Photo by Dan Francis Photography.
Southern Minnesota native, Missy has always loved being in the spotlight. Upon graduating from Concordia College with a degree in Theatre Art and English Literature, she immediately became involved in Theatre B and has loved it since. From favorite roles to dream roles, she’s drawn to the complexity of theatre. You can see Missy onstage now, as Kelly in Slice of Life.
Theatre B (TB): When did you first get involved in theatre?
Missy Teeters (MT): Well it was something that I was always intrigued by. If you want to get technical it was probably my sophomore year of high school. However, I was definitely in those little plays we did in elementary school and I loved it. In 4th grade we did The Emperors New Clothes, and I got to be a swindler. And, of course, my mom would say I was completely overly dramatic in the role, just like my entire life. I guess it’s just kind of inherently Missy.
TB: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
MT: I wanted to be a stand-up comedian. I remember very distinctly watching stuff on Comedy Central and thinking I needed to do that.
Missy and Scott Horvik in ‘Sylvia’.
TB: Do you think theatre has inspired or changed you?
MT: It inspires me to make social changes and to really view the world in a different way, to see new perspective put on stage or presented. I feel like empathy is a major driver, and it’s a major point of discussion for many of the shows that we do – trying to open people’s eyes to different worlds and situations.
TB: What is your favorite part of performing?
MT: I just love hopping into someone else for a day. Take a break from crazy Missy for a day and be crazy someone else. To just kind of focus on one idiosyncrasy that I have and just really expand and blow that up. Exploring the different niches inside or just completely abandoning everything to start from scratch. I don’t know, maybe I just play pretend too much. It really lets me exercise my imagination… in weird and narcissistic ways.
Brad Delzer and Missy in ‘Fat Pig’.
TB: So is acting your primary artistry?
MT: I guess I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none… with an emphasis in acting. I like to fill in whenever I can. I have stage managed and done a couple sound designs, and a bit of properties design. I’d rather be doing something I hate than not doing anything at all. I did lights once too, that was exciting!
TB: Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
MT: One day I want to be Mrs. Lovett (from Sweeney Todd). Or if I was a dude, I’d like to be the balladeer from Assassins, because how cool would that be?
TB: So why those roles?
MT: Well Mrs. Lovett has so much on the surface and then so much underneath. With so much darkness underneath (killing people and grinding them into pies, etc.) but on the surface everything is so beautiful. She’s just trying to cover everything up by finding the good in life while doing these terrible things. I love the dichotomy of trying to balance the monster self with the happy face.
Missy and Hardy Koenig in ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’. Photo Courtesy of Michael Benedict.
TB: What draws you to a production or role?
MT: I think I am drawn to things that let me flex my emotional muscles. A lot of times I get cast as the crazy women, which is nice because I can kind of lean into that. Roles that are really back and forth are fun for me. I really appreciate the complexity of a character. I was in Vonya, Sonia, Masha and Spike last season and that was SO fun because it went from deadpan uninterested to crazy flailing and back so quickly.
TB: One question left, what do you love most about being part of the ensemble?
MT: This is going to sound so cheesy. Since my family is so far away, the idea of the intentional family and getting together with the same people is wonderful. I know that Carrie is going to mother me, and Pam is going to crazy aunt me, and just the sustained relationships with everyone in the ensemble are really great. Many times you do a show and afterwards you don’t really see them again. But at B you can continue to work with those people, and interacting with the same people can be very comforting, and that lets you step out of your comfort zone as well. It’s like spreading your creative wings in a comfortable zone.
Interviewer: Corin Puhalla, Theatre B Promotions Intern
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