Stocker Arts Center hosting ‘All Things Equal – The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’

A one-person show may sound like a tall order to many performers, but it’s one that actress, singer and writer Michelle Azar doesn’t hesitate to take on.

“I said yes immediately. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, sign me up,’” Azar says in a recent phone interview.

Azar portrays the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in “All Things Equal – The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” a play written by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and directed by Laley Lippard.

The show on March 21 visits Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center in Elyria.

It helps, Azar says, that she’s performed a one-woman show before.

“I was commissioned to write a story about my family because my dad’s from Baghdad and my mom is from Brooklyn. So I called it ‘From Baghdad to Brooklyn.’”

Azar performed that solo show all around the country for about three years and performed in a two-person play prior to that.

“So I’ve sort of been weirdly preparing for this show,” she laughs.

Though Azar is the only physical character on the stage in “All Things Equal,” she says she has some help from multimedia elements — video projections designed by Mike Billings.

These elements, Azar says, incorporate characters from RBG’s life, including voiceover from her late husband, Martin D. Ginsburg (played by Chris Kaufman), and historical footage of former President Bill Clinton.

Before prepping for this role, Azar admits she only knew the basics about Ginsburg.

“I didn’t know she wasn’t just a dissenter,” she explains.

“She was actually very much the opposite. She came into it saying, ‘I’m gonna be this voice of moderation. I’m gonna be the great equalizer.’”

Azar says the best thing about playing RBG is that she constantly learns new things about her.

“Every day, I read something new, watch something new or learn something new from somebody else. Or I see something new in the script,” she says.

Speaking of the script, Azar says it continues to change slightly thanks to feedback from different audiences.

A changing script isn’t as stressful as it sounds; Azar says her background in television — “NCIS LA,” How to Get Away With Murder,” Criminal Minds” — helps her adapt to changes quickly.

The show, of course, follows the life and career of Ginsburg, promising deeply emotional scenes as well as many humorous moments.

It also takes things further by addressing the political landscape post-RBG, including criticism, specifically from those who believe she should have “left the party” sooner.

Regarding the disappointment some had expressed about her decision not to retire during the Obama administration, Azar says this show decided to “spell it out” rather than ignore it.

Azar explains that while her character doesn’t say she’s sorry, she does say something to the effect of, “I understand and respect that you would be upset with me.”

Azar says she’s received some audience feedback on this choice.

One older man who saw the show told her, “I’ve been an activist and a huge fan, but I didn’t wanna come tonight — somebody dragged me — and I’m really glad because now I can forgive her. Now I can understand.”

Overall, Azar also describes this show as intimate, saying she often feels like the audience is on stage with her.
“Sometimes I am speaking directly to the audience, and we’re in this interchange together about the events that have happened in history,” she says. “We all travel back together.”

‘All Things Equal – The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’

When: 7:30 p.m. March 21.

Where: Stocker Arts Center,1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria.

Tickets: $33 to $40.

Info: stockerartscenter.com or 440-366-4040.