Fina Strazza stars in “John Proctor if the Villian.”
Laura Briglia Photography
Dissecting “The Crucible” starts it all. I’m talking about the thought-provoking and undoubtedly thrilling Broadway play “John Proctor is the Villain,” running through September 7 at the Booth Theater in Midtown Manhattan.
The production centers on five high-school women living in a conservative Georgia town during the heart of the #MeToo movement in 2018. They butt heads with their school and begin to question everything around them when they get an assignment to read and analyze Arthur Miller’s famous play “The Crucible.”
Actress Fina Strazza plays one of the teens in the group, Beth Powell. The young star has a resume in the acting industry that includes performances in the Broadway spectacle “Matilda the Musical,” where she had the role of Matilda, and parts in “Law and Order: SUV,” and the Mariah Carey-directed movie “A Christmas Melody.”
I interviewed Strazza this week about her New York loves.
Where do you live in the city?
The West Village.
What is your favorite neighborhood in NYC and why?
Still the West Village! I’ve lived there my whole life, it’s my hometown (save for my first three years when we lived on the East Side in Tudor City). Walking the brownstone-lined streets and window shopping in the sunshine with an iced americano brings me such simple bliss. I’d like to try some other NYC neighborhoods at some point in my lifetime (maybe Cobble Hill, or the East Village, Upper West Side) but, I think the West Village will always be where my heart beats the hardest.
Can you share some of your favorite spots in a Theater District and what makes them so great?
Most of my Theater District favorites are fueled by nostalgia, since I joined the Broadway community when I was eight years old. I love walking through the landmarks of my childhood—the playground on 43rd and 9th, where all the Broadway kids used to meet up in between shows. We used the Marriott Marquis as the ultimate hide-and-seek fortress, and would ride the speedy glass elevators like roller-coasters.
The best birthday parties were at Jekyll and Hyde, a horror-themed restaurant, which has since closed, leaving an opening at the end of Shubert Alley. Those memories will always be more present and real than whatever structure stands there now. I feel fortunate to have grown up here, and to have witnessed the city grow up in turn. That’s my favorite part of Midtown, through all the hustle and bustle, I can always find my younger self traipsing a few steps behind.
The best place for a pre-or post-theater meal and why. What are the dishes to order?
You can usually find my cast and I at Sugarfish or Sushi of Gari 46 before a show – I don’t eat fish, but I will always try (and quite enjoy) whatever veggie rolls or tofu dishes are on the menu. On sunny or celebratory days, we’ll go to Char-CUTE-Erie on 7th Avenue, where you can build your own single-serving charcuterie boards, and picnic in Central Park.
I adore the vegan (and non-profit!!!!) restaurant P.S. Kitchen, home of the best Caesar Salad, vegan-or-not. Adding avocado is a must. Finally, there is no spot the cast of “John Proctor is the Villain” will recommend more than Goodsugar, it just might make up 70% of our collective diets. A bit further away, on 69th and 3rd it is absolutely worth the trek for their finger-licking feel-good and good-for-you food (though, they do deliver to the theater district).
Best watering hole near your theater and the drink to get?
I don’t frequent many bars, but my favorite coffee shop is St. Kilda! There are a few scattered around the theater district. I always opt for a tried-and-true iced americano, but be sure to pick up a tahini chocolate chip cookie or an almond croissant while you’re there!
Insider tips for enjoying a thrilling show like yours? Anything to make the experience better?
Kimberly Belflower has written a masterpiece on friendship and fury. She has meticulously and seamlessly woven in every ounce of information you will need to understand our show. You don’t need to study “The Crucible,” or read any SparkNotes, we will carry you the whole way through and you won’t get left behind- we’ve got you! Just come into it blind!
What you will need: a close companion, someone you can delve into deep conversations with and whose hand you can squeeze when your breath gets a little heavier. You are (I hope!!) going to want to let the show hit you, so come with somebody you’re willing to take a body blow to your heart with!! A pack of tissues might come in handy, too.
The New York City theater you love to go to and why?
I love Radio City. It’s as if the building itself knows it’s one of the most iconic music halls in the world. Your eyes can’t adjust to its magnitude. On top of that, I recently got to attend the Tonys at Radio City as a nominee (still floating) so it will always hold great significance for me.
What other shows are on your radar right now?
Oh boy— I’m about to see the Off-Broadway play, “Ginger Twinsies,” I’m very excited about that. I’ve heard great things. I’m excited to see “Queen of Versailles” with Kristin Chenoweth, a living legend. And I’m curious about “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”— I don’t know much about that one, but I love that title.
Share your insider New York gems.
Washington Mews is a little street off of University Place between 8th St and Washington Square North. Sometimes it’s gated off, but sometimes it’s open to walk through, and I just love it. It’s a pleasant cobble stone street, and can really brighten a neighborhood stroll. There are also a couple of residences downtown that I love to pass by and peek at, you know, the kinds of places that make you think “man I’d really like to live there someday”, some of my favorites to wistfully wish for are the houses in Grove Court or a little spot on the corner of Charles and Greenwich.
Can you share your favorite theaters around the world and why?
Truthfully, I haven’t explored so many theaters around the globe. I got to work at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. for a little while on a musical called “Snow Child,” written by John Strand, Georgia Stitt, and Bob Banghart.
I was fascinated by the design of the structure itself— right off the Washington Channel, the building had to withstand strong winds, so giant wooden support pillars on hinges allow the theater itself to sway in order to avoid crumbling during a storm. I just thought that was the coolest thing ever.
What is your biggest takeaway from being a part of John Proctor?
“John Proctor is the Villain” has taught me how to be a better actor, a better listener, a better thinker. I draw so much pride from telling such a fiercely feminine story but, I most importantly admire our shows emphasis on the importance of remaining proactive intellectuals. There are many powers working to stifle our access to literature and historical accounts — aiming to erase hundreds, if not thousands of years of injustices, hardships, and lessons learned. JPITV exemplifies the dangers of having a limited and sheltered education and amplifies the dire necessity for the appropriate resources and vocabulary to recognize villainy. The human mind is capable of so much empathy, but not without critical thought and the desire to discover what you don’t already know.