Cecily Strong

'Saturday Night Live' star Cecily Strong talks new one woman show, new cast of SNL and more!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're on with Mario a little bit. What's up your on?
Mario Lopez? Joining me on zoom from Saturday Night Live
actress Cecily Strong. Welcome to the show. How are you, Cecily?
Oh yeah, I'm great. Thank you for having me, Thank
you for taking the time. Um, a lot of fans
freaked out when you weren't on the SNL premiere. That
gotta must feel flattering. Huh yeah, with a little bit

(00:20):
of a surprise too. I was, um not not expecting that.
So when will you be back on us? Now? I'll
be back October twenty nine, So I've we finished our
run in l A on the twenty three. In the know,
head back that week? Nice? Nice? Um? Have you do

(00:41):
you not rehearse until the week of because obviously, with
a lot of cast members leaving, the dynamics going to
be uh different. Um have you have you dealt with
that yet? Or is not until you get back? No?
Not until I get back. I mean that's why I didn't.
I didn't film the credits. Um, I haven't been in
New York since August, so, um, I'll sort of see

(01:04):
what that's all like that week cross age. I mean,
it seems exciting. It's always you know, it's very different energy.
There's it's a lot of turnover, um, more than I've
ever experience there, so it'll be interesting. Yeah, change is
always exciting. Uh. You're currently in l A at the moment,
performing the Search for Signs of Intelligent life in the Universe.

(01:26):
For those not familiar, how would you describe the show? Um, Well,
it's a show written by Jane Wagner originally for Lily
Tomlin um, and it is timeless exploration of really humanity
and it's um, it's very funny, it's also touching. I
think it's surprising and all in all, it's a really

(01:49):
joyful experience. I think one woman show correct, one woman show. Yes,
that's awesome. Ninety minutes straight. Yeah, it's It's probably the
biggest challenge I've ever taken on and the biggest reward
for me. Tip of that to you right there, mad
respect for that. Um, daunting for sure, daunting for sure

(02:10):
for so many reasons. Well what's the biggest challenge, would
you say? And playing all these different characters and it
being won one show. Um. Well, luckily we did the
show um in New York over winter, but that had
its own set of challenges because you know, Amicron had
just made its debut as well. Um, but really I

(02:32):
learning the show, learning how to differentiate these people. You know,
there's even just the geography of one I'm one character
talking to another character, where where people are in my view.
I mean, there were so many crazy things to learn.
And then we also have amazing sound and light design,

(02:53):
but there's a lot of sound cues. We don't have
any physical props in the show, so it's all done
really with these thousands of sound cues that I do
with my stage manager live and that's how we sort
of you can see if there's a locker there, or
a bag or a jar of hair gel or something.
So even just getting all of those physical cues. And

(03:13):
I was not someone who would call myself a mime
in any sense of the word before, so that was
a big thing to learn. That sort of answers perhaps
my next question, because I love theater and have had
the pleasure to be able to do it a lot,
and you can't, uh, when you're doing night shows a
week and you're in a cast, you you have to

(03:34):
hit the certain marks you have to. I realize quickly
there's no improv or creative liberty. You have to stick
to the script. But when you're doing a one woman show,
is that still the case or can you sort of
mix it up a little bit? You know, there's there's
some wiggle room, but it's really I try to stick
to the script, especially because of the sound cue. I

(03:55):
really is like having a scene partner in that way. Um.
But it's a show that you know, it's different every
night with each audience, which of course is all live theater.
But I would say definitely this one. Um, it's kind
of it's been fun to see how people respond and
sort of when they are so moved to maybe even
say something up. So it's in that way I would

(04:18):
like to think it's it stays pretty loose for me,
got it, got it? Good for you? That's awesome. Um.
Also in the works for you the next Garfield movie
with christ Pratt. What can you What can you tell
us about your role? Um? Gosh, I don't even know
what I'm allowed to say, but I will say I
get to Um, I get to play with the Midwest

(04:39):
roots a little bit. If that's I don't that's probably
okay to say. Okay, Yeah, it's always funny. When you're
smar to secrecy, it makes it very difficult to promote.
I know, I know, I don't know. Someday I'll be
able to stay more. But I'm excited to even you know,
doing voice over work. You really it goes in such
piece is you really only see your little piece at

(05:02):
a time, and so not until later when it all
comes together like, oh wow, that was happening. Yeah, that's that.
You mentioned Midwest. Where are you from that I'm from
outside of Chicago. Oh, I can't get more Midwest than that.
Nice you know right there? Yeah? Um, what a much
personal life? Are you married? Be single? Or I'm not married.

(05:23):
I am in a long term relationship. Okay, yes, good
for you. Serious thing, all right, yes, yes, we'll leave
it at that. It's new, it's well no, I mean
it's not new, it's new for me. I suppose. Yeah.
Well you seem happy, so things you'll be working out.
I am happy. Yeah, it's working out. Well. Congrats on

(05:43):
everything professionally and personally. Meanwhile, watch The Search of Signs
of Intelligent Life in the Universe at the Center Theater
Group in l A. It's a great space to watch
the show. Saysa thanks so much for checking in. Thank
you so much. I appreciate it. Okay, take care. I
have a good one and with Mario Lopez