On this edition of SNAPSHOTS, something spooky is going on in the DMV, and I can tell you what it is. It’s a brand-new show based on the popular Paramount Pictures franchise Paranormal Activity. It’s live on stage, and it’s happening right now at the Shakespeare Theater Company’s Sidney Harman Hall, now through February 7th, and our guest today is part of the cast.
You may have seen her in numerous projects as she’s done the big three. On television, she is the first to play Pam Beasley’s mother in The Office. On the big screen, you’ll recognize her as Anna Gordon in The Ring & The Ring: Two. On the stage, you may have seen her on stage in August: Osage County, Cabaret & Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and, of course, POTUS.
If you are a Star Trek fan like me, as you know, this year is the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. She’s played three characters in the franchise on The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Nemesis. I’m so glad to talk to this amazing, award winning actress, the wonderful Shannon Cochran
Welcome to SNAPSHOTS!
Thank you so much, Dean. I appreciate it. I’m glad to be here.
I’m so glad to be talking with you. Especially, this is an amazing franchise now brought to the stage, as we see countless movies and TV shows brought to the stage, and Paranormal Activity is the newest play happening in the DMV. Can you tell us a little bit more about your character of Carolanne and the play which is happening as we speak?
We’re only here for a brief amount of time. I’m not sure why that is, but at any rate, the if anyone knows the Paranormal Activity movies, it basically covers a young couple who move into a house and somehow believe, or we’re led to believe, that they are experiencing paranormal activity, sounds, things moving, you know, covers coming off, things falling on the floor. And they began setting up cameras in their house to see if they could capture evidence of the paranormal.
So that’s the kind of jumping off point for our play, which is not the same story. This play is still about a couple who move into a house and experience what they think are paranormal signs, but this couple has had this thing follow them from another house, so now they think maybe one of them is haunted instead of the house itself. So, they began to try and figure out what’s wrong. What has gone on with each other, and in the process, they find out something about their relationship, their marriage, how much they trust each other, what they really believe in. And I play a new character, which is the mother of the young man in the play, whose name is James. I live in Boca Raton, FL. so I am a very upright Christian woman. I am a little bit, I would say, lower middle class I but I love my son, and I really want a grandchild.
Why does that sound so familiar? Because my grandmother used to say that to me.
Exactly, exactly.
So what intrigued you to take on the role of Carolanne, especially since you were in another horror film franchise, The Ring, many years ago?
She was another troubled mother, wasn’t she? I’ve got a few horror things. I just did The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. And then I did another film called The Twin. So suddenly horror is coming back into my life. I’m not a like knowledgeable about horror, but I really do enjoy it. I was intrigued to think, well, I’ve never been really scared in the theater. How is the theater going to scare me? And so I jumped in with both feet, because, first of all, I knew the illusions team.
Chris Fisher, who is the head of the illusions on this play. Also did the illusions for Harry Potter. So these guys, they really know how to make stage magic. And I thought, if you combine horror and magic, and you do it well, it doesn’t have to be big CGI or big effects. You can do it in the mind too, because you can make people feel a sense of dread, and, creeping terror, if you write it correctly and orchestrate it. So, these things just really interest me. I mean, how do you how do you get an entire audience to come along with you on this journey? I just had to find out. So, I’m glad they I’m glad they agreed.
I’m so glad that you mentioned Chris Fisher, who did the Harry Potter. Because Harry Potter and The Cursed Child came here to the National Theater a year or two ago, and when I saw the magic portrayed on that stage, it blew my mind that the very question came to mind, “how the hell did they do that on stage so well with no wires, no nothing. It’s just boom.
That’s right, I think that’s so exciting. You can do anything on film. We all know we can’t believe anything we see on film, but on stage, you are there, so you get to say, “Oh, my God, I don’t know how they did that.” And it’s thrilling. The audience is so invested in figuring things out. How did, how did they do that? It seems like such a simple concept. You think, “Why wasn’t this thought of a long time ago?” And I’ll tell you another secret. I’ve had so many people come up to me and say Paranormal Activity is the first live theater I’ve ever seen.
Wow!
So, if you’ve done that, then you’re already a success.
Absolutely. I wish I could say it was the first, but it was 1994’s Beauty and the Beast on Broadway first run, that was my first.
Oh, wow.
Why do you feel that Paranormal Activity works on stage as well as it does as a film?
