I'm so proud to have completed my first play, Mr. Marmalade, at Stuart Rogers' Studios and it was THE BEST experience! I learned so much over those past four months and it's such a beautiful time and experience I'm going to have for forever. I've made incredible friendships with new people I might not have met, on and off stage, and it was just remarkable. If you're into reading plays, Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle is definitely one to keep in mind if you're looking for a creative challenge. We also wonder how Noah is doing and what happened to him in his childhood that would inspire such a story, but that's another post. We thank him.

It's a dark comedy about four-year-old Lucy and her imaginary friend, Mr. Marmalade, and things get very questionable, inappropriate and provocative. I was honored with the duty of playing Sookie, her young mother from Jersey who "relies on men for more than they're good for," a quick (literally 20 second) change into Emily, Lucy's promiscuous and too cool to be bothered 14-year-old babysitter. And of course, the imaginary Sunflower who belongs to the imagination of Larry, the five-year-old brother of George, Emily's boyfriend.

Mr. Marmalalde Publicity shot. Photo by Tyler Seiple.

"Alyssa Rodriguez and Tyler Seiple both shine in their respective roles of Lucy's mother and Mr. Marmalade's personal assistant. Theirs are the play's most realistic roles that Rodriguez and Seiple most believable nail... Rodriguez, with her effective comic chops, also scores as Lucy's disinterested teenage babysitter Emily... Would love to see the rest of the cast, especially Rodriguez and Seiple, in another show..."

The story was definitely dark, thought provoking (I think), and may not exactly be easy to follow (I mean, a 4-year-old's imagination is ALL OVER the place), but it was meant to leave the audience questioning the entire piece, start to finish. It's so interesting how a child can hear one thing and let their imagination run wild and go down either a happy place or a dark, dark hole... Sound familiar? I do the same with my Instagram stalking. Just being honest.

Also, no one told me the mild depression you would have post-play. I was trying to figure out why I was miserable, uncreative, uninspired. Oh, apparently four and half months of spending your life on something regularly on a schedule and then it ending has a big effect on you. Don't worry. We've recovered. I'm so dramatic. :)

It was such an accomplishment, this being my first live performance. We even got a two week extension! We sold out every night except for, what, two nights? Maybe three? Mingling with audience members and industry guests who came to the show and hearing they were so impressed by the entire ensemble, direction, lighting, sound, everything meant so much. My sweet friend Julie even said, "I just told my friend, 'I don't know what I just saw.'" It was sooo fun.

The Cast of Mr. Marmalade. Charlie Farrel, Alyssa Gabrielle Rodriguez, Kaitlin Sullivan, Johnny Wactor, Matt Gardner, Tyler Seiple.

And, right when I wrapped the show, I had booked a TBS comedy, so was going to close my show and go straight to a new set! Well,I ended up booking a multi-cam at the same time, and all the tools I learned from the play, blocking, being present, following impulses were so helpful. Talk about work begets work! Two sets in one day?! YAS HONEY!

It was just a great way to wrap a show! Stay tuned for the announcement of which shows you can catch me on later this year or next!

Here are a few moments: cast bonding,my makeup staples for the show, a few different looks for Sookie, Emily, photos of Sookie and Lucy and Sookie trying to hide her "roommate" from her dating profile pic, Lucy and Emily, doing drop-offs and walking onto the lot with little jars of Marmalade, (thank you Alyson Silverberg casting!), my countless gorgeous flowers, and a final cast photo on closing night.

Our beautiful stage designed by Julissa Wright.

Good night, Mr. Marmalade.

Xox,

Alyssa