FSL Scholar: Nora Tillmanns

Nora Tillmanns '10, an FSL Scholar, studies comparative literature and theatre. She co-founded a campus theatre group called the Melancholy Players and performs in the all-female a cappella group Treble in Paradise. Her classes include New Musical Theater Lab and The Making of Modern Theatre: Ibsen and Chekhov. We gave her a quiz to learn more about her and her theatrical knowledge—and to find out who would win in a fight between the playwrights.

Who's your don?

The illustrious Joseph Forte.

What's your favorite class so far at SLC?

"The Empathic Attitude" with Marvin Frankel.

What's the best conference project you've done?

"Richard Neutra and the development of Los Angeles style." Though my best title for a conference paper was "The Making of a Modern Gentleman: Masculinity, Sexuality, and Daddy Issues."

What was the first show you were ever in?

I played "Annie 2" when I was 7. There was another girl who was "Annie 1", but I've always felt that "Annie 2" was a better part because I got to wear the red dress.

What's your favorite song to sing with Treble in Paradise?

"Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey, hands down.

Who would win in a fight, Ibsen or Chekhov?

Definitely Ibsen. The man was a beast. When Ibsen was an older man, he always took tea at the same cafe in Oslo. Everyday he would take the same path at the same time to take tea at the same restaurant where his table would be waiting for him. Ibsen liked that he would always have his table ready for him, and the cafe owner liked that he could always depend on tourists coming to his cafe in search of seeing the famous playwright. One day, Ibsen arrived at the cafe to find that two terrible American tourists had unknowingly sat at his table. Ibsen turned on his heel and returned home. The cafe owner thought about begging for forgiveness, but the very next day Ibsen returned and took at seat at his table. The cafe owner nervously went to Ibsen's table to apologize, but before he could speak, Ibsen took him firmly by the hand and said "We shall not speak of such things." Obviously, he was hard as nails.

If your life were being fictionalized by a famous playwright, who would you want to write it and why?

Noel Coward. How wonderful to be fabulous and have wonderful parties where everyone just stands around the piano and sings.

What's the weirdest stage-fright cure you've heard of?

I had a friend in high school who wouldn't go onstage without a wig. I think he felt that no one would recognize him if he wore one. But, I think that imagining the audience naked is the only thing that really works.

What's a little-known talent you have?

My dad brags that I know every lyric of every song I've ever heard. That's a little bit of an exaggeration, but I do have a very good mind for lyrics.

What's your dream job?

My hope is to one day own and run my own theatre company. My desire is to produce powerful renderings of classics while developing new theatre and original musical theatre.