Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
Education: BFA Musical Theatre from Otterbein University
Select Credits: Chamber Theatre Tours playing Blaise Pascal and various others, Don't Dress for Dinner (Robert), Faustus: The Musical (Mephistopheles)
Why theater?: I knew I had the "bug" when I was in fourth grade performing in our class play, The Lady or the Tiger. I remember just absolutely loving the feeling of creating a role and imagining all the thoughts my character could be experiencing.
Tell us about The Hills Are Alive: The Hills Are Alive is a piece of theatre that reminds us, as artists, not to take ourselves too seriously. Theatre is not just about belting and kicking your face. Theatre is about making people feel something, and not just the audience, but the actors themselves. The Hills Are Alive allows the audience to just have a great time and reflect on some of the absurdities of Hollywood and the Great White Way.
What is it like being a part of The Hills Are Alive?: Being a part of The Hills Are Alive is a major blessing. We have a tremendous cast, and the creators have created a really fine-tuned and well-put together show. Also, everyone is just really invested in making this show a success, and I think that makes all the difference in the world. We get together for rehearsal and just have a blast.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: The theatre that I really admire are the shows that aren't trying too hard. Just go out on stage and have fun. I love comedies. I especially love farces. For this reason, I am a huge fan of John Lithgow. He really is my inspiration for keep on keeping on.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: Some day.... I would love to be a part of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or play Thenardier in Les Miserables.
What’s your favorite showtune?: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park."
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would love to work with Geoffrey Rush, Alan Rickman, or Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I have great admiration for their versatility and their abilities to switch from stage to screen.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The best candidate to portray me in a movie would be Meryl Streep. She can play anyone. She needs a fourth Oscar. It'd probably be called, "Forget Who the Movie is about and Watch Meryl."
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I've recommended The Hills Are Alive, of course!!! Though, I did love Seminar with Alan Rickman and suggested everyone should see it.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Either Chinese food with a Mountain Dew or peanut butter and chocolate covered Oreos.
What’s up next?: After The Hills Are Alive, I will be rejoining Chamber Theatre Productions with a national tour of Classics, a collection of literary works brought to life for school kids.
