Interview with Phyllis Sommerville

I transferred from Morningside College as a sophomore. So shy. So scared. I was so thrilled to be welcomed into the theatre department. One of my favorite memories was going out for coffee on The Hill with Charlie

Railsback (a graduate student!) He was so kind. So interesting. So interested. He now teaches at Indiana and is still a close and dear friend. Still carrying on the love of the theatre instilled in us my Stan Wood. And he's forgiven me (I think) for putting him in a crummy apartment on the Lower East Side when he was here on his sabbatical.

Another favorite memory. A group of us, Dick Devin, Sara Stanley, the late Jeannie Formanek- organized and directed, and acted in  by Tom Johnson of the Creamery Theatre - took scenes from Shakespeare to community groups and prisons on our (was it spring or winter break, I don't remember). While

performing at Fort Madison in "The Scot Play" (no I won't even say the name of the play in an email) anyway, after the murder, when there was a knocking at the door, someone in the audience shouted out "It's the Fuzz".

UNI was very important to me. We worked hard. We partied hard. I had the

opportunity and the blessing to work with two very different directors, Stan

Wood and John Dennis.

Years later, when I'm working on a role, I still slap my forehead, say aha !

that's what Stan meant. Now that's teaching.

Another little anecdote. When I was doing press for LITTLE CHILDREN, I went to a Q and A after a screening in Tribeca. I walked in - and there sat Merle and Lynn Lentz. Merle taught design and lighting at UNI in the 60's. They magically show up when whenever I'm doing something. But this was amazing. I am grateful. I thank them.