On October  20th, 2010 at 8am I got the call that I was playing Violet. Almost exactly a year later I’m heading into my closing weekend. So much has happened to me in this past year both personally and professionally, but through it all Violet was there. That plucky, damaged, but hopeful creature has occupied my brain for a full year. She helped me get through some of the toughest times of my life, because I knew I had her to look forward to. Conversely, that little minx caused me a couple of mini-breakdowns. I just didn’t know if I could pull her off. Maybe they had made some sort of mistake by hiring me? Could I really do justice to this beautiful role? Well, her and I got through all of the self doubt and neurosis and created something that became very special to me, and now I have to let her go. We close on Sunday.

I’m heading into my last weekend of shows for Violet A Musical, and I can say honestly that this has been the most rewarding theatrical experience of my life. I have never felt more connected to the material of a show. I have never felt more artistically satisfied or creatively challenged. I have never felt more proud of a project, a cast, and frankly of myself. I have also never felt more love and support from friends, colleagues, teachers, and the community. This show moves people. What a gift that we were able to move people.

This project was fraught with struggles and complications that have already been talked about extensively, so I won’t go into specifics. I’ll just say that overcoming each problem that came our way has made the reward so much sweeter. So much hard work and passion and love was poured into this project by so many people. I could go on and on about my esteem for these people and about how much I love them and respect their talent and integrity. Thank you to everyone that made this show possible. I will miss you and more importantly, I respect you.

I shed many tears the day I was cast as Violet and I’m sure I will shed many more the day I say goodbye to her. She has changed my life. This show has changed my life. I could not be more grateful. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart and soul.

Harmony France (Violet)

Violet at the Mercury Theatre for one last weekend:
Thursday 7:30pm
Friday      7:30pm
Saturday  3pm & 7:30pm
Sunday    3pm

BUY TICKETS HERE: http://mercurytheaterchicago.com/

Now don’t freak out. I’m losing it healthily. This has been since November. I had hit a plateau the last couple of months, but now I’m doing Weight Watchers and it’s moving steadily in the right direction again. I’m just taking it a day at a time and trying to make smarter choices. There is no real secret to losing weight. You just have to do it. Eat healthy and move more. So I guess the only secret is willpower.

Violet rehearsals are underway and I’m having the time of my life. I’m bone tired, but feel the most artistically free that I can remember in recent memory. I love working with the director, Elizabeth Margolius, because I feel so safe to create. She truly loves to collaborate with actors. She wants to hear what you have to say.  You throw in her other half, the brilliant music director Andra Velis-Simon, and it is a rehearsal room filled with joy and extremely hard work. We’re all working our butts off. Every day I’m more and more in awe of the talent of the cast. I know I’m gushing. I’m sorry I can’t help it. I haven’t felt this alive, or this artistic in a long time. It feels great. You won’t want to miss this show I can promise you that.

To buy tickets go here: http://www.bailiwickchicago.com/2011-12-season/violet-a-musical/

The day after Violet closes I start working on a workshop of Opus 1861 with Elizabeth Margolius and Terry McCabe at City Lit theatre.

During the holidays I will be performing in The Secret Garden, directed by Stacey Flaster at Light Opera Works.

This Spring I will be in the world premiere of a glam rock musical called Rise of the Numberless. It is a co-production with New Colony and Bailiwick Chicago.

I have a lot going on this year! I feel blessed and unbelievably grateful to be a working actress in Chicago.

Harmony

]]> http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/the-scoop-on-harmony/the-scoop-on-harmony-082211/feed 0 http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/uncategorized/10-pounds http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/uncategorized/10-pounds#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:34:04 +0000 Harmony http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/theater/?p=497 Let’s talk about the elephant in the middle of the room shall we? Appearance is important in this lovely, lovely business of ours. That lovely business called show business. Lovely. It’s extremely important. We’re essentially marketing and selling ourselves. I would say appearance is at least 50% of it….hmmmm…maybe 75%.

This tomboy/Navy girl/emancipated, strong “hear me roar” female type has not always been focused on the physical. These glamorous shots of me and dressing myself up are fairly new to me. I’d say the last 5 years or so. Nancy Kolton bought me my first grown up curling iron…I think I had one in my teens…5 years ago for Christmas in a Secret Santa raffle.

