Natasha Drena enters her final week as Fantine
Natasha Drena dreamed a dream and it came true. She is wrapping up her final week as Fantine in Aurora Theatre’s production of Les Miserables. Directed by Justin Anderson, the show has had consecutive sold old nights and has made the Atlanta area fall in love with the revolution once again. Below, Drena talks about how long she has been coveting this role, the emotional impact of going through such a drastic character shift, and all the things she has to look forward to in the future.
Q. You are playing Fantine in Aurora Theatre’s current production of Les Miserables. What has the experience been like to reprise a role that was just featured in a film and has been storming stages for years?
A. I didn’t actually see the movie until after I was cast in Aurora’s production of Les Miz, my husband and I rented it and I could barely watch it. It just wasn’t enjoyable to me after years of idolizing the Broadway production. I think the fact that they had moved Fantine’s songs around also made the movie version seem very different from what we were going to be portraying, but Justin [Anderson], our director, made strong points for the intimacy that the film provided and I definitely agreed with him. I think people have their own ideas of how each of the characters in this play are to be portrayed, so it is definitely a daunting task to bring them to life. I find it best to just focus on my character’s point-of-view and not worry too much about what has been done in the past. We knew from the first reading that our production was going to be very intimate and very different from what audiences had seen before. The night of that first read is one of those nights in the theatre that none of us will soon forget…just pure magic.
Q. Les Miserables seems to be the musical that every musical theatre actor dreams of being a part of one day. Was Fantine always a fantasy role for you?
A. My father and I drove from San Francisco to LA on my 12th birthday to see Les Miz at its very first tour stop. We sat in the second row, dead center, and I can remember seeing the spit fly out of Jean Valjean’s mouth. It was amazing! I had never seen a turntable used, I just could not even fathom what I was seeing. We had dessert afterwards and my dad asked which character I liked the most and I said, “Fantine”. He bought me the album and the special program and I went home and studied the pictures and learned every line and sang, “I Dreamed a Dream” every day. I wasn’t old enough to audition for the tour when the casting agents came to San Francisco (my hometown) and by the time I made it to NYC and graduated, the show was closing. I really never thought the rights would become available, but I kept dreaming my dream. And here we are…20-something years later…just feeling so blessed to get to live my dream.
Q. Fantine goes through quite a change during the play. From innocent and naive to destitute and ravaged. What was this transition of character like as an actor?
A. Such a great question! You know, you dream your dream, you achieve your dream, but you never really know what happens after. It has been more exhausting than I could ever have anticipated. We timed that I die each night at 8:48 and I think I go on around 8:11, so how hard can 37 minutes be?? My daughter, Sophie, is 5 years old now and my whole world revolves around her so it has been very easy to relate to Fantine’s choices to do whatever it takes to save her daughter. I just had no idea the physical toll it would take on me…sometimes I have that headache that you get when you’ve just been crying too much, sometime I have to go and lay down for a bit, but most of the time I go back to my dressing room and eat my dinner…much to the chagrin of Javert and Valjean who are still working their tails off.
Q. Fantine’s “I Dreamed a Dream” is one of the most iconic musical numbers in history. Did you feel any pressure while tackling this song?
A. I definitely feel the pressure to sing the song to the best of my ability every single day and to make sure that each audience is getting the same caliber of performance. I always thank the universe right before I step on the stage for this opportunity. I know there were a lot of women that would have loved to play this part and I feel like it is my responsibility to never take what I have been given for granted.
Q. After such an emotionally draining show and role. Are you ready for something light hearted next?
A. I wish I had thought of that before! I am slated to play Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow at Actor’s Express this Spring. It just closed on Broadway last season so the the rights are pending, but that is definitely just as tragic as Fantine. On the bright side, my husband and I are expecting our second child in February, so I have much to look forward to and even more to be thankful for.
