Lucas Hnath
Playwright Lucas Hnath has made a huge splash in recent seasons
with provocative new works like The Christians and Red Speedo, but
never has his audacious voice been on fuller display than now—in
his Broadway debut, no less—with A Doll’s House, Part 2, a bold
sequel to and dissection of Ibsen’s landmark 1879 drama.
Nominated for a field-leading 8 Tony Awards including Best Play, A
Doll’s House, Part 2 is the perfect snapshot of Hnath’s writer’s voice:
fiercely intelligent, wickedly funny, and brimming with emotion and
ideas. It will be exciting to watch which subject—or classic
work—this burgeoning playwright tackles next. Ahead of Sunday’s
big ceremony, we are thrilled to have Lucas Hnath On the Couch for
our special Tony Edition Season Weekly!
What do you consider to be your best asset?
I ask dumb questions.
What is your favorite drink?
Coffee. Or, cold tap water with a splash of lemon-lime seltzer water. I’ve nicknamed this drink “special water.”
What is your favorite food?
“Thrice Cooked Bacon with Rice Cakes and Bitter Melon” from Mission Chinese.
What is your favorite condiment?
Wasabi. Alternately, anything pickled.
What is your current obsession?
The new season of Twin Peaks.
What is the one professional accomplishment you long for most?
I’d like to design either a theme park ride or a haunted house.
What is the one thing you waste too much money on?
Coffee.
What is the one activity you waste too much time doing?
Sleeping. I wish I was one of those people who could thrive off of only three hours of sleep.
What do you consider to be the single greatest threat to your health?
NYC crosswalks.
What is the single best trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
Discipline.
What in the world most thrills you?
Theme park rides. Haunted houses. Magic shows.
What current trend in popular culture most irritates you?
Hashtags.
What is your favorite place in the world?
NYC, followed by Tokyo.
What is the most important trait you seek in a romantic partner?
Transparency.
Do you prefer the company of dogs or cats?
Dogs.
What would have to happen to make today the best day of your life?
Getting a dog.
What is your personal motto?
I like this one I stole this from Suzan-Lori Parks: “I slow down to speed up.” I also like this one from Wong Kar-Wai: “When there is too many things to see, you see nothing.”