Being in my thirties, yes I did indeed just give away my age, has made me more confident, sexier, and almost more girly. Strangest thing ever. I own a PINK dress. Shocking. Truly Shocking. 7 years ago I was stationed in West Virginia. I wore camoflauge OFTEN and competed in drinking contests with all the sailor boys.  It was a completely different world.

I remember when I got out of the military being completely ecstatic that I would never again have to pass a weigh in or have to run the mile and a half in a certain amount of time. It was a relief. A short-lived relief.

What I quickly discovered is that I still have to take that weigh in. The only difference is that I don’t have any hunky yet slightly mean guys yelling at me now to work out. I have to do it completely on my own. I have to try to compete in this INSANITY. And this is Chicago. Goodness…I can’t even imagine being in L.A. I think I’d be considered morbidly obese in L.A. Body images and expectations  in that place are ridiculous.

So what is the point of all this? Is there a point to all this? I’m not even sure myself anymore. I guess the point is that I still have 10 pounds (preferably 15) to lose before September. Before my next show. I know I can do it, that’s not the issue, it’s just irritating. I’m so tired of the struggle. Two summers ago I was at a record low weight for me and then I gained it all back.

That’s what happens when you understudy in Munster, IN and eat anything that is put in front of you. I lost ALL sense of control as soon as I was introduced to the Munster doughnut. Oh dearie dearie me. DELICIOUS. That and Fro Yo…or frozen yogurt. Anyway, I gained 10 pounds and then I gained 10 more, and then I lost 10, and then I gained 5, and then I lost 5 blah blah blah. That’s the whole point of this damn blog. Aren’t you glad you read this far just to learn that?

I’ll lose it again. I know I will. I always do. It just makes me mad. I’ve struggled with my weight since I was 16. Sometimes I get frustrated. My roommate could eat nothing but lard and mountain dew for a year and not gain a pound. I look at a cupcake and I gain a pound. It’s frustrating, especially in this business.

Anyway, for those that actually made it to the end of this blog, I apologize. Thank you very much for letting me vent. I’m going to make these 10 pounds my bitch. (That’s my prison talk)

Peace and Love!

Harmony

I’m very happy to say that as of yesterday I’m booked through the New Year. I’ve been extremely fortunate this year to work consistently, and I am incredibly grateful. So this is what I have going on:

TROGG! is still going strong! We’ve actually extended two extra weeks, so we are now playing through July 16th. Thursdays and Sundays are $10 for Industry.

This is what it’s all about: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/off-broadway-in-chicago/2011/06/review-hell-in-a-handbag-presents-trogg-a-musical.html

Go HERE for tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/165898

September 16-October 16

VIOLET is almost here! I’ve had a couple of music rehearsals and a movement workshop, and we start rehearsals in earnest in August. Sooooo excited and honored to be playing such an incredible role in such a beautiful show!

If you would like to make a donation to help fund Violet go here: http://www.bailiwickchicago.com/make-a-donation/

If you would like to learn more about Violet or watch a teaser video go here:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/354916751/violet-a-musical

December 26-January 1

And finally, I’ve just signed my contract to play Mrs. Shelley in Light Opera Works holiday production of THE SECRET GARDEN. This show is in my top 5 all-time favorite musicals and I’m so happy to be a part of it!

To order tickets or learn more go here: http://www.light-opera-works.org/SecretGarden.html

That’s all for now. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer and that it warms up a bit for us Chicagoans!

Harmony

]]> http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/uncategorized/role-inspiration-katie-kling/feed 0 http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/the-scoop-on-harmony/the-scoop-on-harmony-32211 http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/the-scoop-on-harmony/the-scoop-on-harmony-32211#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:11:54 +0000 Harmony http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/theater/?p=881 There is so much exciting stuff that I want to tell you guys about! I’ll just jump right in shall I?

I can still be seen in Meet John Doe with Porchlight Music Theatre through April 17th!

Click HERE for tickets!

