Actress Juliana Canfield

Paloma Tank Dress by Zankov

The Canfield Effect

INTERVIEW BY BIBI XIA
June 2024

Talent: Juliana Canfield
Photographed by: Sophie Elgort
Styling: John Tan for Visual Tales
Hair: Akihisa Yamaguchi | Forward Artists using Phyto Hair
Makeup: Linda Gardin | L'Atelier NYC using Mac Cosmetics

Juliana Canfield is an accomplished actress known for her dynamic performances on stage and screen. Making her Broadway debut in the play "Stereophonic," Canfield has garnered critical acclaim, earning a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her meticulous preparation, where she prioritizes vocal health and camaraderie with her castmates. Off-stage, Juliana's passion for music has deepened through her role as a pianist and vocalist in the play, reconnecting her with her musical roots. Her versatility and curiosity drive her to seek diverse and challenging roles, making her a captivating and evolving talent in the world of theater.

Blue knit top and skirt by Reverie by Caroline Hú, black lace shell sneakers by Adidas Originals x Reverie by Caroline Hu Samba; prickly pear necklace (Fall 2020) by Presley Oldham

Coral peach corset jacket & Sylvie pant, both by Adeam by Hanako Maeda; square peep-toe ankle-strap sandal in black velvet with a hand encrusted rhinestone buckle and sculptural heel by Paul Andrew; glacier necklace (Winter 2023) by Presley Oldham

Blue flowers print circle lace silk dress by Reverie by Caroline Hú; prickly pear necklace (Fall 2020) by Presley Oldham

BIBI XIA: Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines that you like to do?

JULIANA CANFIELD: I like to get to the theater with plenty of time to spare. As a band, we go through all the music and rehearse. If the show is at 7, we'll do that at 6. I like to get to the theater around 5 because I like to do a vocal steam to get my cords nice and moisturized. While I'm doing that, I share a dressing room with my castmate Sarah Pidgeon. She and I do a download of the last 12 hours since we last saw each other. We just have a little chat, and it's funny because the other day, for whatever reason, we didn't have time for our 30 minutes in the dressing room, and it really threw off my show. It's become essential to sit there before we get into costume and enter the world of the play, just to check in with my friend.

BX: Sarah Pidgeon and you both made your Broadway debut and were nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play for the Tony Awards. Were you able to learn and support each other when the play first started?
JC: It's really exciting and rare. Besides Sarah and me, three other cast members were also nominated, and six of us were making our Broadway debuts. We all evolved into the Broadway scene. Once we moved into the theater and shared a dressing room off-Broadway, our friendship blossomed both on and off stage. The friendship between Holly and Diana informed the friendship between me and Sarah, creating a sweet camaraderie. When the Tony nominations came out, she was one of the first people I talked to, and we just screamed on the phone for a minute. The friendship between the two characters in the play is mirrored in real life; they're proud and supportive of each other in a gnarly, grungy rock and roll world. Our support for each other is genuine.

BX: Are there any funny or surprising behind-the-scenes moments from the play that you can share?
JC: Yes, at the beginning of the play, in the first scene, I go off stage to get a pear that Holly has sliced up backstage. Sometimes the pears aren't ripe, but I have to eat them anyway. We have a backstage war over this pear. I'll go to get the pear, and Will Brill, who plays my husband/ex-husband, will have taken slices, so I don't have as many. We get competitive over the pear even though it's my character's pear. My line in the play is, "No, that's my pear. Go get one in the kitchen," which is how I feel when Will or anyone else comes after my pear. The pear appears on the little shelf with our props backstage as if by magic. I've never seen a box of pears, but I heard Val, who runs our props, brought a really good pear from home, knowing we'd love it. It's so sweet of her.

