Tonight is the night of the highly anticipated Pink Campaign on Broadway, a star-studded event that will explore the way breast cancer touches peoples lives and raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Guess who’s hosting the benefit? Saturday Night Live alum and our friend Rachel Dratch! We had a quick chat with Rachel to discuss the event, Nanette Lepore and her upcoming role on Ugly Betty.
Tonic: So. How did you get involved with the Pink Campaign on Broadway?
Rachel Dratch: I met Rachel Helson at an event, and a few days later she contacted me to see if I would do it. I had read an article about her in the New York Times, saying that she was some like, producing prodigy, if there is such a thing. So anyway, I said I’d do it.
Tonic: Do you have a particular interest in breast cancer as a cause, like a personal connection?
Dratch: My father lost his sister to breast cancer when I was a baby. The whole acting business can be, like, you know — I’m always kinda looking for a way to “give back,” as they say. But I’m kind of terrified of hosting things.
Tonic: I’m sure one of the reasons they asked you to do it is they don’t want it to be a sad event.
Dratch: Yeah, I know it’s kinda hard to think of like, where’s the line of making jokes.
Tonic: I know! What’re you gonna do? Seriously, are you gonna make cancer jokes?
Dratch: No, no (laughs). No. Um, I don’t know what we’re gonna do. We’ll try to keep it light.
Tonic: So why are you nervous about hosting things?
Dratch: It’s so funny, I kind of have terror about public speaking. People are like “How can that be? You’re an actor!” but to me, the public speaking, hosting thing is like a whole different function in your brain than playing characters.
Tonic: What are you looking forward to about the event?
Dratch: I’m looking forward to, you know, pitching in. People will excuse me if I’m not fully … hilarious.
Tonic: I’m sure they will. On to more important things: Do you know what you’re gonna wear?
Dratch: I think I do! I’m wearing a red dress, though I guess I should be wearing pink … I don’t have anything pink.
Tonic: I think red’s OK.
Dratch: It’s from Nanette Lepore. When I said I was doing it, she gave me the dress.
Tonic: I love Nanette Lepore!
Dratch: I know me, too. I always, always wear her stuff. They were like “for an event! We’ll just give it to you.” It’s a good cause, so they pitched in as well.
Tonic: So what have you been doing lately?
Dratch: I just did an episode of Ugly Betty actually. I got to play twins, so that was fun.
Tonic: A twin?
Dratch: Two twins.
Tonic: Oh, both twins, like a good one and a bad one?
Dratch: No, they’re both kinda bad. I wouldn’t quite say evil, but like, two people you wouldn’t want to sit next to at a function.
Tonic: Awesome. So, last question: in your article for Tonic you said you were going to become the Norma Rae of Poland Springs. Any progress on that?
Dratch: No, absolutely not. It doesn’t seem like people are being very diligent about recycling, though. If I were on a show on a regular basis, I would definitely be Norma Rae, but I’d feel kinda weird coming in as a guest. Don’t wanna seem like too much of a crusader.
Tonic: That’s fair.
We think what Rachel is doing is just great, so here they are, reasons to love Rachel Dratch:
- Her ringtone is “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel.
- She’s donating a “whole different function in [her] brain” to breast cancer.
- Need I say it? Debbie Downer.
- She’s into recycling — wicked awesome.
- Who needs a reason? She’s Rachel Dratch!
You can read more about girl-wonder Rachel Helson here, and click here to read Rachel Dratch’s Tonic article in which she began her quest to become the Norma Rae of Poland Springs!
Photo courtesy of Jeff Vespa/WireImage.