Meet Sutheshna Mani – Female FBI Agent Cod in SDMT’s “Catch Me If You Can”!
Meet Sutheshna (Suthe) Mani, who is making her SDMT debut in Catch Me If You Can as FBI female agent, Agent Cod.
A graduate from Cornell University with a B.S. degree in Communication with concentrations in Media Studies and Persuasion & Social Influence and now works in Digital Marketing.
Suthe has loved performing arts since she was a child: Singing, dancing and acting. She is classically trained in Bharatanatyam (South Indian classical dance) for twelve years and Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) lessons for three years.
Suthe is excited to make her first debut at SDMT, playing Agent Cod! Her last production was an original outdoor performance she helped write the script and lyrics for, called “Block by Block” with Maraya Performing Arts. Her recent and favorite stage credits include Comedy of Errors (Adriana), Coronado Playhouse, Rocky Horror (Janet), OB Playhouse, Hall Pass (Olivia/Collette), Blindspot Collective as part of La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW festival, and Chasing Fear: a staged reading (Voska), Cygnet Theatre.
We caught up with Suthe to learn more about her:
What inspired you to get into musical theatre?
I’ve always been an imaginative, energetic person since childhood. That married with my love for singing which I did throughout high school and college, as well as doing 12 years of dance, it was the perfect outlet.
Why did you audition for CMIYC?
This is a very interesting story. I saw Frank Abagnale’s Google Talk a few years ago and it’s the only talk I’ve watched straight through without interruptions. he was such a captivating speaker it made me understand how he was able to get away with a lot. He seemed to naturally intuit a lot about people’s needs and desires, etc. Unfortunately, he exploited those needs a bit to get what he wanted, but I wanted to be a part of telling this multi-layered fascinating story, and why he did what he did.
(Click HERE to see the Frank Abagnale’s Google Talk)
What is your role and give us the significance of it?
My role is Agent Cod. I’m one of the first female FBI agents, despite J Edgar Hoover’s long rule of no women in the FBI. It’s significant because it shows that scrappiness, sharpness, toughness isn’t necessarily exclusively masculine qualities. Toughness can be expressed in a multitude of ways. It doesn’t have to be metaphorically baring your teeth, it can be calmness, it can be perceptiveness, being intuitive, being even-tempered. I need to don the qualities of men with my suit to conform, but I can still be feminine, a woman, and do my job just as well.
What is your favorite scene?
The gun range scene. It’s just so awesome and it’s the ammo that is needed for Don’t Break the Rules.
What is your favorite song?
Don’t Break the Rules. It’s a constant crescendo that gets bigger and bigger, it’s insane and I love it.
What do you admire most about the first FBI female agents?
Their attitude. It’s very hard to be the first of anything—especially when you being in that position is not viewed favorably. There’s a ton of pressure and they dealt with it with such grace and class.
What encouragement would you like to send to young future FBI female agents?
The only opinion that matters is yours. No one else’s. Do the job to the best of your abilities. That’s all that truly matters in the end. And in the end, a good job is what people will recognize.
What is your dream role?
Angelica in Hamilton
Thank you Suthe – we love you being our first female FBI Agent in Catch Me If You Can! Click HERE to visit Suthe’s website to learn more about her~
To learn more about original two first female FBI Agents, Susan Roley Malone and Joanne Pierce Misko story:
CLICK: Celebrating Women Special Agents: Joanne Pierce Misko
CLICK: Celebrating Women Special Agents: Susan Roley Malone
SDMT Presents “Catch Me If You Can” | February 11 – March 13, 2022
Director: Allison Spratt Pearce
Choreographer: Xavier J. Bush
Music Director: Richard Dueñez Morrison
Click HERE to purchase tickets!
