Meet Molly Lyons | Theatre Artist: Actor, Director, Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly Lyons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was exposed to the arts at an early age. Due to my father’s work, we traveled the world and I was constantly soaking in museums, galleries, concerts, live performances. We were at an outdoor venue once, watching A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I wandered away from my parents toward the front. Puck, the mischievous fairy, was in the audience performing a monologue and, nimbly, incorporated chasing me giggling with delight, back to my seat with the poetry of the Bard. I started dance at an early age, some music lessons, then my dance teacher recommended me to a holiday musical that needed a kid, and I was enamored. Then classes, a touring reader’s theatre company, scholarship to university then graduate school, and onward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a theatre artist: actor, director, and teacher. I was encouraged by my teachers to do all three and I find them all deeply fulfilling. My work in the theatre has been about half classical plays (predominantly Shakespeare) and half brand-new plays. I feel my training in the classics gives me great insight into new works.
I have spent a large portion of my career working on ensemble techniques to make the creative space a safe one to take risks, a group that supports one another, and, frankly, steers me away from unpleasant or self-focused folks who are not prone to supporting other artists.
In my original acting studio in Seattle, I was led to create an actors’ retreat with like-minded instructors, that was successfully produced for a decade until I moved into a caregiver role with my mother. The techniques my colleague and I discovered enabled artists to grow deeply in the span of a week were techniques I brought into my directing and acting.
I think the most unique approach I use is in the audition process. Unlike the tradition of actors standing alone onstage and performing monologues, I prefer to offer ensemble auditions that, actors say, feels more like being in a workshop and is a helluva lot more fun than working alone. It not only helps the actors shine and enjoy themselves, it enables the casting team to see which actors are most likely to work well in the ensemble that is the production of a play.
The ensemble focus of my path has given me the greatest joy and the greatest results.

At different times in my career, I’ve had to step away to be a caregiver for a loved one. Often those times were at my most productive and when my career had great momentum. Regaining that momentum is not possible in our business but creating a new direction is.

Like all of us, I’ve experienced betrayal, broken promises, chaotic work environments, cruelty; folks with no discipline, little talent, and, unlike the great actors, some real stupidity. Oh, and a lot of misogyny.

In the face of all those experiences, I learned I have choices. The safest one is not to work in unhealthy environments or with unhealthy people more than once. Then, more complicated choices about my heart: how to prevent it from hardening to the point that I am unable to do my work but, rather, that I keep it open, soft, and vulnerable, thereby ready to take on the journey of the next play.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to drive folks from the airport to Sentinel Peak to get a 360-degree view of Tucson and all of the surrounding mountain ranges. From there, depending on the time of day, I’d visit one of my top favorite family-owned Mexican restaurants: La Indita, Teresa’s Mosaic, El Minuto. For another incredible view, there is the rooftop terrace at The Graduate Tucson. I live on the southwest side, with 3-4 AirBnBs on the property I co-own with 2 other folks. On this side of town, I love Little Mexico Steakhouse and, until recently, Coyote Pause restaurant. Sadly, Coyote Pause has closed. Also, on the southwest side, I followed the advice I was given when I moved over here: if you see a taco truck or tamale vendor, STOP & BUY! For weekend brunch, I love Coronet Cafe and its charming, dog-friendly patio for its delicious brunches or late-night cafe fare with craft cocktails. I [delete – used to] love to drive over Gates Pass, after brunch, into the city to spend the day at museums, Old Town Artisans, and finish with dinner at the iconic El Charro. I get a lot of nature lovers who visit and we love to explore the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park West, and Tucson Mountain Park. There are endless trails on the west side that we love to hike. For those who want to venture farther, some of my favorite places that are less than an hour away are: Tubac, Madero Canyon, Elgin wine tasting. An actor friend has a vineyard in Elgin and can be found pouring Arizona wines in the tasting room at Deep Sky winery. But nothing can beat sunsets on my own patio or chairs around the firepit, with a view of Red Butte, the music of so many songbirds, hoot of the Great Horned Owls, the joy of coyote jamborees, and stargazing at constellations like Orion, Pleiades, Big Dipper, and more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My parents never missed seeing a production, while they lived, and I miss them at every opening night. They were always so encouraging, understanding what it meant to pursue dreams and to break boundaries, and they never suggested I “get a real job” or back up career. When discouraged or disappointed, they were always there with an encouraging word and their abiding faith in me. I meet so many artists who did not have that kind of encouragement and I’m ever grateful (& always miss it)!

I did have a mentor from my university, Dr William James, or Uncle Billy, as he was fondly called. He cast me in my first lead and challenged me to dig deep, be a leader, and encourage others. I went to him countless times when I had a difficult decision or was stuck. He, too, had a faith in me that never waivered.

The absence of voices and the presence of those proudly beaming faces is bittersweet: I was blessed to have them and will miss them always.

Website: www.mollylyonsactor.com

Instagram: @redbuttetucson

Youtube: redbuttetucson

Other: Acting Studio/Classes: www.greenwoodstudios.org

Image Credits
1. Rebecca Calvo, Photographer 2. Scott Griessel-Creatista, Photographer 3. Molly Lyons, Photographer 4. Molly Lyons, Photographer