And i'm sorry - i seem to have answered more than you actually ASKED! I got a little bit carried away, going down memory lane!
1 - I know you love acting, what made you have such a passion for it? How old were you when you started acting?
OLD. HAHA just kidding. But i didn't get involved in the community theatres until i was 26.
I've always loved acting, as in - i would perform, direct & choreograph in front of the mirror to my Psalty tapes when i was a kid (What? You don't know who Psalty is? HELLO! Psalty the Singing Songbook!!!!) HAHA. I did some acting in little plays & skits at church growing up, but that's about it. Until high school. There was an audition only class called Musical Theatre. I was in that class in 10th, 11th & 12th grades. I had really small roles in the musicals because i was too chicken to try out for the lead roles! But at least i had the guts to audition for the class! HA!
For about 10 years, i didn't do anything with acting. I was REALLY missing it. I wanted to be an actress. It had been a passion throughout my life but i'd never really pursued it. To be honest with you, I'd always thought that christians had no part in that kind of career. But later i began to believe that was a lie! Of course Christians could be involved in theatre! :) In late 2005 I began reading books on how to make it as an actor. I would sit for hours in Barnes & Noble reading. And every book advised you to get started in your local theatre - to (a) see if it's REALLY what you wanted to do & (b) get some training. It was right after this that i realized that the drive-thru guy at starbucks (my boss was sending me on almost daily runs to starbucks at that time, so i was getting chatty with the starbucks people) was performing in Annie Get Your Gun at the local theatre. I got all excited & told him i'd go see it. I got my mom & sister to come with me. In the very opening number of that show, i had tears in my eyes. Not because it was a sad moment. But because i wanted to be up there. I was MEANT to be up there. I walked out of that theatre, into the lobby, & saw a huge sign for auditions for their summer musical, Beauty & the Beast. I said, "i'm going to be in that show."
Now, i wasn't someone who was FULL of confidence & i'm not even one of those fully motivated, go-out-and-get-'em kinda people! I'm usually shy & have a hard time pursuing things like this. But i wanted it SO BAD. I auditioned - & i was cast as a villager & placemat in Beauty & the Beast. I was SO excited!!! I cannot even tell you - you would have thought i'd won the lottery! I was amazed because over 200 people had auditioned & only 40 would be cast, including the lead roles. I remember running thru the halls of my workplace when the cast list was posted on their website. I was laughing & saying, "I MADE IT! I MADE IT!" My boss hugged me & sent me home saying, "There's no way you'll get any work done this excited!"
I had no clue then that BRLT would become one of my FAVORITE places in the years to come. So i was in B&B that summer. i made LIFELONG friends. I don't know when i decided that i didn't want to do film after all - theatre was where i wanted to be!
This is me in my placemat costume! Looking worn out! Sorry it's the only pic i have!! Didn't take enough pics back then! & the date is wrong!
After that i auditioned for My Fair Lady. I was not cast, but i didn't want to leave that place! So i worked backstage, which is something i never thought i'd do!! The next show, Mousetrap, they asked me if i would Asst Stage Manage. I had NO CLUE what i was doing, but i said yes. That is when i fell in love with the backstage aspect of theatre as well.
Decemer of 2006 i was in my second show, A Christmas Carol. I had some lines in this one! ;) It was a WONDERFUL TIME. (Although i do remember me & 2 others missing an entrance & skipping our ENTIRE SCENE. Worst theatre moment EVER.)
That's me, the blonde. I couldn't get any other pics to post!
Then i did a lot more stage managing... & then i got a PAID job as an actor with Playmaker's touring company. It was really awesome because (1) it was with three others who i had the majority of scenes with in A Christmas Carol - so we'd already become great friends & (2) it was PAID!!! During the day, we traveled to elementary schools in our state & put on a show! Great fun! Best job ever! Sadly, it was only a temporary job! But i have sooo many great memories from this show!
The cast of Sheriff Riley's Spankin New Duds (in costume):
David, Me, Christian & Molly - i miss these guys!!!!
After that was more non-stop stage managing. Which i LOVE. :) The next show i was in was Urinetown, the musical. This was my favorite role ever! And yes, you read that right: URINETOWN. It is a HILARIOUS show about a town that has to PAY to PEE. It is very well written & hilarious. I got cast as supporting role, Little Becky Two Shoes. This role stretched me as an actor, i learned SO much & improved a lot, i think. I loved it!
Michael Ruffin (who was also in this show & who was the Starbucks guy i mentioned in the beginning!) took this photo! These were our headshots - us in character with our real names - & they were posted along the wall in the lobby. I had mine matted & framed. But yeah, that would be Little Becky Two Shoes!

This shot & the next one were taking during production. This is right before i kill the police officer next to me (good friend Tim Callais - who you WILL see on Broadway one day!)

Little Becky Two Shoes & Hot Blades Harry (our characters were bf/gf). We had a song together & were plotting to kill the lead character! HAHA. & yes, i'm sweating!
Then i was in one more show. i can't even believe i did this one!! It also stretched me as an actress! HA! I played Ruby Rae in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas...YES, i was one of the whores! This show was great fun, too, but VERY difficult! I had to learn some choreography & that is not easy for someone as out of shape as i was(am)! I did manage to get my steps down pat & thankfully didn't get booted from the dance routines! I had a couple lines & i had a solo. It was a fun time! Try not to hate on these photos - they are not as naughty as they may seem! HA!
Me as Ruby Rae
Another of me as Ruby Rae!
HAHAHA - i could not resist - i also had a short scene where i played one of the townspeople. Like my big Texas hair - it has a mullet too! This is me fervently praying for them to shut down the whorehouse! (Reinacting - this is actually in the dressing room.)
So that was the last show i was IN! After that i co- stage managed The Producers & then i went on a long break to finish planning my wedding & to enjoy married life! When i came back i missed Stage Managing... i love it just as much as performing, just in different ways. They are both very enjoyable & fulfilling to me! So i have done a good bit of SMing since i've been back. I do want to act again - not sure when that will be, but i can't wait!
I am sorry i MORE than answered your question! If you skimmed a lot, that's fine, but hopefully you at least enjoyed looking at the pictures!! ;)
My next question has to do with my dream role...& I have another one too! So i will answer soon! If you have a question for me, type it in that box in my sidebar! & be sure to leave your name/link if you want me to put your link in my post!
What fun pictures!! That is really fun that you have a creative outlet in your life as a hobby!
ReplyDeleteP.S. My brother totally had a Psalty Bible!!
Yes, I know who Psalty is! We had the cassettes and listened in the car on the way to elem. school all the time. Good times!
ReplyDeleteI loved looking at the pictures and reading about your different shows!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, you look adorable as a floormat! And, work the Ruby Mae costume girl, lol!!
Thank you for mentioning Psalty!!!! I loved him!!! I used to sing my lungs out to that record!(that sounds weird to say!) LOL
ReplyDeleteBTW, you look good as a whore!!! HAHAHA!!! (sorry I couldn't resist! :)
im lovin gettin to you know you more through these Q & A posts!!
ReplyDeleteyou are such a GORGEOUS woman and those pictures are so GREAT :D
I think it's wonderful that you have such a passion for theatre!! I wish I could see you act!!!!
Girl, you are just too dang cute!!! I love these photos!!
ReplyDelete