Katrina Lenk: “SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK is an impressive show”

Katrina Lenk joined the cast of Broadway’s SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK, in the role of Arachne on May 29th; starring in this popular show alongside Reeve Carney (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Patrick Page (Norman Osborn/Green Goblin), and Rebecca Faulkenberry (Mary Jane Watson).

In the past year, the production has been seen at the Foxwoods Theatre by more than 1 million audience members from around the world. SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK features music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy Award-winners Bono and The Edge, direction by Philip William McKinley, and a book co-written by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

Katrina Lenk - who won the LA Weekly and Garland awards for the title role in LOVELACE: A ROCK OPERA, and who has starred in regional productions of musicals such as CHICAGO, CABARET and HEDWIG - tells us about her experience in SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK so far.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST FEW DAYS PLAYING ARACHNE IN ‘SPIDER-MAN’?
My first few days were exhilarating and full of surprises, I must say... from the beautiful roses presented to me at my first bow (whaaaa?), to the line of photographers in the greenroom afterward, to the crowd of folks outside waiting for autographs (?!!)... not to mention the thrill of being suspended 30 feet above a Broadway stage with 6 extra legs stretched out behind me, getting to sing tasty music, playing in a company of fiercely talented and dedicated people - pretty spectacular!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS ROLE AND ABOUT BEING PART OF ‘SPIDER-MAN’?
I love stage flight, it still makes me giddy. And I am fascinated by the grandness and tragedy of Arachne´s story...in this production she seems to embody the voice we all have inside of us that tells us to go forward when we feel like we can´t go on (we could all use more of that, no?) the voice of the heart, you could say. An inspirational Phoenix-like character, encased in a frightening skin. Makes one think a bit: There´s something else going on with her... I enjoy getting to explore that something. And hey, she´s a spider. Which is pretty cool.

HAVE ANY OF YOUR COSTUMES BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET USED TO IN TERMS OF MOVEMENT?
They have been not so much difficult but amusing to get used to, I´d say. Arachne´s costumes (designed by the late and revered Eiko Ishioka, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her work on this show) are quite beautiful, regal, and extremely clever. My waddling around backstage, though, due to the flying harness and long pincers on hands and feet, I confess gives me the giggles.  And I have found that pincers are very good for poking people.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION WHEN YOU FIRST SAW ‘SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK’? WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR OBSERVATION OF THE AUDIENCE´S REACTION TO THE SHOW?
I was really entertained - it´s an impressive show! I was inspired, and thrilled, too, by how fiercely talented the cast and crew was. And the audiences love it - laughing and gasping and leaping to their feet at the end.

HOW HAVE THE CAST AND CREW RECEIVED YOU? HOW IS IT WORKING WITH THEM?
They have been extremely warm and welcoming - for which I am very grateful. It feels like home already! Everyone from cast to crew to the orchestra is talented and dedicated... It takes a high level of focus and concentration to run this show every night - it´s a finely tuned machine that got where it is by nonstop work. There are still rehearsals almost every week, to make sure things are running smoothly and are the best they can be.  It´s an honour to be working with a production that cares like this one does.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSIC WRITTEN BY BONO AND THE EDGE FOR ‘SPIDER-MAN’? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT SINGING IT? DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SONG THAT YOU SING? A FAVOURITE SONG THAT IS NOT YOURS?
The music is a mix of that grand Bono/The Edge rock style and musical theatre styles that actually work quite well together. I love that Arachne´s songs are written with a nod to another time, another style of singing, (which makes sense as she is over 2000 years old). I get a kick out of singing all of them, my favourite depending on the day. :) My favourite song that isn´t mine would have to be “If The World Should End”, a duet between Peter and Mary Jane (bittersweet and aching harmonies) and “Pull the Trigger” (fantastic in-your-face rock song with killer choreography).

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER/SHOW YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT HAS BEEN MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU SO FAR?
Every character and every show has been important to me - I get to create, share and learn something valuable in each experience. It´s a wonderful way to earn a living.

HOW DIFFERENT IS IT PERFORMING IN A BROADWAY SHOW VERSUS IN A REGIONAL/TOURING PRODUCTION? IS THERE MORE PRESSURE?
Well, There´s always pressure, no matter what kind of show you work on - the pressure you put on yourself to be the best you can be, and do as much service to the story as you can. That holds in regional and Broadway houses. I have lucked out to step into a show that is barrelling full steam ahead, and all I have to do is step in and hang on for the ride. All the hard stuff has already been figured out. So in that sense it´s very different from creating a show from scratch. I have much respect for the life this show has had, to champion through all those trial and error periods, in full view of everyone, and still not only persevere, but come out on top. "Rising above", if you´ll allow me. :)

COULD YOU COMMENT ON ANY OTHER FUTURE PROJECTS?
For now I´m focusing on this show, working in the studio on my music project moxy phinx (with some gigs coming up soon), and in a few months looking forward to doing some more TV and film work out here in NYC.