We sat down with Abigail Smith Ludwig — one of the stars of Sugar (Some Like it Hot) to hear what she had to say about becoming Marilyn.

Q: What is your history with this production — did you watch it as a child? 

A: Actually, I wasn’t even aware that there was a musical version of this movie until a few years ago. I sort of remember seeing the movie as a child, but it wasn’t until I was older that I fell in love with it. Being able to play this role is just so amazing to me. I have wanted to “be Marilyn” for as long as I can remember and to get to perform alongside my dear friends makes it even more special.

Q: Do you feel that you connect with Marilyn on any levels? 

A: Yes, definitely. My grandmother, who looks just like her, always loved her too so I started loving Marilyn at a young age. I just always felt a connection to her…. like I knew her or something. I’ve read a lot about her and, overall, I think she just wanted to be loved. She had a big heart and loved everyone around her. I think I’m a lot like her in those ways, but she definitely had a very lonely side to her which I do not.

Q: What is the most challenging part about your transformation from Abigail to Marilyn? Makeup? Personality traits?

A: Honestly, this has probably been the easiest transformation for me. I see her face everyday – I have a Marilyn room – and so the look is easy for me to create. I really do feel like we are so much alike when it comes to personality. I recently watched the movie again and it was so interesting to see that we both almost had exactly the same reactions in scenes. I thought that was so interesting and neat. Probably the most challenging thing is trying to talk like her. She always had that high whisper baby type voice and I have the complete opposite of that.

Q: Do you love the beauty mark?

A: Yes! I love it! I have a very small beauty mark under my lip and I used to call it my “Marilyn.” I didn’t realize hers wasn’t real until later in life. She used to move it around and I thought that was so cool. Maybe I’ll get one and have fun with it too! Ha ha!

Q: As a makeup artist, do you feel that you have higher expectations of yourself as far as pre-show prep goes?

A: Yes. I’m kind of a perfectionist and so I have always tried to make myself look like my character as best as I can. It’s fun for me though.

Q: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

A: Not anything major. I have some pictures of Marilyn on my dressing room table. I like to look at her so I can do my best to perfect my look. Sort of a motivation I guess. Everything just falls into place as soon as I put on my red lipstick and pin my wig into place.

You don’t want to miss out Town’s own (and first ever!) food truck round up on Fri. and Sat., March 6 & 7. Pulling up in our lot before curtain will be Poultry in Motion and The Donut Guy.

For your main course, try freshly prepared fried or grilled chicken (Poultry in Motion’s specialty)! Or, you can always opt for one of their other items — wings, hand cut/breaded tenders, pulled chicken sandwiches, queso chicken fries and nachos. Hey — if you are watching the scale (though we think this should be an exception!) you can grab a salad. Drinks will be available and menu prices range from $5 to $7.

And for desert… The Donut Guy features SUGAR (how appropriate) in the form of mini-donuts. Grab yourself a small portion (13-14 donuts) for $4 or go for the gold and get a large portion for $7. But these are just not any donuts — these babies can be topped with some delicious and decadent temptations.

Both of these food trucks are members of the Palmetto Puddin’ Train, working out of the 302 Artisans space on Senate Street. Special thanks to Louis Smith for coordinating this event.

Details in a nutshell:

Who: Poultry in Motion & The Donut Guy – need we say more?

What: Dinner Theatre (Really? At the theatre? Oh, yes!)

When: Fri. March 6 and Sat., March 7 from 6 to 8 pm

Where: Town Theatre @ 1012 Sumter

Why: Why not?

Make your reservations for the show for March 6 or 7 and join us for some food and fun! Call 799-2510! Box office currently open to all members and to the general public on Monday, March 2 @ 12 noon!

We sat down this week to interview actor Chadwick Pressley (Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy) to get a better look at his personal experiences backstage and onstage. Many people know the story line of Driving Miss Daisy from the movie – an African American chauffeur is hired to help Daisy Werthan, a 73-year old white Jewish widow in a time when there is an abundance of racial barriers and prejudices. The stage production of this story allows the audience to focus on the trials that Daisy and Hoke face through their nontraditional friendship. Let’s see what Chadwick had to say!

Q: What is your theatrical background?                                                            

A: I’ve done several shows – Be a Lion – a brand new production out of Charlotte, NC and Five Guys Named Moe at Workshop Theatre to name a few. I really enjoyed playing the lion in Be A Lion because it gave me a chance to play an animal, act, sing and dance.

Q: In Driving Miss Daisy you play a character that faces many challenges. Do you find that the challenges he faces ring true in your real world?                                                                                                                  

A: No, not my world but I’ve heard about racial barriers from my grandparents, so I can relate to the story through their eyes. They told me that you have to get an education in order to make it in this world. They also imparted that you need to do your best in everything that you do.

Q: What is your favorite line or moment from the show?                    

A: When Hoke says to Mr. Werthan, “”Keep them ashes off my upholstery.”

Q: Have there been any great learning experiences?                            

A: I have learned so much about stage acting, projecting and secrets to learning lines. Take your script with you everywhere you go and constantly have your friends and family going over lines with you. Write your parts down and that will help set it to memory

Q: What have been your greatest challenges through this process?

A: Working with such a small cast and having to learn a lot of script, with a broken English dialect/southern drawl. The broken English was the dialect of most African Americans during that time and they had no formal education. With Hoke being an illiterate man, he spoke in a way that reflects a more carefree and no-nonsense type of language.