Comedian, Actress Rachel Redleaf Presents ‘Larger-Than-Life’ One-woman Show
By: Carla Dempsey| Rachel Redleaf in Too Much of a Good Thing| Images: Jessica Frieling
“Too Much of a Good Thing” Promotes Body Positivity Through Laughter
As a preschooler growing up in Arizona, Netflix's Rachel Redleaf was barely old enough to tie her shoes when her career in the entertainment industry started to take shape.
She began with community theater in Scottsdale, stepping onto the stage at the young age of 4. By college, Redleaf began making the transition from stage to screen acting.
“That’s when I got really into drama and honing in on the more serious aspects of everything,” she said.
In a seven-year stint living in Los Angeles, Redleaf would go on to land roles like Case Elliot in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” alongside famed actors Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Her most recent role as Beth Chapin in Netflix’s “Atypical” brought her back to comedy – her first love.
“I would love to play someone psychotic or something, go really deep and dark. But I do love comedy, especially on the stage. I love being larger than life, over the top,” she said.
As a young woman now living in an arts and culture mecca of the country, the New Yorker is embarking on a new kind of performance, a one-woman show that allows her to express her larger-than-life personality. Learn more through our exclusive interview with the talented actress below.
INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL REDLEAF
Show Details:
Who: Rachel Redleaf (and her alter ego, Rachel)
What: “Too Much of a Good Thing”
Where: 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street, New York
When: 3:10 p.m. April 7, 5:30 p.m. April 11 and 17, 9:50 p.m. April 20.
Tickets: Frigid New York
She fell in love with puppetry in high school when her parents bought her the puppet, also named Rachel. She incorporates the stringed doll into her new show, delivering relatable humor as she tells the story of coming of age and her struggles with body development. But Redleaf said there is a higher purpose in the messaging of the show that addresses serious issues for which she advocates.
“A huge thing for me is body positivity. The show is really about loving that part of my body but seeing beyond what other people see and actually loving myself,” she said. “It’s about Just loving who I am. While you have other people on that journey with you, the important thing is self-love and your mental health.”
Rachel Redleaf in Too Much of a Good Thing| Images: Jessica Frieling
Redleaf said as a comedian, she tries to find the humor in the darkness and uses her talents to help others navigate difficult times and accept their vulnerability.
“I like to make people feel -- whether that’s sad, scared or extremely happy. My goal is to make someone feel something. And then I have achieved whatever I was trying to do,” she said. “I love laughing. In the show, I take everything that has happened to me in my life, and I add comedic elements. I want to show people that it is OK to be vulnerable. It’s a part of your journey, but it doesn’t define you.” For more on Rachel Redleaf, visit https://www.rachelredleaf.com/ and follow on Instagram.