Actress explores social issues
Student Nicole Barrett
Sangsuree graduates with
myriad plays, musical shows
and a movie under her belt
Jacquelyn Lewis
Pulse Editor
Some graduates might look back
on their college experiences to re
call Ramen noodles and ram
shackle apartments. However, sen
ior theater arts major Nicole
Barrett Sangsuree will most likely
remember the spotlight.
Sangsuree, a seasoned actress and
musician, has performed in count
less productions at the University,
acted with Lord Leebriek Theatre
Company and directed several plays,
including “The Vagina Monologues.”
The singer/songwriter also performs
publicly on a regular basis, including
at feminist events such as Take Back
the Night. Sangsuree has also
opened for such notable musicians
as Stix and Toshi Reagon.
Lately, the limelight has intensi
fied for Sangsuree, in the wake of her
movie debut in Kurt Voss’ “Down &
Out With the Dolls,” a film released
in March. The movie, a hip, humor
ous look at the struggles of a Port
land-based all-girl punk band, ap
peared at several film festivals
nationally and abroad and had its
Hollywood debut in February. Sang
suree said she hopes the Bijou will
pick up the film in the future.
Sangsuree plays Kali, one of the
movie’s main characters. She said
she auditioned for the film after
stumbling upon an ad in Willamette
Week three years ago. Sangsuree
added that, although “Dolls” is a
spoof of sorts, she enjoyed portray
ing a woman who matures and trans
forms throughout the film’s duration.
“My character is actually the only
one who goes through a change,” she
said. “So I’m glad that I got to repre
sent kind of a reaj person, not just
some stereotype.”
Sangsuree, a women and gender
studies minor, said the film, despite
its inherent silliness, can be empow
ering for women. Kali’s character re
flects Sangsuree’s real-life Thai her
itage; musician Kinnie Starr plays
Reggie, a bisexual band-mate.
“We’re making our own band; we
are totally going for it,” Sangsuree
said. “We all have strong characters
in some ways.”
Sangsuree added it’s important for
Caleb Fung for the Emerald
Nicole Barrett Sangsuree plans to work on her music career as well as her acting career after she graduates.
her to ponder the societal implica
tions behind all her performances.
“At this point, I can’t do theater
without considering social issues —
not just gender issues, but racial is
sues,” she said. “I feel like I don’t
want to make art that I’m question
ing what it’s saying. I want to make
art with a specific purpose.”
Sangsuree said she began exploring
women’s issues and social justice in
high school, but her interest in music
and theater began even earlier. Sang
suree and her brother sang together as
small children. She and a friend
learned to play guitar in middle
school, where they performed im
promptu locker-room shows.
“We made a Christmas tape using
a karaoke machine,” she said, laugh
ing. “We sold them to give money to
the poor and buy a tambourine.”
Middle school antics evolved into
high school cafeteria and “battle of
the bands” appearances, and college
led to myriad other opportunities.
Sangsuree said her current musical
focus is on finding a compromise be
tween the personal and political.
“I think because I’m a woman of
color who is actually trying to be
confident with music in general,
that’s already a feminist thing,” she
said. “It’s hard to find a balance be
tween ‘this is honestly me when I’m
weak’ and wanting to write songs
that are about racial issues. I want to
do that more, but it’s easier for me to
write about love.”
"At this point, I can't
do theater without
considering social
issues—not just
gender issues, but
racial issues"
Nicole Barrett Sangsuree
Senior theater arts major
“Down & Out With the Dolls” co
writer and University alumnus DD
Gheriel said she thought Sangsuree
was the right actress to portray Kali
because Sangsuree’s music and
personality mirrored those of
the character.
“(Sangsuree) played in coffee
houses and was very pure about her
music, which was exactly what we
wanted,” Gheriel said.
Gheriel added that Sangsuree was
eager to do her own stunts, which in
cluded being hit repeatedly in the
head with a garbage can lid.
“It was a very stressful shoot, and
when someone comes in with that
much enthusiasm, it can make or
break a project,” Gheriel said. “In
her case, it really made it. It was a
pleasure to work with her.”
The film is now preparing for re
lease in Australia, and Sangsuree
said her plans after June graduation
include traveling to Thailand, pursu
ing theater and focusing intensely on
music — something she hasn’t yet
had the opportunity to do.
“I’m so busy I can’t see who I am
musically,” she said.
Sangsuree will perform at this
weekend’s Willamette Valley Folk
Festival on Friday at 6 p.m. in the
EMU Amphitheater, and she will also
judge the new song contest, which
she won last year. Sangsuree will also
appear at Cafe Paradiso on May 31.
Sangsuree attributes her success
in “Down & Out With the Dolls” to
the University theater department
and just plain good fortune.
“People try their whole lives to get
what I’ve got, and for me, it was like I
didn’t even realize it,” she said. “It
was fun, which I think is lucky.”
Contact the Pulse editor
atjacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com.
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