Standing, buttoned. Sitting, unbuttoned.

We are no longer a suit-wearing society. I happen to be wearing a jacket as I write. When I sit, I forget to unbutton. A few moments later, I feel tight or uncomfortable and I remember. When I get up, my jacket flaps open and stays that way, for minutes or all day. And if I ultimately re-button, I go through the same cycle again.

A suit-wearing society knew the rules of suit-wearing behavior. The men do this instinctually, they are well-trained. The actors, of course, are trained by directors and scripts, and I imagine many re-takes when Mark Moses or Jon Hamm forgets his buttoning routine. But in the show it looks so natural, it looks like such a norm for these men that we know, we just know, that they are products of their era.

It speaks, I think, to how controlled people were expected to be. When we covet those Mad Men styles, it’s helpful to remember that these were people who couldn’t sit or stand without having to do it “right.”

Okay, I know I’ve been promising this for days and weeks and more, but life is kicking my butt right now. Here is the first part of my conversation with Donielle Artese, who plays Sheila White, the ex-girlfriend of Paul Kinsey. There’s still a lot (A LOT) more to come, but I thought I’d whet your whistles with a teensy bit of our very long, but interesting conversation.

Donielle Artese (Sheila White) flirts with fans at the Mad Men Revue

hullaballoo I’m with the lovely Donielle Artese. She plays Sheila White on Mad Men. She just kicked Paul to the curb and…

Donielle Nooooo! (Laughs)

hullaballoo Heh, heh. So, to start off, I’d like you to tell us a little about who you are as an actress, then a little about your experience on the show. I checked your IMDB page. It’s got some stuff, not a lot, so give me some background on who you are. Where you grew up, where’d you go to school, did you always want to be an actor, that sort of thing.

Donielle I’m originally…I was born here, but then I moved to Detroit when I was two. So I’m essentially a Motown baby.

hullaballoo That’s interesting because when I saw you walk down the red carpet at the Mad Men Revue, I thought you looked just like one of the Supremes. One of the reporters I was standing with even said that: “is she one of the Supremes?”

Donielle Really? Well, my family’s originally from there, and when I was two we all – my mom, my grandparents, everyone – moved back to Detroit. I stayed there until I was about thirteen, and then came back here. In fact, my father was one of the original Motown acts.

hullaballoo You’re kidding! Wow. I bet you nobody knows that.

Donielle I don’t talk about it a lot. I’m not that close to him any more, but it kind of ties in.

hullaballoo Yeah, it does. It’s a good story. So who was he, who did he work with?

Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers - just chillin

Donielle His name is Bobby Taylor of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. His was one of the first inter-racial groups at Motown – one of the smaller groups…they had a few minor hits, and the band included Jimi Hendrix [at one time] and Tommy Chong.

hullaballoo Tommy Chong? Of Cheech and Chong?

Donielle Yes. He’s one of my dad’s good friends.

hullaballoo That’s quite a line-up. Such “high” calibre performers. Heh. Were they that way all the time?

Donielle (Laughs) Most likely.

But it all kind of ties in – it’s actually come full circle for me in terms of my career. I used to be a professional dancer. It was my first love, my first career. And I’d run into these people all the time in the course of that who knew who he was – you know, other performers who were around then. I’d say something like, oh, my father was a singer. And they’d ask about him. I’d say “his name is Bobby Taylor.” Then they’d respond with something like “Bobby Taylor is your daddy?! Bobby Taylor?! He’s one of my best friends!”

He’s also the person who kind of discovered the Jackson 5 – he actually got them into Motown for an audition. It’s funny because when I was a kid I used to say it, and everyone would accuse me of, you know – they’d say “you’re lying.” I became a little skeptical, thinking maybe it wasn’t quite the truth. But it’s in the books. Then I had this full-circle moment. It was early in my career, and I was doing a music video for Michael Jackson. The choreographer arranged for us to meet him, and they gave us something like five minutes each. So I asked if he knew my father, and his eyes widened, and he said “Oh my God. Oh my God. Tell him I said thank you. I was too young to realize what he did for us then. I probably wouldn’t have had this career if it wasn’t for him.”

