Hometown: Hagerstown, MD
Education: BA Theatre from Butler University (minor in Vocal Performance) University College Cork, Ireland and the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg Russia. Improvisational Education with Gotham City Improv and Improvisation News.
Select Credits: Off The Top of Our Heads, improv show (Gotham City Improv), He Loves Me Not, sketch comedy, (Improvisations News), The Philosopher Cycle at The Producers Club and Times Square Art Center, and most recently a National Geographic series, "Ape Man".
Why theater?: When I am performing and storytelling, I am my happiest.
Tell us about Human Resources: It is an experimental piece of modern theatre that marries scripted and improvised work, presented by Artistic New Directions. Five separate theatre companies have rehearsed the play with their own team of actors. The actors have worked separately on our roles and then we meet on stage for the first time in performance. It is exciting and invigorating to have organic human reactions on stage. I feel like it is as close to a natural slice of life as you can get with scripted work.
What is it like being a part of Human Resources?: The experience has been both thrilling and invigorating! It has been a great opportunity to challenge myself as an artist. I am grateful for the opportunity to marry my recent improvisational training with Dave Razowsky (The Second City, LA.) and Gary Austin (the founder of The Groundlings.) I've done my best to be brave and vulnerable every time that I walk out on stage. It is a gift to be able to go onto the stage and blindly trust your fellow performers and the audience is with us for the discoveries that unfold.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: My college education focused on experimental theatre. I love working with an ensemble and revisiting a classic work, or staging a new piece of social commentary. Artists and actors who bravely commit themselves to their characters inspire me. My mission statement as an artist is to inspire, explore, and unite through light love and laughter. I do my best to keep that mantra in mind for any work that I do.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I have always wanted to play one of the step sisters in Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella. As far as film goes, I love the character that Gweynth Paltrow plays in "Iron Man" and would enjoy a "Pepper Pots" type of role. Another goal is to be in a movie where I get to wear a cat suit.
What’s your favorite showtune?: I love all of the music from My Fair Lady. I played Eliza Dolittle in high school and it was a dream come true! I also adore Rent and relate to it immensely as a young artist in the concrete jungle of NYC.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would love to work with Carol Burnett, as she is a comedienne I have always admired. My comedic style has often been compared to her.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: My mother has often referred to me as "the brunette Cameron Diaz" so I would like to say it would be her!
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I recommend that everyone see the great shows at Gotham City Improv & Improvisation News.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Nachos and Naps, in that order! (the queso from Qdoba is irresistible)
What’s up next?: I will be doing some short form ("Whose Line is it Anyway") style improvisation every Friday night at Gotham City Improv. I am also writing and producing some live and filmed sketches with Improvisation News. You can catch some of the sketches I have done on my profile at www.ImprovisationNews.com.
For more on Artistic New Directions, visit http://www.artisticnewdirections.org/
