Alina Phelan is a 2008/2009 Ovation Nominee for Lead Actress in a Play for her performance as Olivia in FAMILY PLANNING at the Chalk Repertory Theatre.

If you’d like to add a congratulatory message for Alina (or any other Nominee or Nominated Company), to the Ovation Awards commemorative poster (distributed to all nominees and all attendees at the Ceremony), click here!

As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Alina the following questions:

What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?

I grew up watching my dad do community theatre in Michigan and loved the process. He would take me to rehearsals with him and I’d memorize everyone’s lines and say them along- something I’m sure they just loved. I was pretty bad and uncomfortable on stage all through High School though, yet I still loved it. It wasn’t until I started figuring it all out in College with the help of some amazing teachers, that I started to understand it and think that I could do this. I think if I were to choose a specific moment where I said “this is it, I’m doing this forever” was when I did a production of The Seagull at my first college. (I still love that Checkov guy!) I continued studying theatre at CalArts where I learned from amazing mentors- the late great Rodger Henderson being one of them. I got my BFA from there and have been doing theatre consistently ever since.

What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?

Family Planning was special for all of us involved because it had the right combination of incredible writing, visionary directing and a handful of actors that were in love with the play… Larissa chose to perform the play in actual homes, not on stage, which was a big reason why it was so successful. We actors felt so solid together, trusted one another and the play because we didn’t have a regular environment on which to rely. Every Friday we’d show up to a home that we’d never set foot in before. We knew our characters so well, but the environment was different every weekend. This was such a gift Larissa gave to us, though we didn’t realize it at first. By choosing these homes, she ultimately made the play feel more realistic. Not just for the audience but especially for us actors. The environment really helped add to the reality of the situation for all of us. I actually got to wash dishes, in a sink. Put groceries away in a refrigerator that was supposed to be ours… all the while having a heated argument with my husband. How much more real life can you get? We had to treat every home like it was our own. Touching the physical objects, leaning on a railing or sitting on the edge of a couch- the blocking was different every night based on the room- all these things brought a beautiful freedom and spontaneity to our reality. I felt so incredibly present at every turn, it’s almost the way you feel when you’re improvising. On top of all that, each home brought a different energy and back story to our characters. The environment ended up having a say about who this couple was as well. For me, it was a true gift being able to live it so realistically. I’m also incredibly amazed and grateful that these people offered up their homes to us and let us invade for a weekend. Amazing.

What project or projects are you currently working on?

I closed a play at Open Fist in July called Love Water. I wanted to have a little time off after that. I’m currently getting that antsy feeling (you know the one) and can’t wait for the next project.

What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?

I am so proud of the talent that I see on stage here. I know that New York is supposed to have ‘the best theatre actors in the world’ but I beg to differ. (Or at least put up a good argument.) I am often so pleased and amazed at the heart and passion by which I see actors pursuing their craft. When you really see actors going all out in a production that has something interesting to say, fearless and unapologetically doing their thing. That’s what I love.

What’s your dream project?

I’m afraid to say because someone might steal the idea!! Talk to me about it, and then let’s do it!

For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!