Blue knit top and skirt by Reverie by Caroline Hú, black lace shell sneakers by Adidas Originals x Reverie by Caroline Hu Samba; prickly pear necklace (Fall 2020) by Presley Oldham

Blue flowers print circle lace silk dress by Reverie by Caroline Hú, square peep-toe ankle-strap sandal in black velvet with a hand encrusted rhinestone buckle and sculptural heel by Paul Andrew

Metallic plissé blouson dress by Lafayette 148; pebble bracelet (Summer 2020) and one of a kinds earrings from Todd Oldham Maker Shop Collaboration by Presley Oldham

Blue enveloping dress, blue feather ramie pleats stole, blue enveloping square bag and off white subtlety shoes, all by Issey Miyake

BX: What are you most looking forward to about attending the Tony Awards?
JC: I've never been before, and I'm so looking forward to it. I think most of all because we'll all be together, not just in our beautiful theater but out in the world. We'll all look handsome and gorgeous. These nominations, lucky number 13, make me feel like we've already won. I'm so proud of the show and that we'll be there to represent it. And, I mean, I hope we win a couple of awards—that'd be nice.

BX: Would the band consider going on tour one day?
JC: We played one concert early on in the run, and I was really scared. I didn't want to do it because I thought, "I'm not a rock star; I'm an actress." But being on stage and playing music is a magical, out-of-body experience. Now that we've done it once, I think a tour could be fun. This process has been incredible. We started out as a cast of actors playing musicians, but now we're a band of musicians. It's satisfying to actually do something every night—playing and singing live together is really gratifying.

BX: What aspects of New York City do you most enjoy?
JC: I moved to New York in 2017, and it felt like a return. I'd always wanted a New York address. Some people move here and have unmet expectations, but I love it more every day. I love being out on the streets, seeing people of different stripes co-mingle peacefully. The city invites and encourages diversity. Unlike Washington, which feels like a political town, New York is multilingual and has people with 101 different kinds of interests. All these communities inform each other and make the city richer.

BX: What is your favorite Broadway show?
JC: Other than Stereophonic, there was a revival of Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks, which I think is the greatest American play by a living writer. I had never read it before, even though it's a curriculum staple. Watching it was jaw-dropping—the performances were virtuosic. It was in the Golden Theatre, where we're doing Stereophonic now. When I'm discouraged or uninspired, I think about that experience, and it gets my engines going again.

BX: What was the last band or solo artist you saw?
JC: We opened for Will Butler and Sister Squares. Will wrote the music for our show, and used to be in Arcade Fire. Watching him play rock music felt like a magic trick—he transformed into a rock star. Their music is fantastic, and knowing how lovely they all are makes it even better.

Pria embellished mock neck fringe top and Ora high rise embellished jean, both by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet

Champagne halo embroidered PJ shirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim

Brocade Jacket and wide-leg trousers, both by Stella McCartney; one of a kinds earrings from Todd Oldham Maker Shop Collaboration by Presley Oldham

BX: Since your portrayal as a pianist/vocalist in the play, has your relationship with music changed?
JC: I come from a musical family on both sides. My mom's mother went to music school to be a clarinetist, and my dad's family includes pianists and conductors. I took piano lessons until I was 11 but I didn't enjoy practicing. Singing was different because it was on my own terms. This play has allowed me to engage with music my way. Now, I have so much fun with it. I sometimes get home after a two-show day and noodle around on my electric piano. I even started taking piano lessons again and want to continue after the show. I'm grateful to the play for reconnecting me with music.

BX: What types of roles or projects are you looking forward to in the future? Any specific genres or characters you're eager to explore?
JC: This part has been totally engaging, requiring all of me. I hope for a similarly challenging role, though something different would be great too—maybe wearing a corset or doing something physical like shooting a bow and arrow. I think if the script is great and the director has good ideas, the possibilities are endless. I don't have a specific path to follow; I'm just looking for the next exciting step.

BX: It sounds like you want another challenging role in a good way.
JC: Yes, I do. In drama school, a teacher said to keep the target wide so it's easier to hit. My dreams for what's next feel abstract, and I like that. As long as I feel engaged, happy, and curious, I'm good. Part of being an actor is seeking novelty and variety. The more challenged I feel, the more interested I am. I think life is better when you're curious.

BX: Would you say Holly was your most challenging character to date, or were there other roles that were more challenging for you to play?
JC: Professionally, Holly has been the most challenging. Every job has its challenges, but this one stands out. Playing a Brit, relearning the piano, and finding the guts to play and sing in front of an audience added to the challenge. Holly stretches in many emotional directions, and I've never had that before. People ask what she's like, and it's hard to answer because she's so many things. David wrote a character who feels like Quicksilver, and that's tough and fun to play.