people?
Sara: I love working with a diverse group of people! Everyone has their own unique talents and it's so cool to discover what they are as we go along. Some are obvious talents, others are not, but each person adds their own creativity and joy to the experience and they are all so positive it just makes me happy! :-)
MM: Who is the toughest audience?
Sara: I would have to be my toughest audience. I can't watch myself because I'm self critical. Everyone else is awesome even if there were mistakes (which is part and parcel of live theater) but I can always do bigger, faster, better....although I'm learning to hold myself to the same high standards I hold everyone to, not higher :-)
MM: Who would you choose to play you in the production of your life?
Sara: I don't know that anyone could play me in a production of my life... although maybe Grace Kelly...my mom thinks I look like her.
MM: What must you have with you in rehearsal?
Sara: Must have water! Pencil, script, dance shoes.
MM: What is your favorite quote?
Sara: Age is just a number.
MM: What is the 1st question you ask yourself before approaching a role?
Sara: Why did I do that? But seriously, I go with the gut. What feels right is what is. I let a character build itself. Does that make me lazy?
MM: What is your greatest indulgence?
Sara: Hmmm, doing sudoku puzzles, the harder the better.
MM: Who is on the guest list of your perfect dinner party?
Sara: Perfect dinner party? If all the people I invited actually show up! And all friends and family. What's more perfect than that? Course not having to cook it all myself might make it even more perfect...:-)
MM: What do you want us to know about you?
Sara: I love the arts. They are my soul. To dance is pure joy, to sing is heart lightening, I live for it. To write is cleansing, to create is invigorating. And it becomes a community expression when others want to join and watch, listen, read, or participate. Community is my favorite part. Sharing joy makes it all the more wonderful. And don't we all deserve happiness? I certainly think so.