Hometown: Gahanna, O-H-I-O! Go Buckeyes!
Education: BA in Theatre Otterbein University 2013
Favorite Credits: Mother Jones and the Children’s Crusade at NYMF 2014 (AD), Animals Out of Paper (AD/SM), National Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (ASM), National Tour of MEMPHIS: The Musical (Rehearsal PA)
Why theater?: I love the element of the magic in theater. I love surprising the audience and hearing them talk at intermission or after the show about how something worked. I am also a big fan of experiencing theater – being in a room with a group of people all taking in the same show is exhilarating to me because everyone is moved by something different. Finding out what those differences are in the moment is super cool.
Tell us about The Starter: The Starter is about a group of friends reuniting under unfortunate circumstances and figuring out the specifics of their first “adult” dinner party. They are all trying to connect like old times, but something is inherently different – they’ve grown up, grown apart, and met new people. It is a sharp tongued comedy about friendship, becoming an adult, and trying to evaluate what’s important in life – money, family, career, or self-gratification.
What inspired you to direct The Starter: A group of our friends gathered in my apartment back in January to read an early draft of the script to give Sean (our playwright) some notes, and afterwards we all kind of realized that we had just read something really special. I emailed Sean the next day with the FringeNYC application form and wrote “you will submit that play, we will get in, and we will put on a great show!” He listened, took action and here we are! I’m so excited for Sean to get an opportunity to showcase his writing that I’ve admired for years.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Oh man, all kinds of theater inspires me! I love a show that I can walk out of and talk about or still think about the next day. I especially love it if it makes me think, but also can make me belly laugh! As far as who inspires me, I really look up to Rachel Chavkin and Diane Paulus. They are two badass female directors who have such a clear vision and stamp on everything they do. I really admire that.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I am a GIANT Julie Andrews fan....I actually recently went to Austria to do The Sound of Music bike tour because I wanted to feel like Julie Andrews and experience Salzburg like she does in the movie! If I worked with her, I think my heart would explode with joy.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Besides The Starter? ;) Hamilton! It’s the best show I’ve ever seen. It is just masterful. Never in a million years would I think that hip hop could tell the stories of some of our founding fathers, but it is absolutely brilliant. Come see The Starter, and then go see Hamilton!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Oh gosh, I don’t know. Let’s say Julie Andrews to keep that going and it would be called um, Bursting with Joy?!
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Into the Woods or anything with Julie Andrews…maybe My Fair Lady?
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Ice cream but I don’t feel guilty about it ;)
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: A chef, but I’m a terrible cook. Or actually, a nun. True story…
What’s up next?: I would love to see The Starter or something else of Sean’s to get picked up. But as for me, I will soon be working with the producing team of Allegiance opening on Broadway this fall!
For more on The Starter, visit www.thestarter.org or www.facebook.com/thestarterplay