Well, when you’re next to somebody who’s frightened, you can hear them breathing. You can hear the actors on stage breathing because they’re frightened, because they’re putting themselves through this experience. And you are also in the audience, hearing people around you breathe. They’re genuinely scared. Sometimes they clutch their neighbor. They don’t even know that person. You know, there’s something about watching humans right in front of you go through a little bit of fear and terror that strikes something slightly deeper in you, I think, than a movie, which is already at a remove because it’s a screen, but you could almost reach out and touch these people. You can smell the fog. You can, you can, you can so many things seem more real than they would on screen, because they are more real.
You’re absolutely right now. Is this your first time performing in the DC metro area?
No, I was fortunate enough to bring August: Osage County here on tour to the now being renovated Kennedy Center.
Oh, don’t remind me of that.
So maybe I’ll get to claim something that nobody in the future will get to claim. But I did get to perform there. It was lovely. I had a wonderful time. And we were there for almost a month. So I got to know a little of DC from that, from over there 15 years ago.
The city is I’ve enjoyed the city immensely, despite the crazy snow storm, which surprised me that they weren’t A little more prepared, but whatever. But everyone here has been so nice, and the audiences have been very receptive. I know that it’s a city that is hungry for theater, that wants to see a lot of live performances. And I saw a play at the Studio Theater the other night that was spectacular. So, I know that there’s a vibrant community here.
On that note, I gotta ask one actor to another of all the plays you’ve been in or seen, what are your favorites when it comes to live theater?
Oh, gosh, I try not to make lists like that. You know what I mean? When I was in the first production of Bug, we brought it to New York in 2003, right? And it was off Broadway. But before that, we did it in London, and I remember, we were in a pub theater, like a theater, literally over a drinking pub. But I kept thinking, “Oh my gosh, so Maggie Smith, Ray Fiennes, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Gambon, all these famous actors were in plays like down the street.” And I thought this was the greatest time of my life. I’m in the same business as these people. I was beside myself. And everything I saw in London, I thought was the best theater I’d ever seen.
That’s sensational, especially since you mentioned three cast members from Harry Potter.
So that was another. That’s a great play, Harry Potter was a great experience for me. I love the world of magic and illusions, but also to see how it grabbed a new audience was really thrilling. I like intellectual plays as much as the next person, but sometimes you just want to be entertained and taken away. And sometimes I think we just forget that.
You’re right about. We just want to have that escape and be entertained and forget about the world for two hours when it’s going to hell. Another question, just popped in my head just moments ago, since you were in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, if you had to be in one of the four houses, which house would you feel you would be part of?
Oh, I’m Ravensclaw, through and through.
Why Ravensclaw?
I just feel like they’re together. They’re methodical, enterprising, and they’re slightly superior. You take a little test when you get into the Harry Potter cast, I think anyone can take the test, and it sorted me into Ravensclaw. I thought, that’s great. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to.
Well, in case you want to know, Hufflepuff, I’m a Hufflepuff.
Ah, I love it, Dean. I’m not nice enough to be Hufflepuff.
Which is perfect for me, because the school, the house colors of Hufflepuff, are the house colors of my alma mater.
Convenient, very convenient, very convenient. Now, have you found out what your Patronus is?
Yes, I am an elephant.
Oh, fun.
Because, according to all my friends, which is true, I never forget things from time to time.
But also, they’re so smart and sensitive, I just think an elephant would be amazing.
Yes, it is. Do you have a Patronus?
I do. It’s a salmon.
That’s very interesting.
I thought so too. Everyone always said, that’s the reaction I get from everyone. But I’m okay with it. I love salmon.
So I wouldn’t be remiss if we didn’t talk about Star Trek, since it’s the 60th anniversary this year and I’m a lifelong Star Trek fan. You play Sirella, who is the wife of General Martok, the actor is actually from my home state of Maryland.
You are kidding me?
I am not kidding. JG, Hertzler, yes, when I found out what high school he went to, Crossland High School, I said, “Yeah, that’s one of our rivals”
Nicest man imaginable, a little crazy, but so nice. We’ve had a great time meeting up at conventions occasionally, and we’ve done some ceremonies, because there are a lot of people who, believe it or not, want to exchange their vows at a Klingon wedding ceremony. So we had a big convention in Philadelphia a couple of years ago, and we exchanged vows with several people.
I love him, and he had really, really beloved in the Star Trek fan base, because he sort of made a second career out of conventions, comic cons, cruises and stuff. I haven’t had the time to do much of it, but the fans are the greatest fans in the world. There’s no more accepting, inclusive, patient, friendly fans than Star Trek fans. It’s a perfect universe.
You’re right about that. Especially, I’ve been a fan for close to 40 years now
I can believe it and then what’s so great is that you meet parents who have now brought their children up and played the entire series for them. My nephew watched the entire canon in order, in chronological order. You know, people take it very seriously, at its core so good, such a good message, that it’s my favorite television job ever.