In the TV movie – the story of the Jacksons — Vanessa Williams, who played Suzanne de Passe, mentioned his name. He wasn’t an actual character in the story, but while talking on the phone she said something like “Bobby Taylor’s got this group he wants me to audition…”

hullaballoo He got a shout out on TV? That’s something. It’s preserved for posterity.

Donielle Yes, it is.

So I guess you can say it’s in the genes. I always wanted to be in show business. When I was a kid, I wrote scripts for the “Facts of Life.” I’d play Tootie’s little sister. I was determined to be Tootie’s younger sister on the show.

hullaballoo Tootie’s sister? Did you have that – the hair, the pageboy haircut?

Donielle I had the little bangs, you know, the perfect little sausage roll…and two little pony tails. I practiced on my roller skates. I wrote scripts for it. I actually had the story, and I tried to get it to her. But I was in Detroit. I was a little girl in Detroit, but I was determined to be Tootie’s little sister on the show. So that was one of my first forays into show business. But I pretty much trained as a dancer.

hullaballoo Did you go to school or train with a particular company?

Donielle I started in pageants when I was little, and trained at one of the local dance schools in Detroit. Then someone pulled my mother aside and said “she’s really talented as a dancer, you should get her into a strict ballet school to get some real training.” First I went to one of the top ones in the Detroit area, then when we moved here, I went to this dance school called the Dupree Academy. It was this really special, magical place – the best training. For summers, I went away to Pennsylvania Ballet. It was a great experience. I still have the fondest memories of those summers at Pennsylvania Ballet. But after a while I just decided I wanted to commit to acting.

hullaballoo What was your first role?

Donielle I did stuff as a child back in Detroit, but my first adult role was on a show called “South Central.”

hullaballoo I remember that show.

Donielle It was just a small, little co-star part. And I thought, “oh my God, I get to talk?

hullaballoo Your first roll you got lines?

Donielle With Larenz Tate.

hullaballoo Such a fine actor. And I mean that in every sense of the word…

Donielle Yeah, it was awesome. It was my first speaking role as an adult, and from there, I’d get little jobs here and there, and I was still dancing — that was my primary job. With the acting, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but for some reason that helped. It’s appealing to people because you’re so nonchalant and you don’t appear nervous or desperate for the part. I’d go to these auditions, but I’d be like “it doesn’t matter because I’m going on tour tomorrow, anyway.” And then I’d get the part. There was this one time I got a commercial campaign. An entire campaign…

hullaballoo Yeah, that’s for, what at least three mediums? TV, magazines, billboards, and maybe radio…and probably for a decent period of time, like a couple months at least, right? What was the product?

Donielle Yes, all of that. It was for hair care products. But I was scheduled to go on tour the very next day. So I was like ahhh…Had I known then what I know now, though…

hullaballoo Yep, we’re all young and stupid once. I’m still trying to grow out of that phase…Who were you touring with?

Donielle The Isley Brothers.

hullaballoo Oh, the Isley Bros. Well that’s nothing to sneeze at. I mean, the Isley’s. They’re legends. That’s a real dilemma.

Donielle Right. I was so excited because it would be my first on-the-bus-tour, which meant I’d be going everywhere with them…

hullaballoo I have a friend who did wardrobe for the Pointer Sisters. She said those tour experiences were just…insane – incredible. Best time of her life.

Donielle There’s nothing in the world like being on the tour. It’s so exciting – you’re right there in the mix of everything. On the bus with them, traveling everywhere, partying, privvy to all their secrets and idiosyncracies…I could tell you stories that would make your hair stand on end…

hullaballoo Care to share?

Donielle Oh, no. No. No, you couldn’t handle it.

hullaballoo God, am I that obvious? Damn. And here I thought I was pretty hip…So how did you get Mad Men?

Donielle I’d just found out that I was in the trailer for a movie that I’d done – You Don’t Mess with the Zohan…

hullaballoo The Adam Sandler movie? You were in that?

