Maryam Basir chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about starring in “Night of January 16th,” which is being performed at Theatre Row in New York through October 18th.
The production stars Matt de Rogatis (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”), Christa B. Allen (“13 Going on 30”) as Karen Andre, and Maryam Basir as District Attorney Flint. There will be a total of 12 performances.
The entire play takes place inside a courtroom during a high-profile murder trial. International business tycoon Bjorn Faulkner (Matt de Rogatis) allegedly fell or jumped to his death from the penthouse of the Faulkner Building in New York City on the night of January 16th.
What has the experience of ‘Night of January 16th’ been for you?
So far, it has been incredible! It’s a completely new experience for me, as this is my first theater production. I’ve never done anything Off-Broadway, on Broadway, or anything like that before.
I was thrown into the deep end, playing such an impactful character who spends so much time on stage and has so many lines but it has been a great experience so far.
What do you like most about your character?
I love the fact that District Attorney Flint is powerful, strong, intimidating, and a little scary.
Traditionally, this role has been played by a man, so there are certain expectations that come with it. I see that as a welcome challenge. Having a woman play the role creates a new power dynamic in the courtroom. It flips the entire dynamic, and I love that. Audiences aren’t expecting it, either.
What has this show taught you about yourself?
The show has taught me that I can do hard things. I already knew that, but this is a whole other level!
Theater is different from film and television because it’s live. You can’t call “cut,” and you can’t simply redo a scene if you make a mistake. You have to recover quickly and have each other’s backs at all times because anyone can make a mistake at any moment. The most important thing is that you recover as a team.
It teaches you a different level of teamwork and exercises muscles you might not have had to use before.
What was it like working with Matt de Rogatis?
Working with Matt is crazy, and we love him! He’s incredibly imaginative and has so many great ideas. I love that he pushes things beyond what you think is possible and expands your imagination. I’ve really enjoyed working with him.
What is the title of the current chapter of your life?
I would call this chapter Milestones.
What would your superpower of choice be?
I wouldn’t want to read minds because I don’t necessarily want to know what everyone is thinking. I think I’d want to fly or maybe time travel.
Flying seems like it would be so peaceful, you know, just getting away from everything. So, either flying or time travel!
What does success mean to you?
At the end of the day, success means peace, inner peace, and happiness. It means being able to say that I’m doing the things I love and that make me happy, without too many worries or struggles.
It also means having the people around me, especially my family, be happy and in a good place. And it means having the things I want, whether those are material things, opportunities to travel, experiences I want to have, or simply being surrounded by the people I love. That’s what success means to me.
What would you like to say to your fans?
I appreciate you all so much! You give me drive, energy, and enthusiasm. You make me want to keep doing what I do, and you inspire me to be better.
What is the one thing you want fans to take away from the show?
I want fans to feel inspired. I want them to see something new and different and to feel something, as well as to experience real emotions.
I also want them to find a way to relate the show to their own lives, because that’s when it truly makes an impact. If you can feel something, connect with it, and be inspired by it, then that’s enough for me.
To learn more about Maryam Basir, follow her on Instagram.
Read More: Rave review of “Night of January 16th.”