MEET JOHN DOE

Music by Andrew Gerle, Lyrics by Eddie Sugarman

Book by Andrew Gerle and Eddie Sugarman, Additional Story by Matt August

“In a last-ditch effort to save her job, a newspaper columnist fabricates an anonymous letter from a reader threatening suicide over the state of the nation. Capitalizing on the public’s reaction to the letter, she convinces the paper not only to keep her employed, but to hire an out of work baseball player to be her “John Doe.” But can a social movement borne from a media ruse succeed as a catalyst for change?”

Critics are raving about Meet John Doe!

“Meet John Doe is a winning new musical with an old-fashioned heart, a stirring soul, rock-solid structure, and a rich collection of political and romantic themes ideally matched to our own tough times. As the song says, “Here’s to America.” Even more, here’s to the American musical. “

- Hedy Weiss, Chicago SunTimes

“…Porchlight took on a laudable challenge with Meet John Doe, a full-on new American musical, and this remains both an enjoyable and intriguing night out and, for most of us, a very welcome introduction to young Gerle’s formidable talents.”

- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“You won’t find a more prescient musical in Chicago than Porchlight Music Theatre’s Meet John Doe.”

- Scott C. Morgan, Windy City Times

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Only Hell in a Handbag Productions would DARE to release the fury of

TROGG! A Musical

Book and Music by David Cerda w/Cheryl Snodgrass & Taylor E. Ross

Directed by Scott Ferguson

Previews, May 13-15, 7:30 & 3pm

Opens May 16, 7:30pm

Runs Thurs.-Sat. 7:30pm, Sun. 3pm until July 3.

Tickets $15-$28, The Chopin Studio Space

I am so excited to be part of Hell in Handbag’s new musical, TROGG! A Musical!!!!! I’m playing Katie Kling, the British Mod reporter who is trying to get to the bottom of the Trogg mystery!

“Hell in a Handbag Production is proud to unleash the fury that is TROGG! A Musical.  Loosely based on the final film of legendary actress Joan Crawford, TROGG, Hell in a Handbag’s Trogg! A Musical adds teenagers, rock and roll, and the beach to the mix with Handbag’s extra special touch that has made them Chicago’s leading purveyors of camp and parody theater.”

“See what happens when science clashes with religion, a caveman meets rock and roll and a town learns the true definition of being human in TROGG! A Musical, Hell in a Handbag’s first new musical in 6 years!”

SAVE BIG- GET ADVANCED DISCOUNTED

TROGG TICKETS STARTING MAR. 20.

CLICK HERE FOR $20 TICKETS

For a limited time!

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VIOLET

After TROGG! A Musical, I will be starting on a role and a show of a lifetime, Violet. The cast is phenomenal, the director is one of my favorite directors in Chicago, the Music Director is one of my favorite music directors in Chicago, and it’s with my beloved company. I am going to try so hard to do justice to this beautiful story. I feel so honored that I get to make that attempt. I can’t wait for this journey to begin!

“With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, VIOLET is set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. The story follows the growth and enlightenment of a bitter young woman accidentally scarred by her father. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town to Oklahoma. Along the way, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about beauty, love, courage and what it means to be an outsider.”

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Speaking of my company, Bailiwick Chicago, just before Violet we are producing the incredible musical PASSING STRANGE.  I assisted with casting administration on this show, and let me tell you, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS. The cast is so good, the show is so good, the music is so good. Trust me. This one is special. We just launched a kickstarter campaign to help us fund this amazing production, we are almost halfway to our fundraising goal, but we can still use your help!

Here are a couple of ways you can help:

1) Donate or find our more information about the project and our kickstarter campaign by going here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/354916751/midwest-premiere-of-passing-strange

2) Come to our event featuring the star of PASSING STRANGE, Jayson Brooks, and his band JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound.

@ Funky Buddha Lounge, 728 W. Grand (@ Halsted)

Featuring a live performance by JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound

Sunday, March 27 from 7-11 pm

A Benefit Event for Bailiwick Chicago’s upcoming production of PASSING STRANGE

The Tony-award winning rock musical

Featuring JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound

$30 – admission + open bar [beer + wine]

Drink Specials All Night!

Cash / Credit accepted at the door!

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WHEW! That’s it for now folks. Happy Spring!!!!

