When ‘English Teacher’ wanted to tackle jocks in drag, Stephanie Koenig said, ‘Pick me, coach’
As a storyteller and observer, I find myself deeply moved by Stephan Koenig’s journey. Her life is a testament to the power of persistence, resilience, and the transformative influence of YouTube. From waiting in those non-equity lines in the freezing cold of New York City, to moving to Los Angeles when she was 23, Stephan’s tale resonates with many aspiring artists who dare to dream big.
11 years back, Stephanie Koenig crossed paths with Brian Jordan Alvarez for the first time, as they were both selected for a student film at UC Santa Barbara, despite having already completed their college education. From that moment on, their bond became immediate and strong.
In a recent video conversation, Koenig stated, “We were laughing so heartily together, the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with it.” He added, “It felt destined. After that encounter, I walked to my car, sensing I had found a true friend and something extraordinary was unfolding.”
The event continues, but on a significantly larger platform. When Alvarez developed “English Teacher,” his new FX comedy where he portrays a gay teacher dealing with the school politics in Austin, Texas, he chose his frequent web comedy partner Koenig to play the character of Gwen Sanders, another teacher.
The daffy-but-sharp best buddy of Alvarez’s Evan Marquez, Gwen is infused with can-do optimism and an energy that would be right at home in a classic Hollywood screwball comedy. Koenig also wrote one of the season’s best episodes, “Powderpuff,” which runs Monday after the pilot (both episodes will be available to stream on Hulu). It gleefully demonstrates one of the series’ strengths: a deft ability to wrap a hot-button issue — in this case, drag — in a friendly package without watering anything down.
Following her impressive dramatic supporting role as the adaptable Fran in Apple TV+’s “Lessons in Chemistry,” Koenig now has an expansive stage to display her substantial comedic talents, showcasing a flair for physical comedy that seems like a natural extension of her years spent as a competitive dancer from Rochester Hills, Michigan.
When inquired about whether she and Alvarez have a similar sense of humor, Koenig subtly jokes: “No, we don’t.” However, it’s clear that they’re in sync when it comes to comedy. After a decade of working together on various web projects, these close friends are now jointly taking center stage and sharing their classroom.
In response to being asked about what makes Koenig amusing, Alvarez turned the tables during a video interview by stating, “There’s hardly anything she does that isn’t funny.” He further explained, “It’s those unique thoughts you can see in her eyes that just make you laugh and keep laughing.”
As a film aficionado, I’ve found myself consistently in awe of her acting prowess. “We frequently discuss how the finest performances are those we couldn’t rehearse if asked; they’re simply genuine reactions that the camera happened to capture.” She excels at this. She’s so natural on screen, yet consistently dependable.
Plus, he adds, “her writing is exceptional.”
Without a doubt, it’s her writing that fuels the storyline of “Powderpuff.” This concept originates from a custom predominantly observed in Texas, as well as in the Midwest where Koenig was raised, where high school girls compete on the football field against each other. In this tradition, the boys often dress up as cheerleaders.
In Texas, drag shows have unfortunately been labeled as a conservative “pet peeve,” being criticized by some as a negative influence on young generations. However, in the narrative of “English Teacher,” it’s the student LGBTQ+ community who expresses their concerns, asserting that the jocks’ cross-dressing is merely a joke and disrespectful towards students who genuinely identify as transgender or nonbinary.
When football players approach Evan for assistance, he decides they will exhibit genuine and courteous behavior throughout their performance, giving it their all. To achieve this, he enlists the aid of a popular local drag queen named Shazam (portrayed by renowned drag artist Trixie Mattel). This isn’t just about wearing dresses and applying makeup; it’s about going further.
“It’s a beautiful image to see a bunch of jocks dressing in drag and just dancing,” Koenig said. “It was all just very exciting. When it was time to do the outline and pick who was going to write the specific episode, I was like, ‘Pick me, coach.’”
As a devoted film buff, I must say that this particular installment showcases an intriguing trait of the series – its knack for veering off in unexpected directions when you least expect it. In essence, while many viewers might anticipate the show to move in one direction based on a given topic, it surprisingly takes a detour. As the series’ creator, Koenig, pointed out, “The show excels at exploring subjects that spark heated debates among audiences, but then it cleverly goes against the grain of what you’d anticipate.” In simpler terms, this episode was crafted to take a sharp left turn, which is precisely what makes the series so captivating.
As a movie reviewer, I’d rephrase that line like this: Interestingly enough, there’s a touch of behind-the-scenes humor in the football scenes. While Gwen appears clueless about the sport, Koenig and her sister surprisingly have a knack for it. That’s because they learned the game from their father who, despite his hopes for sons, ended up coaching two girls instead (“He wanted boys, but he got two girls,” she admitted).
Growing up, Koenig primarily focused on perfecting her jazz dance skills. Later, she pursued drama studies at Michigan State University. Upon graduation in 2009, she decided to test her luck on Broadway as a stepping stone towards her film aspirations, and relocated to New York.
“Early one morning, I stood in the long lines for non-equity roles, braving the frosty chill,” I recalled. “In my small railroad apartment in Queens, I remember thinking, ‘This is it.’ Then, my partner at the time offered some insightful guidance – if I truly aimed to act on screen, Los Angeles was the place to be. At 23, I made that move.”
She expressed that she has no regrets, but added that if someone had advised her earlier to skip New York and head directly to Los Angeles, it would have saved her time. She explained that being in the city for an extended period is necessary to find one’s footing, and moving there at 23 years old was essentially starting behind everyone else (who were likely already established). Notably, this interview took place at Escondite, a downtown LA eatery where she worked while pursuing her dreams.
Immediately upon my arrival, I crossed paths with Alvarez. Subsequently, I landed roles in productions like “The Offer” and “The Flight Attendant.” Additionally, I penned, directed, and starred in a humorous take on spy movies titled “A Spy Movie” (2021), alongside Alvarez. Together with Alvarez, we almost had a project picked up but it didn’t quite make the cut. Following that, there was “English Teacher.”
Essentially, Koenig and Alvarez embody the spirit of the YouTube era, as they released their work piece by piece to a dedicated fanbase, including the comedy series “Stupid Idiots,” which was penned and helmed by Koenig, featuring both him and Alvarez. When it came time for them to take bigger strides, they were well-prepared and polished.
Koenig expressed his heartfelt appreciation for YouTube, stating that it allowed them to connect with their own audience. He is thankful he didn’t start out early in the industry because it pushed him to utilize his voice, direct, write, and create content featuring himself, ultimately demonstrating his abilities.
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2024-09-02 13:31