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| photo by Russ Rowland |
Hometown: Easton, PA
Education: BA in Theatre arts/acting
Select Credits: Wicked (Elphaba, Chicago, San Francisco, Broadway and touring companies); Circus in Winter (Jennie, Godspeed Musicals); Love/Sick (by John Cariani and produced at Royal Family); Little Miss Sunshine (Second Stage); Murder Ballad (Sara, MTC workshop); Spamalot (Lady of the Lake, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival); Various symphony concerts and solo cabaret performances in NYC and across the globe.
Why theater?: Why theatre? Well..Im not good at anything else. : ) When it all comes together and there is a human in front of you living in the moment…nothing can top it. I love being apart of that, either in the audience or on stage.
Who do you play in Rock and Roll Refugee?: Goldie…the younger Genya Ravan
Tell us about Rock and Roll Refugee: What Katrina Rose Dideriksen said..seriously she has a great summary. :)
What is it like being a part of Rock and Roll Refugee?: I will tell you the truth, it is remarkably challenging. The story itself isn’t a lighthearted musical affair, so the emotional life required to be present is wide and deep and switches on a dime. There is a lot of sh*t that happens to this woman, to put it lightly, its dark and and a lot of times difficult to navigate. Christine Henry, our writer and director, has done a fantastic job of taking the audience through Genya’s heavier times without getting too indulgent. Lets also add the challenge of playing a woman at 7, 13, and 16 making it one of the hardest characters I’ve taken on. I think the whole cast is challenged in this show, its not easy, but when we get it right it will certainly be a unique theatre moment.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I recently saw The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and was blown away by it in it’s entirely. There wasn’t a thing missing from that show. It is a perfect example of everything coming together to make a beautiful genius piece of theatre. That’s what inspires me the most. Lets work together as one cohesive entity and create something.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: Well it used to be Fantine in Les Miz and Ellen in Miss Saigon but I think I’ve let it go…it doesn’t seem to be happening for me with those roles :) I really love creating something from the ground up so I’ve been focusing on that.
What’s your favorite showtune?: Oh jeez…No idea. In this moment I just heard a song from The Color Purple and was completely moved. Im a little ADD with my musical theatre selections…whatever is red and shiny. LOL
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Marianne Elliot, she directed Curious Incident and War Horse. I think she is astonishing. Acting wise I think Daniel Day Lewis…cuz I see that in the foreseeable future (*drops head slightly and silently cries*) ;)
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Kristin Wiig is DEE and the MARVELOUS MARSHMALLOW MISHAP!
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?:Funny Girl…I want to see the star in the making
What show have you recommended to your friends?:Fun Home, Curious Incident
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Stupid Potato chips and I wish they would leave me alone!!!!!
What’s up next?: I’ve been working on a new show called The Circus in Winter this past year and had a production at Goodspeed Musicals last fall. The book is by Hunter Foster and Music and Lyrics by Ben Clark. I think it’s a special piece of theatre. Other than that I have some concert dates coming up..the closest is with the Philly Pops in April..Im really excited about that one because it’s so close to my home town.