INTERVIEW

1.) Did you ever have living in Durango and being a Durango theater icon as a future for you, or did you have different dreams before this?
I have always worked toward a career in the theatre, and when I ended up in Durango (for it's beauty and great community), I just built that career here.



2.) When you first got started with directing was a it hard for you to do? How was it hard for you?
Directing was a natural evolution for me.  I started my career as an actress. Then I really got into stage managing. Directing is a perfect mix of both that came from years of training in acting and SM - and then I got director training in grad school. It seemed like an easy transition after that, although I always learn on every show.

3.) (you don't have to answer if this is too personal for you) What were some of the sacrifices that you had to make to be able to do what you do? I know you'll understand this because of the time involved in shows.  My biggest sacrifice is time to do other things in my life when I am consumed with a show.



4.) If you could go back in time, would you have changed any of the events up to today to get you to where you are right now in your job? No - I don't dwell on the past. I loved my career teaching at Florida State, then at DHS, then in London, and now freelancing here.  And it all worked well while I was raising a family. It was important for me to stay in one place and have a steady job while I was raising them, so touring and freelancing was out at that time, but now I get to try it! (I am directing URINETOWN in Crested Butte this summer)


5.) When you stage managed different things, were there something's that you didn't like and want to change? Why?

Stage managing is such a challenge. I love the organization involved. I would tend to beat myself up if I made a mistake in calling or doing something. I don't think that was very healthy, but whenever the SM messes up, it can mess with the whole show.



6.) After years of having amazing plays, were there any that didn't sit well with you that you directed?  Every show has its ups and downs.  I don't like the shows that aren't well-rehearsed because we are too pressed for rehearsal time.  I really struggled with directing OLIVER! because the kids were not well-trained and the set didn't work for our stage.  But, even then, there were a couple of fabulous leads.



7.) This experience has changed me so much, showing me a new look into theater. Has this experience with an intern changed anything for you? Since my career has been all about training new people, it's a lovely continuation of that.

Thank you for the lovely note. I cherish it--- good quote too!
I have adored working with you, Boone.  Thanks for being so willing to learn new things and to take on the leadership role with those little ones.  I know that theatre will always bring you joy, and I am glad to have helped you learn at this level. Here's to many more shows together! And if you ever need an adult to talk to, please know that you've got a friend in me ---- (sing that part to the tune from Aladdin)

Let's Catch Up A Bit Shall We?

So I haven't posted that much since the first show or the second show really. So here is the thing that is going on now in my life. I couldn't help out in my stge managing stuff really because it's all done now for me. The show was a success and I showed the people who thought I couldn't stage manage that I really can. It's a great feeling.

We had started our next play, As You Like It, and we have started with music lessons and of course, how to understand Shakespeare. We went though the second quarter of the play and so far I love my character because he didn't even have to go with the girls in their adventure. He could have stayed home and in the beginning he thinks he made the wrong choice by following the two young girls into the forest. Is a good thing I get married in the end then I guess!

So on Thursday, the most amazing thing happened for me. I went to go get a good decent picture of myself at Through The Lens and after getting the pictures three people came by the window and they were shocked to find how much the photos were. Little did Elizabeth (the owner of Through The Lens) and I knew, these were the casting directors of the movie Lone Ranger! So we had talked for a while and they wanted me to help them with casting. So on Friday I got up and went to the college and helped them by bringing in the other people audition and giving papers to the directors. So seventeen college students and I were all turned into assistant casting directors. At the end they said that they liked me and they would try their hardest to get all of us in the movie. And we would know if we were extras in this movie when they were done getting all the other auditions everywhere else done. So hopefully in May we will know if I am in or not.

Ya, that waas my week basically. I have had the best time with this and hopefully I played my cards right and can do this movie and pass this internship!

No rehearsals?! What!?

So basically we didn't have tollbooth rehearsal today. So my internship today didn't happen.

Second Show

So today was the second show...at 9:30am. It was interesting to say the least though. When we got to the performance we found that four of the kids didn't come in today. There was an accident so they couldn't come. And here is the interesting part, the fourth girl just disappeared, we had no clue where she was. But it was really good. Even though the audience was all elementary school kids. It was still great.

The First Show!!!

Ater weeks of school then coming to the art center and then the one week of internship being the dress rehasal we are ready for the show tonight! Tyh my internship isn't starting till 7:00pm tonight I need to say this. It has been an amazing journey with these people. There have been tough times with school and with this right here, but I would do it all over again. The director isn't here tonight so it's up to me to get everything done. We are going to have me keep the kids quiet in the back of the theater, get them out on stage with the props they need, leave when they need to and have the costumes and set peice ready to go and keep this play from going to the pits. Tonight's the big night! Hope people can come!

THE MOST CALMING DAY...

So yesterday everything was hectic with the kids. They are ready for a show (so far as I have heard). I feel as though I should say worried for them to keep me from getting lazy backstage though. Well when I talked to WP, Ford, Susan and Denise if there was anything for me to do today they said that there was nothing for me today to do but prepare for the show that is to come tomorrow. Other than thinking that I had a heart attack I was suprising ok with this. So today, though I'm not needed, am at the arts center looking at all the props, costumes and whatnot looking for anything out of the ordinary and going through my head what goes where and who does what at what time. I still need to eat lunch, but who can eat when there is a play so close?! It was an exciting first week and can't believe that it has only been a week since I have started. I thought it was only two days at this point. Oh well. Oh and I almost forgot, I am supposed to be doing something though for the public right now. If you want to come see a show on Saturday (yes this Saturday) at 7:00pm at the Arts Center you really should come and seen it. Hope whoever reads this post gets it in time to see this fun little play!

FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL!!!!!!!

Today is the final day for the kids to rehears their play. This was such a good play to have to stage manage and the kids were amazing! We open on Saturday and we are going to rock it! We had some shakey moments and we had our awesome parts and our sad parts, but all in all it was an amazing run with these kids. They had fun and so did I. This is deffinatly something that I would consider doing in the future. I am so happy I got to do this play and share this experience with the people that actually read this blog. Well its almost four o'clock...let the rehearsal begin!!!