Donielle It was a very small role…but, you know what? I take that back. There are no small roles. You know, it wasn’t a very large part, but I’d been talking to the director and he was asking about some of my goals, about some of the roles I wanted to play. And I told him I just wanted to do something to get a little publicity. To get my name and face in front of people. And then I got featured in the trailer, which was something. All of a sudden I got phone calls from five different people saying they’d seen me in the Adam Sandler movie. I wasn’t hard to miss – I was the only Black woman there.

hullaballoo Been there, done that…

Donielle It’s the story of my life. But I got all this attention all of a sudden. And that got me an appointment with a publicist. So they were asking about my work and what upcoming projects I had. I told them about this audition that I was going to after my meeting with them, but I was kind of nonchalant about it. She asked what show, and I said “it’s something called Mad Men?” I hadn’t even heard of it.

hullaballoo What?!?!!!!!?

Donielle I know. That’s how she reacted as well. And she said “you really need to take that part. It doesn’t matter what it is, you should do that role. You need to go online and find out what you can about it because it’s the best show on television. BY FAR.” Of course, that piqued my interest…

hullaballoo I can imagine…

Donielle So I go to the audition. It wasn’t a particularly difficult audition – just a couple of lines — and I think I did well, but I still didn’t understand the excitement. Then I got a call-back, and I told my publicist, who was emphatic that I get the job. Whatever I do, she said, I had to get that job. I said, “okay. Done. I’ll get it.”

hullaballoo Just like that?

Donielle I’m a determined woman. (Laughs) So, I walked into the audition, and there was Matthew Weiner and the casting directors. And I have to admit, that at the time I didn’t know who he was. I figured he was one of the show’s producer’s, but like a lower level producer. I didn’t realize he was the show’s creator.

hullaballoo Yes, I hear he’s very hands on. At least you didn’t get caught up playing the sychophant.

Donielle I didn’t know who he was. I mean, I was smiling at the casting directors because I knew who they were – I definitely knew who Laura (Schiff) was. I’d heard of her, I’d seen her, and probably auditioned for her before, but I had no idea who Matthew Weiner was.

He gave me some direction – “do it this way, now do it this way, now let’s try it this way – this may not be right. I just want to see it…” and I did everything he asked. He said something like, “well, you can do just about everything.” I thanked him, but I kind of shrugged it off. I’ve had thousands of auditions like that, so I didn’t think anything of it. The next day I got a phone call that said I was in the running for the role. I was still nonplused because it seemed like a very small part – just a couple of lines, probably not much of an impact on the story. I thought what’s the big deal? Why the build-up? Just call me if I get the job. Don’t attempt to build me up just to say I didn’t get the job. Blah, blah, blah, that sort of thing. Two hours later, my agent called and told me I got the job. Then I called my publicist and she was so excited. She said “you have no idea. You just got the. Best. Show. Ever.”

It still didn’t hit me how special this job was until my first day on the set, when I got to meet with the hair and make-up and wardrobe people. That’s when I knew these people were serious, and that this was a one of a kind opportunity…

Sorry about that kiddies. Can’t give away too much of the story on the first go around. Tune in next week for more of my conversation with Donielle, and how she approached the role of Sheila.

Sheila’s physical beauty means she is contradicting the view that beauty is wholly Eurocentric or only Eurocentric.

I love this observation! Black women of 1963 were generally only regarded as beautiful if they had European features; thin lips, pointed nose, lighter skin, etc. Sheila is none of these things. She is a great beauty with obviously African features.

Many Basketcases (myself included) were unhappy with how the Sheila storyline played out. But Aulelia sees it differently:

Sheila as a character hinted to the fact that black women in society is an ambigious position from the point of view of non-blacks during that time.

I hope we continue to see interesting black actors, and actors of other races, behave as more than background in Mad Men.

Roberta, Rich, Deborah. We are very short

So, Roberta and I arrive separately, because she works in the city and I’m driving in from Jersey. Traffic was unexpectedly light, the drive had no normal New York snags, and a half a block from 92Y Tribeca, I find a side street with ample on-street parking, which is like the brass ring of New York City life. As a result, I was way early, and as I walk up to the location, there’s Rich standing outside, very handsome in a gray suit which is his wardrobe for the evening, and he quickly gives me a nice hug and thanks me for coming. And I look at him, I’m all bundled up, and I said “You don’t own a coat do you?” He said “No. I tried to get that together before this trip, but…” “They don’t sell coats in LA?” “No, they don’t.” He was standing with a couple of friends, and we all laughed. I kind of wanted to make him chicken soup or something, standing outside coatless in thirty degree weather. We chatted for a couple of moments more and I went in.

