Quick Chat: Ari Pollack

APT: Hello, Ari! Welcome back to APT! What have you been up to since the last time you were here in 2018?
Pollack: When I was here in 2018, I worked as the Assistant Company Manager and I went on to work as the Company Manager at a couple other Shakespeare-focused theaters in Virginia and New Jersey. I also spent about six months during the pandemic working in refugee resettlement. I’ve done a lot of traveling, and I’m happy to be back in Wisconsin!

APT: You joined our Development team in March of this year! How has the transition from Company Management to Development been in your experience?
Pollack: I’ve found that a lot of the day-to-day, literally “what am I doing” has been pretty similar. The main difference is just who I’m doing it for. The other difference to me has been how regular my hours are in Development. Company Management can be kind of an all-over-the-place kind of job, and I find myself settling into more of a 9 to 5 routine here.

APT: Your first show at APT was Julius Caesar (2006). Do you have any APT productions that were influential to your love of theater and Shakespeare?
Pollack: Absolutely! Obviously, seeing Julius Caesar was a pretty influential moment for me. It was a really good production. Brian Mani scared the crap out of my then 7-year-old brother (maybe still).

When I was in middle school, my family started coming out to APT every year on my birthday or as close to it as possible. And on my fifteenth birthday, I saw Waiting for Godot, and I think that’s still be my favorite show I ever saw here. I became kind of obsessed with that play ever since, and I actually got to assistant direct the same play at my last job. I got to make my in-rehearsal-room debut on a production of Waiting for Godot last summer. That’s just one!

APT: What are you looking forward to in your first summer back in Wisconsin?
Pollack: I’m really glad to just be back in Wisconsin! I’m looking forward to getting together with friends on the terrace on the weekends. I’m looking forward to riding a tube down the river. Looking forward to drinking a lot of beer outside!

And, as I mentioned, I grew up basically seeing every APT show every season, and I haven’t gotten to do that the last few years. We do really good shows, and I’m excited to see them ALL.

APT: When you're not working, what do you love to do in your free time?
Pollack: I play a lot of video games and watch a lot of TV. Now, I’m neck-deep in the early-access version of Hades 2. TV-wise, I’ve also been loving the anime Delicious in Dungeon, and of course the NBA playoffs.

I love going to karaoke. I had a weekly spot in New Jersey and I’m looking for something here. So, if anyone knows anywhere on the west side of Madison…let me know. Or you can catch me at Slowpoke for karaoke on the fourth Friday of the month, too.

I also run three times a week, and when I lived in more mountainous areas I really liked the hiking. I’m hoping to get to Devil’s Lake at least once this summer!

APT: Here's your Wild Card Question: What's on your ins-and-outs list for this summer?
Pollack: I haven't thought about this at all. I'm going to give you three for each.

IN
1.) Those plaid shorts from like 2008 that were made out of like 30 different plaids.
2.) Big hats. I know big hats were already in, but EVEN BIGGER.
3.) Wading. Like in the water. You've heard about swimming - it's time for wading.

OUT
1.) Swimming. Obviously.
2.) IPAs. I've been saying this for years, but I'm sure it's going to happen this time.
3.) Waiting (with a t). We need to get there on time.

APT: Those are all great! Do you have anything else you'd like to share?
Pollack: No!