OK, pop quiz: What bestselling novel was fanfiction based on a series, written by a Mormon, and a poorly veiled allegory for why you would go to Hell if you had premarital sex?
Yes, you in the front row. No, I'm sorry, the answer is not Wuthering Heights. Thanks for playing; you don't win the big prize but you do get some lovely parting gifts. Please see Vanna as you exit the building.
Yes, the young lady in the third row with the rageful look. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner: Fifty Shades of Grey. Well, technically, no one wins with that book. Unless you're Danielle Trzcinski, the Tampa woman who co-wrote Little Black Dress, coming to the Straz next month. She answered our soon-to-be-legendary Seven Questions with… talking about SPANKI, the necessity of giving microwaves to everyone and the Upright Citizens Brigade.
What's your impression of Fifty Shades? Also, did you read them all and at what point did you throw the book across the room?
I was lucky enough to be on tour with SPANK! The Fifty Shades of Grey Parody for close to three years as Anastasia. It taught me that there are thousands of women out there who are starving for some stimulating, fun, and dare I say, provocative entertainment, which is what inspired Amanda Barker and I to write Little Black Dress. A night where women can leave the kids at home, drink, laugh and see a sexy man stripping.
Why is the Upright Citizens Brigade awesome?
So many reasons! Amy Poehler is one of the founders. That's where the Broad City girls came from. They offer cheap improv shows and classes seven days a week. And it's where I got my start in improv. Having to think on your toes and be funny is a hard skill set, but it has helped me so much not only in acting, but life. It's also made me want to write a show with improv. I love musicals and I love improv, but I've never seen a full musical with improv, which is something that we knew we wanted to include when writing Little Black Dress. There's a part in the show where we go out into the audience, ask questions and then improvise a scene using the answers the audience member gave. It's usually everyone's favorite part of the show because you never know what hilarious things people are going to say. Having that UCB training has given me the confidence and skills to know that no matter what the audience members say, we can use it to create a very funny and entertaining scene.
Other than travel, what are your passions?
Seeing this whole female empowerment movement has really motivated me to work with super-talented and amazing women. I think that's another reason why I love Little Black Dress, because it was written by women, for women. In musical theater, 90% of musicals produced are written by men — which most people don't know about. I'm hoping to change that.
How much time do you get to spend in your hometown of Tampa Bay and what are your favorite things to do there?
I love Tampa and try to come down a couple times a year. My favorite things to do are hang at Pass-a-Grille Beach, boating, watching the sunset and eating at Sweet Tomatoes — ‘cause… we don't have them in NYC and this girl loves an all-you-can-eat salad bar!
How do you get inspired?
I love going to the theater. If I see a good show, I think "I want to do that!" If I see a bad show, I think, "I can create something better than that, so what's stopping me?"
What's on your bucket list?
Machu Picchu, scuba diving with sharks and finding a Chick-Fil-A that's open on a Sunday.
Just for fun: You can be anyone — ANYONE — for a day. Who are you and what three things do you do that will change the course of history?
Oprah. One, become President of the United States; two, microwave giveaways for everyone: You get a microwave. You get a microwave! Everyone gets a microwave!; and three, add joy to people's lives by insisting they go see Little Black Dress at the Straz Center on April 27 and 28.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 5, 2018.