I’m so glad to hear it. I want to actually talk a little bit about it for just a brief moment. Since you’re in one of the most popular episodes, “You’re Cordially Invited…” which we got to witness the matrimony of Jadzia Dax and Worf. Talk a little bit about your experience working on that particular episode.
Well, it was so thrilling because they brought everybody in for that wedding. I got to meet all these people I’d only seen on the screen. So that was thrilling. It was an intense makeup that I was not prepared for. It was like, regularly, 4:35 am calls, sitting in the makeup chair for a good three to four hours getting hair, teeth, prosthetics, ears, jewelry, clothes. But I’ve never felt more powerful and kind of gorgeous. But it was also pretty nerve-wracking, because there are 100 people staring at you, and you’re kind of delivering this Shakespearean almost text.
And if I’m not mistaken, that might have been the first Star Trek wedding of regular characters. So, it was a big deal. There was a lot of stuff surrounding that, and I was rightfully a little nervous to make sure that I had enough gravitas and control the room. J.G. and I had a ball just playing off each other, but when it got to this ceremony, that was the real kind of like, “okay, don’t mess this up. Now, all the fans really want this to go off.”
You’re right. It was the very first bring regular characters to marry just before Nemesis, which you also got to play a part as a Romulan senator. You also have to play the same character twice – Kalita for Next Generation in Preemptive Strike, and then Deep Space Nine for Defiant. And you’re working with two different casts, but also Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart, talk a little bit about that experience of playing the same character in two different episodes.
Well, Patrick Stewart directed The Next Generation episode. I think it was the second-to-last episode, and he was so fantastic. I’d never worked with a director on TV who asked me what I thought. He would gather us together before we would shoot, and he would say, “Well, what do you think the power dynamic is here, Shannon? Where do you think you’d be standing?” and I’d be like,” Oh, my God, he’s looking at me. He’s treating me like a coworker.”
I can’t tell you how thrilling that was, especially because that was some years ago. I mean, I was younger. I wasn’t that experienced, but he treated me like an equal, so it was great. And when they called me back to play the same character, I thought, “okay, great.” But here’s the fun thing. The first day of a week on Deep Space Nine, there came a knock at the door, and a young man stood outside and said, “I’m new. I’m the other guest star. My name is Michael, and I was like, “Oh, hey, nice to meet you. I guess we’re the only two guest stars other than Jonathan Frakes.” And he was like, “yeah, yeah.” So that man is now my husband.
Oh, wow!
He made me laugh all week long. We just bonded. He just cracked me up. We started dating, and we took our time, mind you. So, it was about nine years later, but we got married, and Michael Westmore and the Star Trek organization offered to give us a Star Trek wedding because they thought it was so great that we had met on the series. We elected not to do that. But, you know, it might have been kind of great, but we’re still married today. So, that has a very special place in my heart.
Congratulations! We now have a brand-new series, Starfleet Academy, which airs its fifth episode tomorrow. If you were actually called for that series and made it your fourth character on the Star Trek franchise. Would you go back to it?
In a heartbeat!
Nice.
No questions asked. Whatever you want me to do. I haven’t seen the new series. I’ll be honest, because we’ve been working on this and been on tour for a while. So do you like it?
I love it. The reason I love it is that the characters remind me of a lot of things I remember from my time as a young college student.
My last question to you is this: since you’ve done the big three, you’ve been in television, been in film, you’ve been in theater, what advice would you give to an upcoming actor about the good things, the bad things are going to happen? But most of all, the journey that you’re going to take with you to your next role, whatever it may be in life, whether it’s film, television, or online.
I’ll try to keep it short. Okay, see, see everything. See plays, go see arts shows, and hear music. Go see street artists. Go see spoken word, see everything. Read as much as you can stand to; if you’re not a reader, become one. You never know where your creative idea is coming from. And finally, meet as many people as you can. I was a little bit shy and did not easily mix with strangers.
When I was younger, I forced myself to go out and meet people, to find out what they were working on, to see their work, to talk to them, because the whole business is like that. It’s just a network. It’s a spider web. It’s mostly who you know and how prepared you are when the connection happens, and someone calls you and says, we’d like for you to audition. You have to know a lot of people to do that. So, meet everybody. You never know where your help is coming from.
Go see Shannon in Paranormal Activity now playing through Sidney Harman Hall. Tickets are still available until February 7th. So if you want to get tickets, www.shakespearetheater.org,
Until we meet again, See You…. Out There!
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