'Fannie Lou' Musical

Miki Hanta

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“I think I enjoy expressing. I am attracted to acting, but sometimes I feel it’s a little easier to express with the violin than with words. Sometimes words can get in the way. Music is more like, you just feel it.”

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Miki Hanta is a musician who also acts. Or an actress who also plays violin. Take your pick.

Miki is comfortable with both. She definitely displayed her musician side, however, when she performed with the six-piece instrumental ensemble for “Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou: At Carnegie Hall” on Oct. 9, 2014.

Not feeling the need to choose one art form over the other, Miki is attracted to different aspects of each.

“I started playing the violin when I was 7 years old. My mom plays piano, and wanted me to play violin,” says Miki, who took private lessons.

Her first experience with acting came a few years later.

“I was in a play in school when I was 11 years old. I remember I really enjoyed it,” said Miki. “That’s when I was first attracted to being onstage. I enjoyed the whole process.

“I think I enjoy expressing,” Miki continued. “I am attracted to acting, but sometimes I feel it’s a little easier to express with the violin than with words. Sometimes words can get in the way. Music is more like, you just feel it.”

When playing with large orchestras, for example, “I love the dynamics,” said Miki. “It’s similar to watching a great movie.”

Rather than having to select one over the other at any given time, Miki has found that she sometimes can combine her music and acting interests.

“I found out that there are quite a number of roles that are looking for an actor who can play violin,” she said. “I had a couple of experiences like that.”

Those experiences include roles in “Artaud’s Descendants” directed by Tom Escovar, “Recursion” directed by Sam Buntrock and “Mime Bill” directed by Caroline Mejia. One notable project in which Miki did not play a violinist was Sandra Nixon’s “Mani-Pedi.” For that project, she played a nailist. The film, incidentally, won the 2014 Manhattan Film Festival’s Best Comedic Short award.

Constantly seeking to hone her skills for the stage and screen, Miki studied acting at HB Studio and is currently a student at Ballet Arts.

Miki came to the United States three years ago to study acting. A native of Japan, she found there were not many opportunities there to pursue acting.

“Acting in Japan is not popular. There are not even many performing arts schools in Japan,” she notes.

Miki visited New York for the first time 12 years ago. She remembered that and subsequent trips when it came time for her to complete studies at Gakushuin University in Japan and determine her next move. She had majored in law, but was not interested in that career trajectory, nor one in in lbusiness or economics -- the career “trends” among many cohorts.

“When I came here for the very first time, I fell in love with New York,” said Miki.
“I was interested in film, so I said, why not study in New York?

“I just love the city. There are a lot of people from so many other countries. A lot of people come here to pursue their dreams, so I feel energized.”

While Miki enjoys both comedic and dramatic roles as an actress, she also is open to varied musical experiences.

“I enjoy different music, not just classical,” she said.

Miki performed an exciting range of music on Oct. 9, 2014 for “Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou: At Carnegie Hall.” The mix of genres included jazz, roots, spoken word, opera, pop and traditional musical theater.