In 2009, Tiffany Hobbs arrived in Dallas as an SMU graduate acting student, and not even three years later she was named to Dallas Theater Center's Brierley Resident Acting Company. The former Miss Hunt County Texas (not her only pageant title) has popped up onstage here in Dallas — in roles as varied as Ebenezer Scrooge's lost love, Belle, in A Christmas Carol, and raunchy Kit Kat Girl Fritzie in Cabaret — as well as her native Georgia, Ohio and San Francisco.
Next up, she plays one of the Pigeon sisters in Dallas Theater Center's The Odd Couple. Hobbs recently took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun and sometimes ridiculous questions.
Full name: Tiffany Denise Hobbs
Role in The Odd Couple: Gwendolyn Pigeon
Previous work in the DFW area: A Christmas Carol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Cabaret (DTC); Blues for Mister Charlie, The Miser, You Never Can Tell, Our Town, La Dispute (SMU)
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia
Where you currently reside: Dallas
First theater role: Chorus member in The Sound of Music
First stage show you ever saw: Beauty and the Beast
Moment you decided to pursue acting: I saw Chicago when I was in the sixth grade. I realized then that I could act, dance AND sing on stage (at the same time, even!), and that’s when I seriously began pursuing acting in the theater.
Most challenging role you’ve played: Berniece in The Piano Lesson. I want to play her again someday!
Special skills: Singing, dancing, writing
Something you’re REALLY bad at: Swimming
Current pop culture obsession: The “Natural Hair Movement” being embraced by black women.
Last book you read: Eat, Pray, Love
Favorite movie(s): The Shawshank Redemption
Favorite musician(s): John Legend, Ella Fitzgerald, The Temptations
Favorite song: The Temptations’ “Silent Night”
Dream role: Shug Avery in The Color Purple
Favorite play(s): A Raisin in the Sun
Favorite musical(s): The Color Purple
Favorite actors/actresses: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis
Favorite food: Sushi, turkey burgers, macaroni
Must-see TV show(s): The Office
Something most people don’t know about you: I was born with 12 fingers.
Place in the world you’d most like to visit: Italy
Pre-show warm-up: Singing and physically warming up to my friend, Julia Easterlin’s, first album
Favorite part about your current role: I get to employ a British dialect!
Most challenging part about your current role: Finding the truth in the (sometimes) absurdity of my character
Most embarrassing onstage mishap: One whole sentence I said came out as gibberish (yes, complete gibberish). It was as if my voice was ready, but my brain hadn’t caught up before I opened my mouth.
It was in the middle of a heated moment in the play, so I didn’t kill the moment by going back to fix the sentence. I just held on to my intention and kept moving forward — completely embarrassed, however.
Career you’d have if you weren’t a performer: I would have continued my medical school pursuit and became a doctor.
Favorite post-show spot: Village Burger Bar
Favorite thing about Dallas-Forth Worth: Lots of GOOD food!
Most memorable theater moment: Holding hands with and feeling the love of my dearest friends and artists during the last few moments of the song “I Know Where I’ve Been” in Hairspray
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Dallas Theater Center's The Odd Couple runs March 15-April 14 at the Wyly Theater.
Tiffany Hobbs as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray.
