Austin Highsmith Garces – Home Front

By: Paige Zinaman

Q) For fans who don’t know, please tell us the premise for the new play “Home Front” and about your character Annie.

A) “Home Front” is about an interracial couple in NYC who met just after WWII ended on VJ Day. The playwright was inspired by the famous photo of a sailor kissing his gal in Times Square, and he wondered; if that had been an interracial couple, how would they have faired? My character Annie Overton is the white woman of that interracial couple. She just recently moved to NYC from Indiana looking to start a new life after a brief marriage to her high school sweetheart ended when he died storming the beaches of France during the war.

Q) What I love about this play is that it was inspired by the image of the couple kissing in Times Square on VJ Day, yet playwright Warren Leight made it his own. What was that like when you read the script and saw what he had done with it?

A) I didn’t know about his inspiration the first time I read the play. I actually heard about the play when Warren Leight tweeted about a reading he was doing of the piece down in San Diego. Being in an interracial marriage myself and also an avid theatre lover, I responded to his tweet asking if I could read the play. And when I did, I completely fell in love with the play, the story and the character of Annie. Warren has created such rich, layered characters in James, Edward and Annie and he’s telling an extremely important story that is surprisingly relevant today.

Q) This is also taking place in the Jim Crow Era speaking on injustices that equally mirror the conversations many are still having today in the wake of George Floyd and the BLM movement. When approaching this play and the character of Annie, what did you do to prepare to step into her shoes?

A) I’m in an interracial marriage. I’m married to a tall (devastatingly handsome, if I do say so myself) Dominican man. So, a lot of the discovery that Annie goes through, I’ve been through on some level in my own life. I am always worried about my husband, every time he steps out in the world. I feel like my heart has left my body and is walking around completely exposed. Of course, he is extremely capable of taking care of himself, but with everything that is happening in our country, that has been brought to light largely because of social media amplifying the violence against Black people especially Black men, I cannot help but be constantly worried. So, my own life experience definitely rushes into my performance while I’m onstage. When I ask James to “watch out for himself” when he’s down south, that always comes from a real place. I’m a Meisner trained actor, so my approach is always about the reality of doing and it’s largely based in relationship work, which for this play, was very available for me given that my life mirrors “Annie’s” in so many ways.

Q) There are so many themes throughout the play, another being Love Is Love – be it Annie and James or even their neighbor Edward. The message behind that alone was amazing. What have been some of the most memorable moments you’ve had from people who’ve seen it?

A) The audience response to this play is unlike any I’ve ever had. The amount of people who thank us when we step off stage is staggering. I’ve never had an audience THANK me before. With this play, it happens every night. It’s wild! But that is the ultimate goal of art, I guess, to allow people to see themselves or see things in a new way that makes them grow or change their way of looking at the world. This story, that Warren has so beautifully crafted, is really touching people from all walks of life and opening their hearts. We walk into the lobby after the show and people are still in tears. People reach out days later saying they’re still thinking about the show. And that is the beauty of what we get to do. We get to help break down stereotypes and preconceived ideas that people may have, and instead reveal the humanity in us all.

Q) What do you hope viewers of “Home Front” take away from seeing the play?

A) My greatest hope for those who come see our show is that our work as a society in bringing about truly equality and equity is far from over. We have so much work to do in really reaching actual acceptance and equality. People constantly comment on how relevant this story is today even though it’s set almost a hundred years ago. And it’s 100% the truth. I hope people are moved and learn something new from our show too. I had never heard of the Golden Thirteen before reading this play. The contributions of Black Americans are so frequently overlooked or white-washed altogether. And with what is happening in our country right now with AFAM studies and Black history being removed from schools is absolutely heartbreaking and so dangerous. And it’s at times like these that art is so important. Artists are tasked with telling the truth and making sure that the voices that have been silenced are heard. Because if we don’t learn from history, we will repeat it.

Q) How has playing Annie changed your outlook on future roles you take?

A) I’ve never put into any role I’ve ever played the sheer amount of work that I put into playing Annie. This is the hardest role I’ve ever undertaken because of the rollercoaster ride I go on every show. It’s for sure made me look at how I will approach each character moving forward and to try to achieve the depth I’ve hopefully achieved with Annie. But it’s also reminded me why I LOVE theatre so much because as actors, we are actually given the TIME to do this deep work. There is really nothing like working in the theatre!

Q) You’re a part of both the theater world, the television world and you’re a writer. Have you found there to be a connection between all of them and which have you found to be harder?

A) Wow, this is a tough question! They’re all challenging in their own ways. But writing is by far the hardest, for me at least. But it also can be the most rewarding, too! There’s definitely a huge connection between my work as an actor and my writing because I’m able to sort of “hop” into another person’s psyche and figure out how they may respond or what they would say because I’m so used to doing this as an actor. Theatre is very challenging in that what happens on that stage is final. There are no second takes. You don’t get to say, “Oh, hi. I messed up that moment and I can do better. Can we go again?” But TV and film is also its own beast in that you’re not typically given the time and artistic collaboration with the writer and director to find the nuance in the character and story. It’s more instinct based work and trying to get as deep as you can as quickly as you can! All of the above are terrifying but so very gratifying at the same time! I’m so, so fortunate to be able to live my life as an artist.

Q) What is your piece of advice to any aspiring actor, writer, etc. who are still hesitant to pursue their dreams?

A) For actors, get into class and get involved in theatre. Train, train, train!! I actually teach acting at the Ruskin School in Santa Monica. I always tell my students that the only thing in this industry that you can truly control is how hard you work. Theatre is, in my opinion, the best training ground there is. Getting to live a character’s full arch will teach you so much about the craft of acting! Also, watch plays, movies, shows…read scripts and plays. Be familiar with the art being created now. And the art that opened the doors, too! For my writers out there start writing scripts, read books, get into a writing class or writers group. Read other people’s work and find your voice. Write from your heart and write something you would want to watch. Because odds are, other people will want to watch it too. And the most important thing for both is… YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE! Everyone starts somewhere, it’s not too late!

Q) What are some projects you have coming up that fans can look forward to?

A) I co-wrote a comedy feature that I also got to act in too called The Plus One. I’m hoping it comes out some time this year! The talent we got to work with on this film was mind blowing. I also have several other scripts I’m hoping to see move forward in the next year or so. I never believe anything is real until I’m standing at craft services making my cup of coffee. And I’m just hustling and auditioning like always. Auditioning is the main part of an actor’s job!

Q) What would you like to say to the fans and supporters of your work?

A) My goodness… I don’t know how to say thank you in a way that would truly encompass the gratitude I feel for people that support not just my work, but art in general. When someone reaches out and says that they enjoyed my work in something, that’s the absolute greatest feeling. It’s why we do what we do – so that someone else can maybe experience a part of themselves that their own lives doesn’t necessarily give them daily access to. I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart thank you.