This one’s for all the theatre kids out there as NOAM TOMASCHOFF and CHELSEA FREI play it up in this exclusive interview talking about the hilarious parody TANKHOUSE.
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by the filmmakers’ own experiences in the theater world, in TANKHOUSE we meet a thespian couple Tucker Charlemagne and Sandrene St. Jean as they are kicked out of the avant-garde acting scene in New York by their long-time guru, Buford Slezinger. As if that’s not embarrassing enough, Sandrene’s parents cut off the pair’s financial lifeline, forcing Tucker and Sandrene to head back to Sandrene’s hometown of Fargo, North Dakota to start a new theatre company and win a residency at the historic Fargo Theatre. Upon arrival, they discover that Fargo already has a theater company led by Sandrene’s ruthless former drama teacher Mr. Mortensen. Through a whirlwind of immersive theater attacks, alleyway sing-offs, sabotage, and TMI cast bonding, Tucker, Sandrene, and the Tankhouse will stop at nothing to win, setting up an epic showdown with Mr. Mortensen’s Red River Players.
TANKHOUSE is directed by NOAM TOMASCHOFF and written by Toamschoff and CHELSEA FREI, and stars Stephen Friedrich in a scene-stealing unforgettable performance as Tucker and Tara Holt as Sandrene, with strong supporting performances from Joe Adler, Nadia Alexander, Austin Crute, Sarah Yarkin, Devere Rogers, Luke Spencer Roberts, and Richard Kind as Mr. Mortensen, with a fun cameo thanks to Christopher Lloyd as Buford Slezinger.
Hilarious from beginning to end, take a listen as NOAM TOMASCHOFF and CHELSEA FREI talk about adapting and developing TANKHOUSE as a feature following its beginning as a short film, the casting process, tapping into theatre tropes and character types as cornerstones to the tale, tapping into their own experiences as theatre actors as the well from which to draw, Noam working with cinematographer Arlen Konopaki to develop a visual grammar and visual tonal bandwidth, Jeremy Lerman’s editing and finding the pacing and comedy beats, the meld of Jen K. Messer’s production design with Katherine Hegarty’s costume design, and so much more.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview May 13, 2022
