We’ve all heard the stories of big stars who got their big break after a particular role, even if they had to wait a while. Samuel L. Jackson was in his late 40s before his breakout role in “Pulp Fiction” led him to become one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing stars.
Kara Hakanson of Bayfield hasn’t quite reached that level, but she does have a similar story of the trials and tribulations of pursuing an acting career. She’s turned it into a one-woman show, “Dirty, Flirty, Thirty, and Out of Work.
News with a little more humanity
WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter.
“The title is inspired by the phrase that you see on birthday crowns or sashes or memes — ‘You’re Dirty, Flirty and Thirty,’” Hakanson said. “I added ‘And out of work’ because I’m still kind of struggling to be a quote-unquote ‘successful’ actor.”
Hakanson’s show premiered in May at Honest Dog Books in Bayfield and will be hosted by Big Top Chautauqua’s Backstage on Oct. 11. She spoke with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” about the production.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Robin Washington: You’ve worked and studied in LA and London, as well as locally.
Kara Hakanson: I started out in Baraboo and then went over to LA and London, and now I’m back in Bayfield. I got my master’s in screen acting and filmmaking at Drama Centre London. There’s really nothing like being able to dedicate 30- to 40 hours a week to your craft and something you love. And just living in London. It was a top experience for sure.
RW: Why London?
KH: I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. I really emulated Hermione. Also, I grew up without cable television and had to watch public television, like “Masterpiece Theater.” I remember as a kid watching these shows with my parents and just being so absorbed in them — the production quality, the acting. I felt there was just something about United Kingdom productions that just the States couldn’t compare to. And I wanted to be a part of that.
RW: You also had to go to London to check out that train platform to see how Harry Potter got to Hogwarts. Did you find it?
KH: Actually, I did. One of the many jobs I had in London was as a Harry Potter tour guide. Platform 9-3/4 was one of our first stops. And I am really sad to say that it’s just a solid brick wall.
RW: What told you that you had to make a show about all these experiences?
KH: The idea stemmed from my classmates and me for an alumni show after we graduated. I had just turned 30, and I was writing a scene of a woman going through casting after casting after casting and realizing, “Oh my God, I’m 30 years old and I’m kind of aged out of the industry. There’s no exciting roles for me. I either have to be a mother or I need to be 10 years younger.”
The alumni show didn’t happen, but when I started working at Honest Dog Books in Bayfield as an event coordinator, Julie Buckles, the owner, said she wanted to have fringe theater and one-woman shows there. And I said, “Well, actually, I have a one-woman show.” And she goes, “OK, we’ll put you on the calendar for May.”
RW: Tell us some of what’s in it.
KH: It kicks off with me being in kindergarten, 1996. I’m 4 years old, and I’m absolutely crushed because I didn’t get a role in our class production of the Three Little Pigs. And so that sets off the whole trajectory of my career. I don’t remember what role I did get — one of the townsfolk, I think. But I do remember I wasn’t in a lead role and I hated it.
RW: Is your show completely autobiographical or did you incorporate elements of other characters?
KH: It’s pretty autobiographical. There are moments where I play other characters. I play a therapist. I play some casting directors. I play my mom. It’s kind of a combination of standup, a bit of a TED talk, and also a traditional play. I’m mainly storytelling as myself, but there are really fun little snippets where I get to play another character as well.
If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on Morning Edition, send it to us at northern@wpr.org.
