Yesterday I took a trip to Hollywood with my director and cast mate to shop for clothing for my character, Mary Haines, in The Women. Finding a costume piece that suggests 1930s has been a challenge. We stopped off at Bettie Page Clothing in Hollywood, but as the store name suggests, we were met by a plethora of 1950s style clothing but very little that fit the scope of the play. Luckily a quick stop at American Vintage was just the thing we needed. I was able to pick out 4 dresses that I can accessorize accordingly. I am excited to begin wearing Mary's clothing and physically become the character. To see our costume choices, you will have to come to the show. Check out my Events page for details.
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10 years ago I joined the cast of FUHS’s production of Clare Boothe Luce's The Women as Peggy. Today I am ready to return to the play a little older and a little wiser. Thanks to my wonderful director Brandon Ferruccio, I am cast in Westminster Playhouse’s production of THE WOMEN as Mary. It's time to reinvent myself as Mrs. Stephen Haines! I am excited to work with Brandon for the first time and to meet the rest of the cast tomorrow night at our first read-through. I must say that 2013 has been a struggle both personally and professionally. I am not sad to say goodbye. However, I am also reminded today of the many blessing 2013. I started the year with 2 Shakespeare classics: Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. And I finished strong with 2 rumpus comedies: Americana and Bedroom Farce. Today I am pleased to announce The Examiner acknowledge my work as a Best Supporting Actress in Americana at STAGEStheatre in "Best Orange County Theatre of 2013". It pleases me greatly to see STAGEStheatre and myself acknowledged beside the likes of acclaimed OC Theatre from SCR. In addition to this great piece of news, Eric Marchese with the The OC Register highlighted Bedroom Farce one of the "Top 10 Shows of 2013"! (See picture - Left). So thank you, 2013 - For the good and the bad. May I learn, grow, create, and prosper in 2014! Everything happens for a reason. When one door closes, another door opens, and sometimes doors reopen when least expected. I will be taking over the role of Kate in Bedroom Farce at STAGEStheatre. I have already been thrown into my first rehearsal and stumbled through the blocking of the entire show. I have a lot of work to do before we open in less than 4 weeks, but I am confident that it will all come together. I can't wait to meet the entire cast tomorrow.
Tonight we closed Americana at STAGEStheatre. I feel so blessed to have had such a great run with such a talented director and cast. The staff and crew at Stage had been like family. It is not often that original pieces are given such support and attention. I am grateful for the many packed houses and publicity this show has provided. More importantly, this show has reaffirmed my love of comedy. It is good to have the laughing juices run through my veins again. I can't wait to have another go at tickling your funny bone with my next project. More information coming soon. Stay tuned!
Sandra Holt, of The Stratford Herald, recently praised the Shakespeare Institute Players in her latest review of the RSC’s As
You Like It. It seems the Institute’s production of As You Like It turned some heads in Stratford-upon-Avon. In her mention she praised our production as “beautifully performed” and named this year’s RSC production as a “runner-up in the Stratford staging stakes”. Of course I am not delusional enough to believe that the greater theatrical community found our production more intriguing than that of the Royal Shakespeare Company (Pippa Nixon is my all-time favorite RSC actress afterall), but I am certainly glad that we made an impression and are still being talked about nearly a year later. I feel so blessed and honored to have played Rosalind with the Shakespeare Institute Players and I am so proud of everyone involved. Well, it has been a while since I have been in a play written in the 21st century: 2 years to be exact. And after playing in Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet, it feels like an eternity since I have been in a comedy.
Today both these cycles have been broken. I have been cast in Americana, a series of 3 one-act plays written by David Macaray. I will be playing Sandra Larson, a hoarding consumerist, in “No Salesman Will Call”. This will be my first time working at the fabulous Stages Theatre in downtown Fullerton, CA and my third time working with director Phil Brickey. As Phil said earlier today, “It has been too long.” The last time I worked with Phil was on a play reading of Transfigured Night, where I played the wife of the great composer Anton Webern. I think we have both grown as artists since then and I can't wait to get reacquainted with his work. Also joining the cast is Tracy C. Marquis, who played Webern in that production, and KC Marie Pandell, whom I trained with at FUHS and Chapman University. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the cast for the first time on Tuesday. Here's to a new adventure! It is not often that I blog about the opening and closing of a show simultaneously, but with only two performances of Santa Fe Springs Playhouse’s production of Romeo & Juliet it seems necessary. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring Shakespeare to the community of Santa Fe Springs and perform the beautiful venue of Heritage Park. I dedicated a lot of time and effort into playing Mercutio, yet it feels as though I hardly know him. This production has provided an incredible learning experience for me, challenging my skills and bringing me out of my comfort zone. Who knew that the straight-laced, feminine, little ol’ me would play a pot-smoking version of one of Shakespeare’s greatest homoerotic male characters? It was a challenge I was willing to face. I hope that during this process I achieved the openness and relaxed portrayal of wit, courage, loyalty, and intrigue that I see in Mercutio. With such a short run, it is hard to say that I reached my full potential in this coveted role, but I can say I had a great time playing with my cast-mates. Love and Peace. I am debuting a new look! I have returned to my natural hair color and sporting bangs, or as the British call it, fringe. Check out my new headshots here. Don't forget to let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. I am proud to announce that I will be reuniting with director Kaitlyn Tice for another Shakespeare classic. Get ready for more bawdy jokes! This little lady is putting her man pants back on to play Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet at the Santa Fe Springs Playhouse. There will be 2 performances only, with an option to relocate the production to the La Habra Depot for additional performances.
The first read-through is tonight. I am looking forward to beginning this journey. Let's get Queen Mab's chariot on the road! Zounds the Montague and Capulet groupies! - It's TEAM MERCUTIO all the way! |
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February 2020
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