The Under 30: Sara Vanasse
The Under 30 is a series that explores the lives of the young people around us. Learn more about why we’re doing it here.
Sara Vanasse // 25 // Philadelphia, Pennsylvania // Actor & Theatre Maker
The first few weeks and months of dating someone new presents a number of awkward moments. When is it reasonable to start letting your guard down, when do you talk about some of the weirder traditions your family has, when is it acceptable to wear sweatpants to date night? So on and so forth.
When Sara and I started dating there was an additional layer of intrigue. I knew she was an actor and I knew she was in school learning how to expand upon her craft, but I didn’t really know what she did. I knew it wasn’t traditional theater, she wasn’t going to be in a production of “Oklahoma” necessarily, but instead her and her collaborators devised and performed new pieces. They were, essentially, acting as SNL writers/cast members, taking the world around them and fitting new work into different frameworks. If this sounds sort of difficult to grasp without seeing for yourself, that’s because it is.
Beyond not really understanding what exactly she was studying, another question lingered in my mind. Was she going to be good?
Now, I admit that is sort of a shallow thought to have, but it was pervasive! Of course you want to enjoy and be proud of the work your significant other does, to cheer them on and encourage their successes, and to support them in their career. Typically, you have some understanding of what kind of work a person does fairly early on in the relationship. After about 4 months of dating, I still had next to no real idea.
Thankfully, when it came time to watch Sara’s first performance, I was enamored. She was excellent, and the work her and her classmates put together was truly impressive, unique, and interesting. Over the past three years, I’ve been blessed to watch all of them grow as performers and develop more and more complicated pieces. One group she was with sold the rights to one of their pieces to a college, and they worked with and directed the students in a large-scale version of their show. Other groups have put on immersive performances that challenge all kinds of societal ills in though-provoking ways that cause you to laugh and cry.
If Sara hadn’t been the talent she is, I don’t think much would have changed. I’d have still supported her in her efforts to find the path that was right for her, whatever that entailed. The fact that I’ve had the chance to stand by her as she’s developed into the fiercely talented, strong, activist woman she is today is a blessing I do not take lightly.
Oh and she’s like…really cute.
Straight From the Source
What’s your Favorite Hobby?
Getting crafty. I am pretty sure I could MacGyver anything out of hot glue, macaroni elbows, and some felt. I have many random skills that converge in a weird multi-media artistic way. E.g. The day I decided to make a wreath out of my grandmother’s 1970’s plastic silverware. I’m also super into watching reruns of Will & Grace (it’s coming back in 2017, y’all! Hopefully the world doesn’t end by then!) And last, but most certainly not least, pickling things. I feel like I could file this under “getting crafty.” As many will tell you, if you ask for pickles, pickles you will get. They offer the opportunity to get creative (you like garlic? Dill? Peppercorns? Maybe lemon? Jalapeño?) and they’re the perfect snack. Or snack at the bottom of a Bloody Mary.
What’re you most proud of?
A piece I devised with my collaborators was performed by some fiercely talented women at Stephens College in Missouri! “Now, Sara,” you might say, “what do all of those words together in a sentence mean?” WELL basically it means that a few years ago, me and some of my lady friends from grad school got together and did a ton of research about this group of women in World War II called The Night Witches. We then made our own play about them. These women were badass pilots for the Soviets. Their story was relatively unheard of when we first began creating the piece three years ago, and now their story is more important than ever. They were fighting a battle for equality back then that we are still fighting today. It was such a gift to work with these eager, daring, and ferociously bright young college students on something so important, both personally and globally.
Where do you hang out?
Loco Pez with a spicy margarita. Salt, please.
Or submerged between the cushions of my couch.
What would your ideal job/career be?
When I was in elementary school I said I wanted to own a flower shop. That still seems like it would be really lovely and full of good smells. Other than that, I would love to be actively performing full time. What that looks like, I don’t know. But I know that all of the odd creative elements of my life will get tied together in a wholly unexpected way that I cannot imagine for myself. But if not, you’ll find me in a bucket of peonies surrounded by pups.
What’s the best advice you would give?
To listen, truly listen. And to dress more like Fran Drescher circa The Nanny, 1994.
What do you wish you did more of?
Hiking. The joke in my family is that Sara Hates Nature. While this is partially true (NO ONE LIKES SMELL OF THE MONKEY CAGES AT THE ZOO), I think it is so exhilarating to haul-butt up the side of a mountain, weaving between trees and hopping over roots, to finally reach the top and to look out. I find it is one thing that truly relaxes me and gives real perspective on the small inconsequential problems going on in our lives. It is also the only time I allow myself to wear baseball caps, so that’s fun. I feel pretty sporty.
Why didn’t you make Forbes 30 Under 30?
Wasn’t fancy enough. But now? I’m Fancy.
You can keep up with Sara here.
