In his review of The Book of Liz, Times-Picayune/nola.com theatre critic Theodore H. Mahne had this to say: “A consistently funny actress, Margeaux Fanning offers one of the best performances I've seen her give. …As she makes her way through a series of epiphanies, it is a satisfying and funny journey.” Similar glowing media reviews have greeted many of her other performances as well, dating back to her first local role as Mary Jo in A Piece of My Heart (The Vietnam Monologues) for Actors Theatre in April 2007. A Chicago native who came to New Orleans after graduating from a branch of the University of Texas in Odessa 22 years ago, Margeaux had her sights set on the Crescent City long before her actual arrival. “When I was in college I would come here during Spring Break and any other break I had,” Margeaux said. “I just fell in love with the city and I knew that after I graduated from college that I wanted to live here. So, almost immediately after I graduated, I moved here and I’ve never left.” However, despite having the desire to get into the acting phase of her life in New Orleans after starring in a number of productions in college, it didn’t happen right away for Margeaux. Marriage and the birth of two children, a boy and girl, two years apart, kept her focused on family life and holding down a fulltime job at Tulane School of Medicine for roughly ten years. Finally, “When the kids were old enough to open up a can of Spaghetti-O’s and feed themselves, I was able to get back into my acting,” she remarked with a soft laugh. The now-defunct Actors Theatre gave Margeaux her first breaks on the local stage in 2007. From there she broke out into other venues; mostly “fringe theaters,” as she called them, performing in “off-the-beaten-path kind of obscure shows.” In addition to acting, she has also worked backstage as a production manager or in some other technical capacity for more than a dozen shows. Her favorite types of shows are “lighthearted comedies;” plays that are consistent with and naturally play off of her ebullient personality, although she has done some serious drama as well. Her next performance, coming up in late July/early August, falls somewhere between the two, combining both serious subject matter and comedic elements. That play, The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare enjoyed award-winning runs and revivals on and off Broadway in the 1970s and ‘80s. It will be staged at the Mudlark Theater in the Faubourg Marigny over three consecutive weekends from July 21 through August 6. Michael Martin is producing and directing. (See calendar on Page 21 for details.) Beyond that production, Margeaux is hopeful for roles in some other shows that will be coming up during the 2017-18 Cultural Season. “I’m always auditioning and trying to get involved in things,” she said. Because of her long and impressive track record, “A lot of times shows just come my way,” she added. “I get called a lot by people I’ve previously done work for and I rarely turn anything down when someone gives me a call.” An ongoing gig for Margeaux is the monthly “Spotlight New Orleans Show” hosted by John Calhoun and performed live at Café Istanbul on the second Wednesday of each month. Featuring a live band and a host interviewing prominent people in the community, the show also stages live 2- 3-minute commercials for local businesses. Margeaux and one or two other cast members sometimes get to write the commercials’ scripts themselves and act them out. This is her second season with the 90-minute program that is loosely styled after NBC’s long-running Tonight Show. “They call us ‘The Beasts of Comedy’ and it’s really a lot of fun,” Margeaux said. “Performing the commercial skits is probably the closest I’ll ever get to being on Saturday Night Live, which would be my dream,” she added with another soft laugh. So, with all of her credits and appearances on stages all over New Orleans and the greater metro area, what’s next on Margeaux Fanning’s bucket list? “Le Petit and Southern Rep,” is her reply, referencing two of the region’s premiere presenting companies she hasn’t performed for yet. “I’d really love to work with them.” As for her favorite local directors, she named Wayne Daigrepont who works with JPAS and Jim Fitzmorris, managing director of The Theatre at St. Claude. “Uncle Wayne is a great guy; a funny guy and fun to work with. Jim lets you do what comes naturally and if it looks terrible he will tell you. He’s not going to make you go out there and do something that’s going to make you look bad or ridiculous. He has a very intellectual approach to directing. Very organic.” So, for now and possibly much longer, Margeaux Fanning is happy to have the best of both worlds: a lucrative fulltime job for the English Turn Property Owners Association and a spare time sideline fulfilling her need to perform before an audience. As she sums up, “I can’t really pin down what the big appeal is for me but I just know that if I’m out there entertaining people and making them think or making them laugh, it gives me a sense of fulfillment. I love to see everybody else being entertained.” �� PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARGEAUX FANNING J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 1 7 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 13
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