Great space! Comfortable and funky, I sat in the cafe drinking yummy cocoa until Roberta arrived. We were stunned at the crowd. By which I mean, every single person there was gorgeous. Gorgeous. Like sprinkled with magical fairy dust gorgeous. We thought, maybe they were all actors, but after the show, we met realtors and writers and other people whose jobs do not require gorgeous. And the bartenders were great too. I think at one point Roberta’s eyes actually, literally, fell out. Not sure though.

Hi, it’s Roberta. My eyes are fine. Improved actually—I think there may be a legitimate healing benefit to seeing this many beautiful people. I promise you, my sister, she does not exaggerate. It was crazy. I’m sitting in the café-ish thing (eating a ridiculously delicious salad) and watching as one. after. another. And all men. It became laughable, like a game. And several even seemed suspiciously heterosexual. (This was Tribeca. High percentage of not so hetero.)

But also, we were both terrifically comfortable in this venue. Like, even the fact that we were miles of less pretty than so many people there (and yet, still so pretty), it was a very warm and smart place. As opposed to the night before, where we were the oldest people in the world. (And we weren’t like, uncomfortable at UCB, just, this was better. This was a place I want to spend more time.)

We were there for a reading of Jacob’s Ladder, a new play about the intersection of the political and the personal in the life of a young Jewish functionary (Jacob Greenstein, played by our own Rich Sommer) in FDR’s offices in 1944. It’s a good play, with some very touching scenes and an interesting subject. It’s definitely got rough spots; it needs some restructuring, the character of Jacob’s wife is poorly defined, and there were definitely a few anachronisms to edit out. But the performance was enjoyable, the actors were captivating, and Rich was terrific. I was especially impressed by Beth Broderick. The rest of the cast was Halley Feiffer, Kathryn Grody, Dean Winters, Shawn Elliott (whom Roberta will tell you all about), and Tom Degnan.

After the reading, there was a lovely wine & cheese thing, and we met many (gorgeous) people, and spent a few minutes with Rich, forcing him to be photogenic.

So. Looking at the program flyer, the name Shawn Elliott is ringing a bell. And he is the only actor not onstage. Typically at a formal staged reading, all the actors remain on stage throughout, either upstage or on the sides, in chairs and following along with the script. This actor was not, so there was a bit of buildup. (He was only in one scene in the second act, but also, he was playing a bit of a dignitary, so it worked, him not being there until his entrance.)

I grew up listening to the soundtrack of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Our family listened to a great deal of musical theatre, and both of my parents (that’s two houses) had this double album. And I discovered it somewhere around 3^rd grade, and fell in love with it. I would sing all the music, and sing it well—I’m gonna stand by that today.

Four actors in the original off-broadway cast of Brel at the Village Gate. And I’m only like, 70% sure that Shawn Elliott is one of them, because it’s the kind of name you could confuse with a different but similar name, and he totally could be the guy, but he could just as easily not be the guy, and I’m trying to work out the age, and I’m texting for lifelines (oh, to have an iPhone!).

It’s him. During the post-show schmooze I approach him, and start in slow (you look familiar, what would I know you from) and he goes right to it fairly quickly, and I’m dying. Not stupid dying, just, wow. I explain how into it I was and at what age. We agree I was a weird little kid. And then he introduces me to his wife, DONNA MURPHY. It just keeps getting better. They were lovely, and I hung out a little with Donna.

And hey Karl, Rich told us that Katherine Jane Bryant is definitely called “Janie” by her friends.

Mingling! Donna Murphy, Judith Light, many handsome men, and then home again, with a brief Twilight Zone-like stop at a park & ride off the New Jersey Turnpike.

I saw Donna Murphy and Judith Light spot each other, point, Donna goes, LOVE YOU! And they go in for the hug. I spoke with one of the playwrights. I befriended the furry guy who had just installed the sound system (kind of Animal from the Muppet Show, but a little softer. Not like, softer than a puppet, but like, sweeter than Animal). Deb has the permanent loyalty of the playwright’s adorable teenage niece. We each got ourselves a new gay. It was quite a night. Plus, y’know, cheese.

