Hometown: Highland Park, IL
Education: BA in Journalism, minors in Theatre Arts and Women’s Studies from Penn State. Second City Conservatory graduate.
Favorite Credits:Double Happiness, of course!
Why theater?: After being downsized from my writing and editing job at the Chicago Tribune, I wanted to work in a field where I wouldn’t experience rejection.
Tell us about Double Happiness: A Tale of Love, Loss, and One Forever Family?: The show is about my quest to a have family with actual children, and not just a cat. It’s the struggle for family, stability, and adulthood in a world full of unexpected fertility curve balls.
What inspired you to create Double Happiness?: My improv teacher at iO Chicago asked me to talk about something personal. I started an impromptu monologue about my daughter’s adoption. 40 minutes later, the teacher said: “that’s a one-woman show, and you need to write it.”
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Improv and sketch. I love “Key & Peele!” Keegan-Michael Key taught my intro acting class when I was at Penn State.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler!
What show have you recommended to your friends?: TJ & Dave—they are masters of long-form improv.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Nia Vardalos: “My Big Fat Greek-German-Puerto Rican-married-to-a-Jew-with-a-Chinese daughter Life!”
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Watching “Girls,” while eating chocolate ice cream with cashews.
What’s the most played song on your iPod?: Tie—Frozen’s “Let it Go” (for the kids) and “Royals” by Lorde
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: An organic, slow-food, locavore, corn-free, dye-free, grass-fed, antibiotic-free, all-natural baker/activist/mogul.
What’s up next?: Performing improv with my Chicago troupes Old Smuggler and Kelly Machiavelli, and bringing Double Happiness: A Tale of Love, Loss, and One Forever Family to the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.