In the Spotlife: Haley Hunsaker of 'Extremities'

Extremities Funky Little Theatre Company
 

MEET HALEY HUNSAKER
Marjorie in Funky Little Theatre Company’s ‘Extremities,’ running through May 28 in Colorado Springs.

  • Extremities Haley Hunsaker QuoteHometown: Pueblo
  • Home now: Colorado Springs
  • College: I’ll be finishing the last year of my undergraduate at The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a performing-arts degree.
  • Twitter-sized bio: I’m back in school after a hiatus to finish my degree. When I’m not at school or the theatre, I’m teaching swimming or enjoying my days with my boyfriend and our two dogs.
  • What’s your handle? @haley.hunsaker on Instagram
  • Why are you an actor? It’s fun to take on the persona of anyone from anytime or place. More so, it’s an important job to be a storyteller. I can’t think of anything I’d rather be. 
  • What is Extremities all about? It’s about a woman named Marjorie who is attacked and nearly raped in her own home by a man named Raul. She fights back and by some luck turns the tables on her attacker, ties him up and locks him in the fireplace. Once her roommates arrive home and learn what has happened, they must decide what to do with him. This play challenges so many things, two of the most prevalent being the justice system and how far people will go to protect themselves. The play was made into a 1986 film starring Farrah Fawcett and James Russo.
  • Tell us about the challenge of playing this role: The biggest challenge for me has been the attack scene. It’s extensive and gritty, I’ve never had to do anything quite like it before. It’s difficult to stay in the scene and maintain some composure without getting too upset about what’s happening. I think I want the scene to be over just as quickly as Marjorie does. 
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  • Why does this play matter? Extremities was written in the ’80s, yet here we are so many years later struggling with the same problems. Sexual assault and stalking are devastating crimes that often go unreported or are handled poorly in a court of law. This play shows the kind of impact and psychological trauma these things have on not only the victim, but everyone involved. 
  • What do you hope audiences get out of seeing Extremities? The target audience for this play is not people who’ve experienced sexual assault or stalking – but rather those who haven’t. Maybe those who don’t feel very strongly about it or just haven’t been affected by it. We hope this play will spark a conversation or, better yet, inspires people to go out and do something about it.
  • Gene WilderIdeal scene partner: I grew up adoring Gene Wilder (pictured right) in all of the Mel Brooks movies, and I think he’d be an absolute trip to work with. He seems like he’d be the type to keep you on your toes, never knowing where the scene will go.
  • What’s one thing people might not know about you? I’ve been lucky enough to coach adaptive swimming and work with the Navy Wounded Warrior Team, which coordinates the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, and provides resources and support to their families.

  • Funky Little Theatre Company’s Extremities: Ticket information

    • Written by William Mastrosimone
    • Directed by Grant Langdon
    • Through May 28
    • 2109 Templeton Gap Road, Colorado Springs MAP IT
    • Tickets $11-$15
    • For tickets or information, go to funkylittletheater.org

    Performance schedule:
    • 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays
    • 4 p.m. Sundays

    Cast list:

    • Haley Hunsaker
    • Desiree Myers
    • Sophie Thunberg
    • Dylan McClintock   

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    Meet Carley Cornelius of Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Constellations
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