The Things that 'Joy and Pandemic''s Ella Dershowitz Can't Perform Without

Now in its world premiere at The Huntington, Taylor Mac's new play "Joy and Pandemic" aims to explore "the complex and ever-evolving relationships between science and faith, art and tradition, and parents and children," according to a press release. Making her Huntington debut in "Joy and Pandemic" is Ella Dershowitz, the Cambridge-born, Yale-bred actress whose impressive resume spans theater, film, and television.

Here are the things that Ella can't perform without:

Sweet snacks

"I always eat something sweet right before getting into costume. I like that nice nutrition-free jolt of pure energy that doesn't make me feel too full and doesn't keep me up like coffee would. I strongly suspect my nightly pre-show sweets for "Joy and Pandemic" will be coming from Flour. So far, I've tried their lemon meringue pie, Boston cream pie, cinnamon bun, and chocolate cream pie and all are spectacular. Flour Bakery.

Crossword puzzles

"Out of everything on this list, crossword puzzles are probably my #1. I can't read backstage, because juggling multiple stories at once is far too much for my brain to handle. I also get socially exhausted if I spend all my offstage time talking or texting. But if I zone out, I lose momentum. Crosswords are a perfect way to keep my brain turned on and energy level up, be able to listen to the play through the monitors in the dressing room and stay in the story, and also get to recharge a bit. I do the New York Times crossword (and spelling bee) every day and am also a big fan of The New Yorker (regular and cryptic), LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Universal, The Modern Crossword, and AVCX among many others.

Music

"I usually end up listening to one album or one artist over and over backstage for the duration of a show, starting when we move into the theater. My soundtrack for Pilly has not yet revealed itself to me, but I'm excited to find out what it will be. https://www.apple.com/itunes/

Purell

"I am a bit of a germaphobe and when I'm offstage I try not to touch my face or put my hands near my mouth or nose. But most characters I play are not me and do touch their faces or bite their nails. The last thing I do before I walk onstage is Purell my hands, so I can do whatever my character would do without a little voice in my head being like "Ew! Germs!" Amazon.

Blistex

"When my lips are chapped, it is the only thing I can think about. I have at least one tube of Blistex in every pocket and every bag as well as anywhere I hang out backstage." $3.19, Amazon.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil

"My eyebrows are pretty much nonexistent without a bit of help, so that is the one makeup product I pretty consistently wear in shows, even when I'm playing very non-made-up characters, as I often do. This magical pencil makes my eyebrows actually look like eyebrows." $25, Benefit.

L'Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Powder Concealer

"My skin is far from perfect, especially lately (mascne is so real), so, unless my character is supposed to have bad skin, I use true match powder to cover up red spots. I like that it takes two seconds to put on and I still feel like I'm not wearing "makeup." I've been getting this stuff from the drug store since high school and have never seen a reason to change it up! When I do have to wear actual makeup in a show, I use Bobbi Brown BB Cream, but according to Google, it no longer exists, so I'm not sure what happens when I run out of my current tube!" $11.99, Ulta.

Cocktail in a bottle

"The two tastiest drinks in the world (in my opinion) are a beer after a long hike or run and a cocktail after a performance. I always prefer to hit the town with castmates when that's an option, but when it's not I still want to end the night with something relaxing and festive to help both celebrate and unwind from the show. My go-to is a Negroni or an Old Fashioned."

Running

"On two-show days, I unwind after the first show with a run and a shower rather than a cocktail! It's a nice way to reset and spend some time in my own head. Running is a much more product-intensive activity for me than acting. I need my Asics sneakers, my blue PowerLix Knee Sleeves, my Otium Bluetooth Earbuds, my Ave Dee fanny pack, and a podcast (I alternate between "This American Life" and "Pants").

Asics Novablast 3

$140, Asics.

PowerLix Compression Knee Sleeve

$19, Power Lix.

Otium Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds

$20, Amazon.

Ave Dee Smokey Fanny Pack

$25, Ave Dee.

For the rehearsal process, shout out to Farmer's Horse Coffee.

"Right near our rehearsal venue. I stumbled upon them on day one and their pesto chicken sandwiches (half before rehearsal and half on my lunch break) and strawberry vanilla (or raspberry vanilla if I'm feeling extra absurd) iced lattes have been sustaining me." Farmer's Horse Coffee.

'Joy and Pandemic' runs through May 21 at The Huntington Calderwood BCA, 527 Tremont Street. Tickets and more information here.