Interview: Actress Tamberla Perry On Her Leading Role At The Goodman

By Melody Udell in Arts & Entertainment on May 20, 2013 6:20PM

Chicagoan Tamberla Perry stars in the Goodman production of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.

In By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, now playing at the Goodman, Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage explores racism from the lens of 1930s Hollywood. We caught up with native Chicagoan Tamberla Perry — playing the lead role of Vera Stark — to discuss her career, love of entertaining and the Illinois lottery.

CHICAGOIST: In a nutshell, playwright Lynn Nottage’s play is about the struggle of African Americans wanting to break into Hollywood in the 1930s. As a born-and-bread Chicagoan, what is it about this play that will appeal to Chicago audiences?

TAMBERLA PERRY: I think one of the coolest things is that the title role is being played by one of Chicago’s very own. I pull the Illinois lottery numbers on WGN, so at the very least, you will see a familiar face on stage.

C: You play the lead role of Vera Stark, a struggling actress in a time when African American actors were only offered bit parts and stereotypical roles. What is it about Vera’s story that drew you to play this part?

TAMBERLA PERRY: Vera and I have a lot of similarities. She is a strong black woman who had to hustle in 1933, and I am hustling today in 2013. We both have a passion for entertainment and will stop at nothing to do what we love. Sometimes that means compromising one’s beliefs.

C: While the play deals with the heavy themes of racism, Hollywood and politics, the script is actually extremely funny. What was your initial reaction when reading the play? Were you surprised to learn the play is actually a comedy?

TAMBERLA PERRY: I love Lynn’s work. All of it. I was excited to see that it was not a depressing story about missies and mammies, but more so about exploring the plight of the black actress, drawing parallels from then and now. It is a conversation. Women have come up to me after the show to tell me, “thank you for reminding me that the struggle continues.” Now I will say it’s not nearly as bad as it was, but it is hard getting work, not just for black actresses but for everyone in this business. It just so happens that there is a bit more work out there for others.

C: Nottage has said that she hopes Vera Stark is a conversation starter. What do you hope comes of starting this conversation in Chicago?

TAMBERLA PERRY: Theresa Harris, Louis Beavers, Hattie McDaniels and many many more have paved the way for so many of us. Although Vera Stark does not technically exist, her story is infused with all these women’s stories. When I watch old movies now, I watch them with a less critical eye toward the women who played these parts. This play has helped me to understand that these roles were the only options that women of color had at the time. Hopefully in Chicago, audiences will go home, do some research on these women and, if nothing else, realize they existed and understand what it took to endure this business back then.

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark runs through Sunday, June 2. Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800 or online.