Now, she’s helping a new generation of performers make their dreams come true as the technical theater coordinator at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. Faison spoke with Show Business about how a leap of faith led her to the role of a lifetime.
What is a typical workweek like for you at LaGuardia?
It’s insane. I teach 20 classes a week: musical theater to juniors, freshman acting, and classes on career management to seniors.
What kinds of things do students learn in a class on career management?
They learn from lots of outside industry people. We’ve been blessed with incredible visitors and performances. Denise Chamian, who did casting for movies like Saving Private Ryan and Water for Elephants, came in. Adrian Grenier talked about the importance of networking and doing other things beyond acting. Edie Falco talked about how she waited on tables for 15 years and took any job she could to act, until enough people knew who she was. Alec Baldwin discussed the importance of self-assessment during his career. He knows he doesn’t look the way he did when he started as a leading man, and you have to know what parts are the right fit. Al Pacino arranged for 80 free tickets to the invited dress rehearsal for The Merchant of Venice last summer. These are people in love with acting, and they engage the kids.
I’m sure generosity like that is appreciated.
It is. We’ve taken a hit with budget cuts; we have no money. These kids come from all five boroughs, all backgrounds. Thirty-three percent of them qualify for free meals. We beg for free seats. Lincoln Center has been very good to us in that way — they give the kids free seats.
What first brought you to LaGuardia?
I just started to look at the things that made me happy. I had been working at my children’s school in California, the Country School. It had no theater department but we put on shows. The other parents and I became very close. We stage managed, we produced. It was the happiest time I had in California, working with people to put on theater. I thought, I could really do this. I never really got over being on Broadway. I was very happy not performing, but I loved making things happen. I loved matching good people to good songs. Needing to make a living, I went online and put “education” and “theater” together, and NYU came up. I went to Steinhardt [NYU’s School of Culture, Education, and Human Development], which was a wonderful program. I got to teach in London, I got to act in Ireland, and came here as a student teacher. I’ve been on board here officially for about seven or eight years.
Speaking of Broadway, what was the Annie experience like?
Grace was my first role. I owe it all to Martin Charnin [who created, directed, and wrote the lyrics for the show]. I had just graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse and auditioned for Nash at Nine, but I was way too young for the part. But a good audition is never wasted. He remembered me, and I got to read for the part of Grace. It was ridiculous how many people went up for that. And you know, we never thought it was going to be a hit, even when Mike Nichols came aboard. I remember one day I got off the subway at 50th Street, and I saw a line of people to buy tickets that was two blocks long. My knees buckled.
You also did the show Is There Life After High School?
Yes, and everyone there was so nice. Ray Baker, Harry Groener, Philip Hoffman, Alma Cuervo — they were beautiful people. There was no backstabbing. As glorious as doing a musical is when it works, when it doesn’t, it knocks the wind out of you. [The show closed after 17 performances.] I couldn’t breathe for a while. Then I got pregnant, did a soap, Edge of Night (I played a psychiatrist and the world’s oldest virgin ever), and You Can’t Take That With You on Broadway with Jason Robards — all at the same time. Jason played my grandfather, and he was like my grandfather in real life. He was a gentleman, and he was such a laugh. I needed a granddad at that time.
Kind people seems to be a running theme in your career.
I have had nothing but nice people on stage. New York theater has delivered nothing but lovely people to me.
But now you seem very devoted to your students.
They are passionate, curious, hungry, and determined. I am in love with this place, with the kids, the teachers. I literally have found heaven on earth.
