We were lucky to catch up with Carly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

‘JANE EYRE WASN’T A WHORE’ is the mot meaningful project I’ve ever worked on. Much like me, it is a work in progress.

I have read every Brontë novel, and I firmly believe that there is no one who understands modern dating more than Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. My friends make fun of me because every time they find themselves in a messy situationship, I find a passage from a Brontë novel, text it to them, and say “See! This is just like you! You’re not alone! This woman who died 150 years ago totally gets it.”

‘JANE EYRE WASN’T A WHORE’ follows people-pleaser Anne Brauer who lives a life plagued by uncertainty. As she ventures to be a stable, working actor in New York City, she finds herself caught up in a situationship of gothic proportions. Much like in a musical how, when emotions get too strong, people burst out into song, in this the characters will burst out into passages from Brontë novels

Not only does this project allow me to address my para-social relationship with these three literary icons, it allows me to flex more of my artistic muscles than anything I’ve ever worked on. I am producing and performing in the solo-show version of the story at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August. Earlier in the summer, I am directing and staring in the short-film version of the project. I am also writing the story as a pilot script. As far as my skills as a stand-up comedian go…I think it’s funny!

It has been a dynamically thrilling, soul nourishing, and challenging experience to pour so much of myself into a project.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a NYC based actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. I have been acting for as long as I can remember, doing every play that the Tri-state area had auditions for.

After leaving the community theatre world behind, I received my BFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut, performing in several productions with the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. While at school, I was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress by Connecticut Critics Circle Awards for my performance as Mary Warren in ‘The Crucible.’ I lost to Judith Ivey, but that still feels like a win. I also spent a semester in London studying Shakespeare.

In 2019, I graduated from acting school. Before the industry came to a grinding halt, I performed in and produced my first full-length play in NYC, and worked as a resident actor with Vulcan Theatre Company.

During the pandemic, my love for stand-up comedy was born. I had tried stand-up before the pandemic, but with the industry closed, Zoom comedy and sketches filmed in the comfort of my bathroom became my artistic outlet. I also co-founded a production company which has now produced two pilots.

Today, I am constantly acting, writing, and performing stand-up comedy across the country! My second play ‘Nosebleed: a “comedy” about hypotheiticals, mail, and crazy loud sex” had a full run at The Tank and is now being published by 1319 press. I am also pursuing my MFA in Screenwriting at Columbia University.

TLDR: I love art! I love comedy! I love creating!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

As someone who wears a lot of hats, there is a pattern I’ve noticed from people, both creative and non-creative. I’ve found when I start taking time to focus on one of my hats, people assume that I’ve taken the other hats off. Questions or comments suggesting that one of the hats has been hung up forever, no longer in fashion!

But in fact, and I think others who take on a lot of roles will feel the same, every hat is always in use. It’s not about being one. It’s all a journey to become a well-rounded creative and person.

I’m often reminded of this quote from Oscar Wilde. “If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.”

The artistic life doesn’t really have a finish line, which is why, often, it can seem like nothing is happening or everything is chaos. In fact, my journey, I think, is about exploring every facet of myself, and use everything I have to create. It’s not about accomplishing a label and touting one hat as better than the rest. It’s about a constant journey of self-discovery and self-expression.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

GO SEE LIVE SHOWS!

Whether it’s a play, concert, stand-up comedy show, sketch, I don’t know! There is so much cool new art happening out there, and the only way to make sure it keeps happening is to go see it. I know we all live busy lives, and using your limited free time to take a risk on some un-tested, un-reviewed art can sound daunting, but the good outweighs the scary.

The next generation of great art is out there. Don’t you want to be able to totally flex on everyone you know, saying you saw them when? :D

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlypolistina.com
• Instagram: @carlypolistina
• Youtube: @carlypolistina

Image Credits

First: Matt Scott Shots

Last (theater picture): Ian McQueen