And Rich. Let me reiterate what Deborah said. He is luminous. He could argue that we are biased, but I have to say, we’re not that nice. We probably wouldn’t trash him, but we might sidestep. Both nights, in both very different performances, Rich is a star. Absolutely masterful performer. And seriously? Hot.

It’s really really beautiful.

But no, I’m not bringing it to work. Unless I agree to take the month of June off.

(Hi! It’s Roberta. Evy is short for Evelyn, and it rhymes with Chevy to the Levee.)

Shortly before the show, Rich came out, saw some good friends of his waiting, and gave them big hugs. Then Roberta, in her mad-cute way, said “Hugs?” gesturing towards herself, and Rich gave her such a sweet hug, and then me, and we were happy ’cause we’re easy like that.

(Me again. I was totally channeling Dr. Evil.)

The UCB Theater is in a crazy basement space, the shows are free, there’s a line for stand-by seats, the beverages are reasonably priced, and it is pretty damn glorious. The structure is, someone (a guest performer) tells a story from their life, and then the improv troupe works off of that story. Rich was the guest monologist.

(2nd show is free. Okay I’ll stop now.)

But wait, I get ahead of myself. First we arrive and the lovely Emily tells us that there are seats reserved with tape that says “Lipp.” This makes us happy. Remember how I said “easy”? Yep. Tape does it. And then we met the almost-as-lovely Austin, and we talked improv and Mad Men and such. (That was mostly Roberta, who has experience in improv.)

We poked around the block a little, and then went in, put our coats on our (taped) seats, and got on line for the ladies room. Now, about this time, Roberta and I were noticing that we were the oldest people there. Like maybe there was one other person in the building over 38. So we were standing there joking about how old we were. To each other, and I think not at all audible to anyone else around us.

Because a minute or two later, the woman standing behind us said:
“How old are you guys? Because I’ve never seen anyone your age here before. Do you like it?”

Roberta and I just gaped at each other. Did she hear us talking? But no, she was dead serious. The whole “do you like it” was what really got me. Like us old people don’t have that “humor” thing, so what are we doing there?

Fucking hilarious.

Then the show started, and it, too, was fucking hilarious.

Rich had kind of a thankless task, telling stories and then standing back while everyone else was riotous. The improv was fast and furious and we laughed a lot. Rich, without actually doing any “comedy,” was charming and wry and kind of charismatic.

By the way, a very handsome guy. Harry Crane is a dorky character, but Rich Sommer is not Harry Crane. He’s got warmth and presence that doesn’t make you think “nerd,” even if you know about the games. He tells sweet, self-effacing stories about Space Camp and his brother Ryan and his love of magic that spun into some wonderful comedy, but were also charming in their own right.

After the show, we said our goodnights, and outside we met the amazing Dyna Moe. Dyna was hanging with friends and we were heading to the car, so it was a quick hi-bye, but it was great to see a real 3-D person. She looks just like her picture.

Okay I’m reeeally tired.

The improv show was AWESOME, and I’m falling asleep so this is about all I’m writing right now.

We met Dyna Moe as well, briefly. Literally recognized her from her self-portrait, even though Matt Weiner wasn’t all hugging on her.

More about the show and Rich’s role and how he was just really nice, plus Deb will tell the AMAZING story about the girl in the bathroom and what she said to us.

But it was a great time. Go see a show there.  Tell Emily and Austin The Lipps sent you.

And PS, before we met Rich, we went to my brother’s and met Evelyn. She’s new. 5 pounds, 7 ounces of heavenly nieceness.

Here, Dyna offers a little description of what’s coming.

Oh, and Deb and I got the official Mad Men calendar too. It’s pretty cool, filled with S1 shots. Fortunately I need like 3-4 calendars in my life, so I can get ‘em all. I’m hoping that Dyna’s will be office appropriate, but it will depend on what images she uses (like, if Freddy is peeing, or Roger is puking, or Betty is peeing, I’m not gonna want to have my co-workers stare at that for a month).