-Harmony

]]> http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/the-scoop-on-harmony/the-scoop-on-harmony-32211/feed 0 http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/musings/audition-season http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/musings/audition-season#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:15:03 +0000 Harmony http://blog.harmonyfrance.com/theater/?p=864

Well it’s the New Year. 2011, can you believe it? So far I don’t feel like I’ve done that much. I’m in rehearsals for my next show Meet John Doe, I do data entry during the day, I’m addicted to my Zynga facebook games (I know, I know), I’ve been playing my new xbox kinect (which is actually a fantastic workout!), I’ve discovered the joys of Netflix Instant Queue which has enabled me to get addicted to Battlestar Galactica, I’ve been decompressing from my recent family drama, been hanging with my roommate, AND I’ve been AUDITIONING.

That’s right ladies and gents it’s audition season in Chicago. Unlike New York which has millions of auditions constantly, Chicago has basically two heavy auditioning periods. One is towards the end of summer/early fall and the other is right after the holidays. This is the time of year when all the auditions start rolling in and everyone starts going batshit crazy.

I am not exempt from this lunacy. I usually work myself into a tizzy, psych myself out, and do not perform to my potential. I hate that word. I’ve heard it my whole life. “Harmony is not living up to her potential.” I got this on every report card even when my grades were good!!! People have always expected a lot out of me. I know that I should take it as a compliment, and I absolutely do to an extent. On the other hand, it’s a LOT of pressure. This is not a race for me. This is a life. I don’t want fame and fortune. I want a life in the Theatre. I want a life of creative fulfillment. It’s a journey and I’m not perfect. I’m learning. That’s why I do this. I’m constantly learning. If I ever stop learning then I’ll quit Theatre and go run a bed and breakfast somewhere beautiful or live by the ocean and pickle my own vegetables.

That’s not to say that I don’t have drive, I absolutely do. I’m an extremely determined person with passion to spare, but I put so much pressure on myself. I make myself nuts. I feel like I have to audition for everything even if I have a bad feeling about it or have no interest in the project. It’s this NEED to have work and to constantly do well and constantly impress people so that they might want to use me in the future. It’s having all your friends in the business and constantly falling into the trap of comparing yourself to them. It’s watching some people skyrocket in their careers instantly, some climb slowly, and some that don’t really go anywhere.

What is my point in all of this? It’s a similar theme. I’ve written about it before. I’m taking control. I will no longer audition for projects that aren’t right for me or that don’t interest me. Why would I?!? It’s insanity. Our compulsion to do this defies common sense. I mean I have two shows booked and a possible summer activity (which I’ll tell you about soon!!), and yet I’m just as anxious and stressed out about filling the couple of free months I have here and the couple of free months I have there with shows as I would be if I had nothing lined up. It’s madness and it ends now. I’m going to trust my gut more. My gut knows what’s right and what isn’t. There are some projects and opportunities coming up in the next couple of weeks that make my gut rumble with anticipation and excitement. That’s what I want to feel about a project. I want to truly believe in it and myself in it.

Of course once I go Equity my tune might change a bit. At that point you’re competing for jobs that might actually come close to paying your bills. But with Non-Equity, let’s face it, you aren’t coming even close to a living wage. A lot of times you end up paying more for travel and food than you make in your stipend or $20 a show (if you’re LUCKY). I’m not knocking this system, well I guess I AM, but if I’m going to invest that much time, energy, and money into something I want my gut to rumble a bit. I want my soul to soar. Is that asking too much? I don’t think so. I hope not.

So that’s my actor psycho babble for the evening. If you made it this far down, I apologize. LOL

AND PLEASE DON’T LET AUDITION SEASON MAKE YOU CRAZY

(Dedicated to all my friends right now )

It’s been quite a year hasn’t it? This has been the most eventful year I’ve had in some time. Huge highs and huge lows. I feel so blessed for everything that occurred this past year, and I’m so excited about next year! I would like to thank City Lit Theatre for my amazing experience there AND Peninsula Players for my life-altering dream of an experience there! (Click on either link to read about it!) And also my family. I always have to thank my family AND my friends. I would be lost without you.

So what’s coming up!? Lots of stuff!

