Exclusive: Treme Star Lucia Micarelli Talks Annie, Music, NOLA, and the Rest of the Season

By: Adam Wright

HBO along with David Simon and Eric Overmyer has taking us deep into the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, post-Hurricane Katrina.

Treme is the new drama on HBO that not only showcases the people of New Orleans, but also the culture, and the music.

Lucia Micarelli stars in this breakout hit-show. She plays Annie the young violinist. I recently had the chance to talk to Lucia about Treme and her music. Here’s what she had to say.

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Adam: First I want to congratulate you on the 2nd season pick-up already. How does it feel knowing HBO liked Treme so much to give it another season after one episode? And Treme is a hit! How does it feel to be apart of a hit on HBO?

Lucia: Thanks so much. It feels amazing – I’m so proud to be part of this project and this team. I think “Treme” is great art with real gravity – much more than just a TV series.

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Adam: During my research for this interview, I learned a lot about you. This is actually your first time acting. How did you get involved with the show?

Lucia: My management got a call out of the blue from a casting director in New York. The show was looking for an actual violinist to play this role, and had come across my work. I went in for a read, then a proper audition for David [Simon] and his team.

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Adam: Before acting, you were already a musician since you were very young. What first got you into music? Who were you’re musical influences growing up?

Lucia: My mother got me into music – she started me on piano and violin, as well as dance lessons when I was three. Only the violin stuck, though… growing up, I really only listened to classical artists – I especially loved Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, David Oistrakh and Gidon Kremer, the Guarneri Quartet and Martha Argerich. It wasn’t until later, in my teens, that I started to listen to non-classical music. Then, I got into the classics – Miles, Coltrane, Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. (laughs)

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Lucia Micarelli performing on tour

Adam: You’ve had the opportunity to tour with Josh Groban and Jethro Tull. Tell me what it was like to be invited to tour with them.

Lucia: Very different, but equally fun. Groban’s was a big lush arena tour, with a string section and beautiful projections and a massive stage – when I’d have to step into the spotlight, the sheer magnitude of a packed arena (of teary women) was overwhelming. Total adrenaline rush… the Tull tour was grittier in a way that I loved – the audiences came to ROCK, and the band were legendary road dogs. I learned how to get dirty and play dirty (musically!) and how to hold my own with the boys.

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Adam: And now you play Annie the violinist on Treme. Tell me the differences and similarities between you and your character.

Lucia: Annie is a bit younger than I am, slightly more naive… also, I think her relationship with Sonny is one of her first, and so she may not have the kinds of boundaries or expectations in a relationship that I would – though, I have certainly been in romantic situations similar to hers in one way or another. What I find most compelling about her is that she’s on the brink of womanhood, finding her way  – which I feel is best expressed through music and the contrast of her ability and conviction while playing to her sometimes self-deprecating or self-defeating words and actions. Her entry point into maturity is through her music, and she learns there first – I love that about her, and definitely identify, as I think a lot of musicians do. There is so much that music teaches us about life, and it so often leads the way.

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Adam: Being your first time acting, were you intimidated or nervous? How did you get through it? Who helped?

Lucia: I was nervous, but part of the beauty of a team like this is that wherever I turn, there’s someone with knowledge and experience willing to share a bit with me. This is a true collaborative effort, so everyone has had a hand in my training – PAs, directors, writers, other actors and musicians – even the locals in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana).

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Adam: Treme does a great job using the music and culture, and integrate it into the show and its characters. I feel like it’s very genuine. How important to you think is it for this show to stay true to New Orleans and the people? What was is it like to shoot on location in New Orleans? And how do the local people respond? Have they come up to you to tell you what they think of the show?

Lucia: I’m so glad that you feel it’s genuine. It’s very important for this show to be as honest a rendering as possible – I think anything false would ring so, and undermine our intention. The stories we are trying to tell are very real, and there is a true dedication to the city by our writers that I personally think comes through loud and clear. The locals I’ve talked to have been very positive – and there are so many locals involved in the show, that it honestly couldn’t have happened had they not been supportive of it.

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Adam: Much of your on-screen time is with your on-air boyfriend Sonny, played by Michiel Huisman. Tell me what it’s like to work with him? Can he keep up with you while you play the violin? (laughs)

Lucia: Michiel is a lovely man and actor – I got lucky in casting for sure. He’s a talented guitar player outside of his acting career, and had a band for a number of years in Amsterdam.

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Adam: During the last couple episodes, we sense this tension between Sonny and Annie. The first thing is when Annie was invited for a gig without him. Is Annie starting to grow apart musically from Sonny? In the last episode, we saw more tensions with Sonny inviting someone to stay with you guys. Plus, Annie suspects he’s using again. What can you tell us about the raising tensions between the young couple?

Lucia: No spoilers! (laughs). All I can tell you about the tension between them is that you don’t want to miss a moment of the drama. Tune in next week!

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Adam: Speaking of last episode, we saw the whole cast together during thesecond-line parade. I thought it was a powerful scene, and it was great to see everyone together. But that all ended with a bang, highlighting how volatile things are in Treme. Again, how important is it for the show to stay as “real” as possible in these situations? What was it like to shoot that?

Lucia: It was pretty fantastic, actually. When I saw the episode, I got a bit sentimental remembering that day, and how we chased after the second line trying to get everything shot… it’s so rare that we’re all in a scene together – we had a blast. I think they did a great job capturing the spirit of the parade – and also the chaos and disappointment following the gunshots.

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Adam: What can you tell us about Annie in these upcoming episodes? Can you give us a preview of what’s in store for the 2nd half of the season?

Lucia: Nothing! No spoilers! Watch the show! (laughs)

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Adam: If/when your time on Treme is over, do you think you’ll be acting more? Or will you focus solely on music? Or both?

Lucia: Music will always be a focus in my life. Whether or not I’ll be doing more acting, I couldn’t tell you just yet. I hope that I can continue to be as challenged and inspired by whatever work I do as I am with this project.

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Adam: Finally, I ask this to all my interviewees. What have you been watching on TV lately?

Lucia: Just Treme, and the Food Network.

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I would like to thank Lucia for her time. You can see her and the rest of the cast on HBO Treme, airing on Sunday nights.

(Special thanks to NOLA pic for providing the Treme Second-Line picture. You can visit their work at http://www.nolaPIC.com)

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Posted by Adam Wright on May 16, 2010. Filed under Features, News, Preview. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry