Hometown: Cold Spring on Hudson,NY
Education: B.A. English Holy Cross College, M.A.Educational Theater New York University
Favorite Credits: My solo shows of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and A Christmas Carol
Why theater?: Storytelling, the source of all arts and especially theater, needs to make an encore.
Tell us about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Washington Irving wrote this tale in 1819, creating the first nerd and a headless galloping goblin still haunting us today. The story gave us the first nerd in Ichabod Crane and a galloping headless goblin still haunting today. This performance delivers the wit, whim and romance of the original, in an animated theatrical style. It is concise, yet with 19th century flair.
What inspired you to perform The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?: Popular demand! Twenty years ago, I began telling a very short version for Historic Hudson Valley during their Halloween weekend. People clamored to know the headless horseman's tale. When we created a show in the story's setting, the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, forty shows sold out before the run began. People love the story! Continued keen interest in the galloping goblin and Ichabod Crane inspired this performance.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love strong dramas from Shakespeare to Tennessee Williams. True stage actors like Ian McKellan, and Jason Robards. I loved seeing Swoozie Kurtz in Fifth of July. Shows by Lily Tomlin, Alec McCowen, and Patrick Stewart demonstrated the power of the solitary actor on a stage.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Joseph Chaikin, Peter Brooks, Howard Davies.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Recently, Hand to God and Hamilton
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The late Robin Williams in "The Faerie Taler"
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Robert Preston in the Music Man. Joseph Jefferson, the first actor listed in the IMDB as Rip Vn Winkle, Fanny Kemble playing Shakespeare's women in the early 19th century.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Listening to baseball on the radio.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be ______?: A botanical artist
What’s up next?: A Christmas Carol my solo show in an old church in Tarrytown. Then my quest for a new story classic to retell.