First off I’d love to share this. My extremely talented friend Brigitte Ditmars has a blog called The Social Network Butterfly. This is what she’s trying to achieve in her own words: “A popular social network says I have over 500 friends! 504 to be exact. So I’ve invited each friend to join me in a drink. I have 365 days to make a personal connection with each and every one of them.”

So basically she’s meeting with each of her facebook friends to have drinks and blogging about each experience. It’s really fascinating and I was truly honored when she invited me to have drinks and then wrote about our time together. We talked a lot about our places in the theater community of Chicago and about the joys and trials of theatrical competition. Check it out! You can read about it HERE:  http://thesocialnetworkbutterfly.blogspot.com/2010/12/healthy-competition.html

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NEXT UP!

Playing March 3-April 17 2011

I’m thrilled to be making my Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago debut in Meet John Doe. MJD is a musical based on the classic film by Frank Capra starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper.

MEET JOHN DOE

Music by Andrew Gerle, Lyrics by Eddie Sugarman

Book by Andrew Gerle and Eddie Sugarman, Additional Story by Matt August

In a last-ditch effort to save her job, a newspaper columnist fabricates an anonymous letter from a reader threatening suicide over the state of the nation. Capitalizing on the public’s reaction to the letter, she convinces the paper not only to keep her employed, but to hire an out of work baseball player to be her “John Doe.” But can a social movement borne from a media ruse succeed as a catalyst for change?

Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

2814 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60657

773-325-9884

________________________________________________________________________________________

AND THEN!!!!!

I am still completely over the moon to be playing Violet in Bailiwick Chicago’s production of Violet. I’ll be sharing a lot more information as the show gets closer. I may even keep a stage diary.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

That’s it for now folks! I hope that you had a wonderful New Years Eve and that you have an inspiring 2011. If there is anything I learned in 2010 it is that nothing is guaranteed. So stop and smell the flowers my lovelies. Enjoy it! Love you!

Harmony

The shoe dropped. It dropped in a major way. I’m not going to go into specifics. Let’s just say that nobody died, but I got a call on November 6th that changed my family forever. I had to leave right then and there to go be there for my family. I had to cancel gigs, benefits, some extra work, etc. Luckily everyone was very understanding. LUCKILY I was not involved in a full production at the time.

“LUCKILY I was not involved in a full production at the time.” That sentence is not something I thought I’d ever say. I have consistently put my career first. I’ve missed weddings, graduations, holidays, etc. so that I could work in my field. Even now I’m not sure if I would have come down here if  it meant I had to leave a full production. I’d like to think I would have. I think I would have. I get so wrapped up in furthering my career and taking all the right steps and making all the right moves that it becomes my entire existence.

I remember being so upset and almost embarrassed that I didn’t have a fall show. I came very close on a couple of projects. One project in particular, a big one, I came so close on that it was almost torturous. I almost would have rather been cut on the first round of auditions, than to get so close I could taste it and not get it.

But now that I know what would have happened, I feel so relieved, so blessed, to be free to spend this time with my family. It hasn’t all been fun, quite the opposite actually. Some of the days I’ve been more stressed out and upset than I’ve been in my life.  And I haven’t been Mother Theresa the whole time either. There have been days that I was bratty and impatient, but overall this has been such a period of growth and strength for me and for my family. I feel so honored to have spent such quality time with my family and that I’ve seen how strong our family still is, even in the face of hardship. I’ll remember this period of time and treasure it for the rest of my life.

And how does this translate to theater? The answer is, how does it NOT?  I’m going to take every bit of this heartache and strength and pour it into Violet. Life is not always easy or what you expected it to be. Sometimes it really sucks. Sometimes you are pushed beyond what you thought your limitations were. I was. How can this do anything but make me a better daughter, sister, human being, and actor?

As actors we are limited to our experiences and our imagination. The more life you live, the more hardships you face head on, the more experience you have to bring to your craft, THE BETTER ACTOR YOU WILL BE.

So what’s the point of all this? Not sure. I guess it’s to live life. Don’t get so wrapped up in your career and the theatrical community that you forget to have an outside life. And hug your parents, brothers, sisters, grandpas, what have you. You never know how long you’ll have them.

Happy Holidays my dears

Harmony