Opening night is tomorrow! So far this week, we've talked to two of our cast members, Abby Knipp and Mandy Murphy. Today, we're introducing you to the third fantastic actor bringing From A to Double D to life! Meet Neev Bar-David, who's bringing your new favorite dork Jacob to life!
(Plus, if you missed it: meet our director, playwright, stage manager, and ASM)
The essentials: Neev is a NYC-based actor who hails all the way from Cresskill, a town in northern New Jersey that almost no one knows about. Neev is a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts Conservatory Program. Neev continues to hone his craft by studying with the legendary Terry Schreiber. Recent Credits include A Midsummer Nights Dreame at the Alchemical Theater Lab and Am I Blue, an original play that got nominated for best play at NYTF Summerfest. When Neev isn’t acting, he is usually eating, sleeping, or watching Friends for the 100th time. Neev is thoroughly enjoying working with this talented, fun, and amazing team!
Read on for our Q&A with Neev!
Q: Tell us about the character you play in From A to Double D.
A: Jacob reminds me a lot of myself growing up. He faced many adversities throughout his youth and never really fit in. He was constantly teased and shunned because he was different, and although he was pressured to be “cool,” he always found a way to remain true to his nerdy self (which he learns to embrace). I have admiration for Jacob because he managed to thrive once he embraced his uniqueness and really started finding comfort within himself. This is something that many people (including myself) struggle with. Growing up so many of us feel the need to conform to the norm or do what is “cool,” but looking at it now, the most interesting people are the ones who embrace their uniqueness and feel comfortable with themselves. This is something that many of us unfortunately only learn later on in life.
Q: What's something you've learned during the rehearsal process so far and/or what has your favorite part of the rehearsal process been?
A: I love rehearsing with this amazing team. First of all, the vibes in the rehearsal room are so great and everyone is so committed to unraveling the layers of this play while also making it a fun experience. Our wonderful director gives us actors the freedom to really explore our characters without any judgment, while making sure that our explorations are rationalized and enjoyable to an audience. The other cast members are very fun to play with and they are just so open to everything, which is an amazing gift. Everyone is just so committed to making sure that this show is the best it can be. Overall, this collaborative experience has been so fun and I just find myself feeling sad when rehearsals end.
Q: Who is a woman+ artist you admire and why?
A: I admire so many women artists! I pretty much admire almost every woman artist because while (unfortunately) today’s society makes it harder for women, it doesn’t stop all of these talented women from breaking through barriers everyday and marking their impact on the world. I am a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow, her movies are always on-point and she definitely broke some barriers with The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. As far as actors go, I love Viola Davis. She is an artist who has overcome obstacles again and again and is constantly breaking barriers for women and people of color. She has a no-bullshit attitude that I love, and she just constantly pushes herself in her work, which is just amazing. I mean she’s a legend. I’ve always been a fan of Kathy Bates because even though she wouldn’t generally be considered a “leading lady” type and has faced hardships due to that, she is always my favorite character onscreen and I can’t take my eyes off of her. She’s a scene stealer. There are so many more women that I can think of, but I do want to point out that I admire the women artists of Moxie Arts. They are all so talented and dedicated to making work that matters and creating awareness. It’s been an absolute privilege working with and learning from these amazing women.
Q: What’s your favorite part about living in NYC?
A: I love the diversity. And by that I mean the diversity in everything. There’s something for everyone here. It doesn’t matter what background you come from, you can always find places/people in NYC that make you feel like you belong. Everyone here is so different yet so alike. It really just shows you how people are just people and we all have so much more in common then we may think. It’s just amazing to witness the diversity every day. Also, I love the food; just so much different types of food. It’s great. Even if it is bleeding my wallet dry.
Q: Why should people come see From A to Double D?
A: People should come for so many reasons! First off, it’s very entertaining. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will constantly be engaged due to its interactive nature. In addition to that our wonderful playwright, Mandy, has touched on so many universal themes regarding growing up that I’m sure everyone in the audience can relate to. Whether it’s fitting in, dealing with loss, or love, the themes throughout this play are undeniably relevant. After all, our youth is what shapes us into the people we are today. And I’m sure that everyone will be able to see a bit of themselves on stage and maybe even help them laugh at their younger selves a bit. Hopefully it will bring about awareness on the importance of thriving through life as opposed to just surviving it.
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See Neev as Jacob, the geek (sorry, nerd!) next door in From A to Double D on January 23-February 2 at the IRT Theater! Got your tickets?
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