A Discussion with Anna Hashizume, portrayer of Eliza Doolittle in Theater Latté Da's Production of My Fair Lady, Opening November 12

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Anna HashizumeMy Fair Lady, one of the greatest musicals of all time, opens on November 12 at Theater Latté Da. Artistic Director Justin Lucero notes that the production will have fierce artistry, signature heart and devotion to music-centered magic.

The role of Eliza Doolittle is being played by Anna Hashizume – a role that requires her to sing, act, dance and change accents. In addition to being an actor, Anna is a trained voice coach so some aspects of the role might come more easily than others. We talked to her about favorite songs in the production, learning and unlearning Cockney and recognizing Eliza’s strength throughout her journey. The show runs through December 28 - get tickets here.

Q:  Some see My Fair Lady as a romance, others as a story about independence and identity - how do you see Eliza’s journey?

A:  I definitely see it as a story of independence and self-actualization. 

Q:  Do you draw on any personal experiences to connect with Eliza’s struggle for identity and respect?

A:  Definitely! I studied opera in school and when I wanted to get back into musical theater, I really felt like a fish out of water. As I started to re-learn how to sing in order to fit into the musical theater world, I started to realize that, although my voice can “fit in,” I will never be able to actually shake my classical background. Similarly, adjusting how I sing and how I work meant I couldn’t ever really go back to opera. So, as Eliza says in Act 2, “What am I fit for?” I really feel that line in my bones.

Q:  Eliza undergoes such a dramatic shift in language, class, and self-perception - what’s the most challenging part of embodying that transformation on stage?

A:  The Cockney accent is so challenging for me! Making shifts quickly between Cockney and RP (British Received Pronunciation) and making my voice sound somewhat cohesive is proving to be a bit difficult. We have a fantastic dialect coach who is helping all of us navigate our accents!

Q:  What physical choices (movement, posture, gestures) are you developing to highlight her evolution?

A:  I’m playing a lot with fluidity and rigidity. When Eliza is in the “Cockney world,” she has a more fluid way of moving and existing. When she’s in the upper-class world, she’s required to be more rigid. Then, at the end of the play, the question is, how do the two exist together? Can they? I guess we’ll find out!

Q:  What is your favorite musical number to perform as Eliza, and why? This is such a tough question!

A:  My first instinct is to say I Could Have Danced All Night because it’s so iconic. However, I think Without You might be my favorite! She really takes back her power in the moment.

Q:  Eliza challenges the rigid class and gender expectations of her time - how do you feel that resonates with current conversations about power and equality?

A:  I feel like this is something that resonates with most generations - that’s why this piece has stood the test of time. We’re all looking to stand in our power and we watch Eliza do that. She really is an inspirational character.

Q:  What is it like to perform this role in Theater Latté Da’s more intimate setting compared to a larger-scale production?

A:  I love an intimate space as an actor - you can play more subtleties, which is fun for me.

Q:  What do you hope audiences notice about Eliza’s agency in this story?

A:  I hope they notice her strength throughout the show. I think this story is more about her realizing how strong she’s always been, more so than a story of her becoming strong. I hope audiences resonate with that journey. 

Q:  How do you think My Fair Lady resonates differently with today’s audiences compared to when it was first written in 1956?

A:  This is a great question and I think musicals of this caliber are always growing and shifting with our culture. I definitely think characters like Professor Henry Higgins are seen very differently now than in the 1950s. I also want to believe how I see and portray Eliza is different with my modern lens. Not that I’m changing the essence of the character, but that I’m perhaps pulling out and highlighting certain parts of her that may not have been highlighted back then.

Q:  What’s next for you? How may we follow your news? 

A:  I will be doing a new musical at Open Eye called STRANGE HEART: The Dream Songs of John Berryman with Theater Latté Da favorite, Bradley Greenwald! And you can follow me on Instagram @annahashizume or TikTok @anna_hashizume.