What's the Cast of Dog Mom Barking About?

Get to know some of the actors of Dog Mom in this behind-the-scenes Q&A with Katharine McLeod (Liz), Kelsey Stalter (Dog), Marina Re (Nell), and Kraig Swartz (Swing).

You don't want to miss this audience-favorite show at Florida Studio Theatre!

What are you most excited about during your time here?

Katharine: The play! It’s so sweet and funny and tender. And outside of work - the beach, absolutely!

Kelsey: Revisiting some of my favorite Sarasota spots! Food + Beer, The Green Zebra, Lido Beach.

Marina: Making people laugh, doing a great show, reconnecting with old friends, enjoying the beauty of this area.

Kraig: EATING!!!!! Sarasota has some of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Katharine: Long dog walks (when I’m home in a Brooklyn), spending time in nature, knitting, crosswords, exploring the world, and playing with my 7-year-old stepson.

Kelsey: I’m super active. You’ll find me at the gym, walking around town, drinking too much coffee. 

Marina: Beach, bike riding, gym, socializing with friends.

Kraig: Eat.

Do you have any pre- or post-show routines?

Katharine: Preshow: every character I play gets her own playlist, so I love working on that during rehearsals and then using it to warm up with before each performance. Post-show: a delicious snack and a big glass of wine!

Marina: Yes...I am highly superstitious! Must run all my lines before a show, and do a routine my beloved deceased partner and I had before doing a show we called "salute to the hair."

Kraig: Eating.

When you first read Dog Mom, what resonated with you? Was there a particular part of the play that stood out to you?

Katharine: I just love how in addition to Liz finding herself and falling in love with this sweet dog, it’s also about her finding community. The older I get (especially as a woman) the more I realize that we really need community to keep us going.

Kelsey: The dialogue for the dogs! It’s so funny and feels so accurate.

Marina: Nell's resilient attitude having survived an initial bad marriage, her unwavering support of other women, and her NY attitude. As a Brooklyn native, I felt very much at home with Nell.

Kraig: Its message: Unconditional love is hard to find, and when are lucky enough to find it, it's HARD TO ACCEPT IT! But if you can manage THAT part, the rewards are transformative!

Do you have any pets? Tell us all about them!

Katharine: Winnie (full name Winnie Cooper, after the character from The Wonder Years) is my sweet rescue dog. I’ve had her since July 2020 - and she’s been my ride or die ever since. She is definitely my soul dog!

Kelsey: When I was in high school, I was babysitting for a family up the road. They came home with a stray golden retriever and asked if I wanted him! I already had a chocolate lab, named Murphy Brown, but he came home with me anyway! My parents were thrilled - hahahaha. We named him Jesse and he was the sweetest younger-dumber. 

Marina: I have to admit, I was always a cat person! My cat was named Cookie, and she was a wonderful companion when I went through my painful divorce.

Kraig: When I was a boy, we got our beloved family dog from a shelter. We were told not to change his name, because it would make him neurotic or something, so we didn't. Every evening, my father, who was an Army Major and very straight-laced, would take a walk through our neighborhood with the dog, and in his finest ear-splitting drill sergeant bellow, would call out, "TOKER!!! TOKER!!! COME, TOKER, COME!" My brothers and I never said a word.

What would you like audiences to know about Dog Mom before they see it?

Katharine: Come prepared to laugh and have your heart opened. I don’t think you need to be a dog person to love this show - but if you are, it will be all the sweeter!

Kelsey: These dogs are the human embodiment of dog energy: the soul of the dogs, not crawling around and barking.

Marina: Feel free to enjoy and laugh! Whether you're a dog lover or not, you will LOVE these dogs!

Kraig: Bring your funny bone, and maybe a hanky.

What do you want audiences to think and feel after seeing the show?

Katharine: I’d love them to think about slowing down and finding joy wherever you can! And that it’s okay to rely on other people and have them rely on you.

Kelsey: I hope you leave thinking about every pet that you’ve ever loved. I also hope you leave with the confidence to take that next step - whatever that is at this point in your life. 

Marina: The positive message of love, resilience, and opening your heart to whatever comes your way will leave audiences feeling more hopeful and positive especially in these trying times. But mostly I hope they leave having just had a great time!

Kraig: That everyone, EVERYONE is lovable. And that no matter how damaged and scarred over your heart is, you are capable of loving.