Q&A with Jake Lipman, actor and producer, RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN

Tonight is our final performance of Rapture, Blister, Burn, and I am going to be sad to see this beautiful and funny production close.

While we are sold out, you are welcome to try your luck at the door of the theater tonight (many standby have gotten in to other performances). We are playing at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor and curtain is at 7:30 PM.

Favorite line from the play?
Two lines:
Alice says, "You know what they say: your life begins when your mother dies." and later, her daughter, Catherine, says, "I've lived my life alone because I've never been alone."

To me, these lines sum up what is both humorous and heart-wrenching about this story and its character's conflicts.

Favorite feminist (icon)?
Again, I'll pick two:

My mother. She was very engaged and involved in politics and believed in civil service. She instilled me a sense of independence and a strong moral code.

Ruth Simmons. She was the president of Smith College when I went there, and she went on to be the first African American (male or female!) to run an Ivy League university, Brown. She was born in Texas, was one of twelve children, and her father was a sharecropper! I had to opportunity to talk with her a few times when I was a student, and she struck me as a very thoughtful person, intelligent and warm but quietly powerful. She's the coolest.

Favorite drink?
As a little girl, I remember going to dinner with my family at formal restaurants with white tablecloths and I loved nothing more than ordering Shirley Temple after Shirley Temple. I wasn't big on eating anything, just plowing through a few Shirleys and conking out at the table when the sugar wore off.

These days, I tend to order a glass of bubbly -- basically adult soda. I'm still very much that girl who loves a sweet drink with bubbles. And I still conk out when the sugar wears off.

Thank you to our talented cast, crew, and the wonderful audiences who have come to see our show!