Hometown: Dallas, TX
Education: CAP21 Conservatory, B.A.D.A., SMU
Select Credits: Alexandra in Alone in the U.S. (A Staged Reading), Maureen Johnson in RENT at CAP21, Wednesday in Mean: The Musical in Emerging Artists New Works Series
Why theater?: It was one of those funny things where I just sort of fell into it my sophomore year of high school doing Footloose, and I never stopped.
Who do you play in Beware the Chupacabra?: The Chupacabra
Tell us about Beware the Chupacabra: Beware the Chupacabra is a ridiculously funny musical comedy with a whole lot of heart. It follows Teddy Baskins (Vinnie Urdea) as he tries to impress his soon-to-be father-in-law by going out and hunting the Chupacabra. Naturally all sorts of antics follow. But I can’t tell you everything, I guess you’ll just have to come see the show to find out!
What is it like being a part of Beware the Chupacabra?: Working with this team has been incredible. Not only is everyone immensely talented they are also some of the most genuinely wonderful humans you could ever meet. Patrick Alberty and Christian De Gre (writers and directors of the show) have a real knack for this out of the box work and create a rehearsal space that is safe to play and explore. Something that is oh-so-important when working on a character who is a mythical, goat-sucking, dog/human/monster hybrid.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Honestly, that’s a hard one. Anything that pushes the boundaries of what we, as the human collective, are used to. Really any artist just wants to find a work that will challenge their artistry and speak to their audiences. An actor I find immensely inspiring is Alan Cumming. He’s done it all, and he’s done it all brilliantly. What is so great about working on Chupa is it’s hilarious, and comedy is terrifying. I know the Oscar clips are reserved for the dramatic, but the real challenge is finding your funny, and not caring if other people agree.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: Hamlet. Definitely. But then again he’s on every actor’s bucket list. Maybe a one-woman-show version of “Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well” where I just make food for a few hours and eat it with the audience at the end. That sounds about right.
What’s your favorite showtune?: I could listen to the entire Natasha, Pierre... soundtrack on loop for the rest of my life and I would be totally okay with it.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I am definitely a part of the Cumber-collective. (For those that have found themselves living under a rock for the last few years, it is a collection of [mostly] female fans of Benedict Cumberbatch) So, for obvious reasons, it would be a dream to work with him. Yeah, sure, he’s known for "Sherlock" and "The Imitation Game", but his work in "Frankenstein" was what really set it for me. Dude can pull off a stapled scalp.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: This is literally the hardest question anyone could ask anyone. I’ll say Judy Greer and I’ll call it..."My Allergies and Me".
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would love to go back in time and see any of Shakespeare’s plays. I did get to see Mark Rylance in Twelfth Night. That was probably one of the most wonderful theatrical experiences I’ve ever had.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: To see on Broadway? I just recently saw Hand to God and was so far on the edge of my seat I was basically on the floor the entire time.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: My roommate and I are big fans of wine and Bad Ink on A&E.
What’s up next?: Well once Chupa is over I’m really looking forward to walking like a human again.
For more on Beware the Chupacabra, visit mindtheartentertainment.com