Everything about this is prophetic. The very first professional show I did after returning to college was The Christmas Schooner. Many Chicago actors also got their start with this show. I played the pivotal chorus role of Olive, brilliantly I might add. At the time I ran a small theater company, Blue Moon Studio Theater, may she rest in peace. Nancy Kolton, one of my Schooner castmates, gave me a CD of a little-known musical to listen to for Blue Moon to possibly produce. That show was Violet.

Well we did not produce Violet, but I fell in love with the show and I am happy to announce that I will be playing Violet in Bailiwick Chicago’s Spring production of VIOLET! I’m so excited and thankful. This is one of those characters that I just slide right into. She feels like home to me, which may say something about my mental health! Not only do I get to play this incredible role in this BEAUTIFUL show, but I get to do it with a ridiculously-off the charts-talented cast, with one of my absolute favorite directors (Elizabeth Margolius), and with my very own company (Bailiwick Chicago).

There is so much more that I want to say and feelings I want to share. Discoveries! Breakthroughs! Musings! And they will follow. For now let me just say that this is one very happy girl right now. Sometimes you work hard and it actually pays off. Not usually…but SOMETIMES IT DOES!

P.S. You know that woman? Nancy? The one who gave me the cd? Yeah…her. She’s in it with me. Talk about serendipity! Theater is AWESOME!

P.S.   I love my friends to a ridiculous degree. Danni, Jenny, Eric, Laura, Sam, Annie, Jess, Jim, Tom, Patrick, I’m talking to YOU. And thanks to Elizabeth, Kevin, Peter, Kate, Lil, and, Jonathan. Can’t wait to get started!

I AM ON MY WAY!

Harmony

So much has happened since my last scoop. I’ve had sort of a fantastic theater streak. I’ve also had some crazy personal problems. Not sure how to write about it all. I guess I’ll just do some word vomit and just apologize ahead of time for it. I apologize. There, I apologized. So, read on at your own risk I suppose. I did warn you. No complaining later.

First an update on Steppenwolf, since so many people have been so supportive and want to know the outcome. I did not get accepted to the School at Steppenwolf. I did, however, get offered an “alternate” position. Basically, if someone can’t go I am on a short waiting list of who they will call. It’s not exactly what I hoped for, but it’s a feat none-the-less. I am extremely proud of myself. I did something that was so extremely intimidating for me and I came this close to getting it. I hadn’t done a non-musical audition for close to 5 years, so I’m going to pat myself on the back a bit. I’m going to take a moment to be proud of myself, even if it’s just for almost getting in.

I have had a lot of questions of how the whole process works from people that might be interested in attending in the future. So here goes. I had to fill out an application, write two essays, give a $50 application fee, and get a letter of recommendation. I sent three because I’m a freak. After sending in your audition packet you get notified by email whether you’ve been granted an audition or not. This year they granted 260 auditions. For the audition I had to do a monologue, have a second monologue ready just in case, and pick a scene to do. They gave me an option of 5 scenes. I picked the Frankie and Johnny scene and did a monologue from Keely and Du.

I then waited about 2 1/2 weeks and got my notification by email. This year of the 260 people that auditioned for the school, they accepted 28 people and then have a small “alternate” list. Another thing to keep in mind is that Steppenwolf fills their school in the same way they would cast a company of actors. They want different types and personalities. They said it is all about the mix of people. So, I would only be offered a spot in the school if the person who couldn’t go fit my type, or I filled that slot well. I’m guessing one of the older actors would have to drop, since I have heard that they only accept like 2 people over 30. Did I just give away my age? SHIT.

That brings me to my other bit of news. I’m just thrilled to announce that I was just cast in the 75th anniversary season production of A Little Night Music at Peninsula Players. I’m one of the Liebeslieder Singers. I couldn’t be more excited. It’s in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin. Greg Vinkler is directing. There will be much more information on this show to follow!

And FINALLY Oh Boy! starts rehearsals next week. I feel like I’ve been talking about this show FOREVER. I’m so glad it’s finally going to be underway. I was cast at the beginning of the fall, so I’m really happy to get started. Unfortunately Sheldon Patinkin is no longer directing. He needs a little more time to recover from his surgery. Fortunately, however, Terry McCabe is our new director and Sheldon will be popping his head in from time to time to give his advice. I’m very excited about this project. I’ve read the script a couple of times now and my character, Lou Ellen, is hilarious and not in an obvious way. I think everything she says is funny, so hopefully I can do her justice.

So that’s all the theater news…and it’s so exciting. I have two projects that I’m really passionate about coming up and I got a serious confidence boost through Steppenwolf. I probably wouldn’t have even auditioned for Peninsula Players if it hadn’t been for my experience with Steppenwolf. It has really given me a renewed confidence in myself. I feel like I’m not an idiot. I’m not wasting my life. I can actually do this and it’s time to raise the bar for myself and go after things that maybe I was too insecure to go after before.

The thing that I’ve learned in this last couple of weeks though is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. I have been so stressed out about other personal aspects of my life that it was hard to enjoy the theater accomplishments I was achieving. I haven’t been eating well, been drinking way too much, and I’ve been a big ole worry wart. We dream about breaks like I’ve gotten in the last week or so, but I think in our dreams we’re also happily coupled, our families are in great shape, our friends are fantastic AND we get great theater news. It doesn’t work like that. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life. The facts of life. You like that? I’m thinking about writing a song. No copyright infringements!!!

Seriously though, it’s all good. The good and the bad. Take the bad with relish. It makes us human. It makes the good so much sweeter. And another thing…don’t be afraid of life. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. Put your neck out, seriously what’s the worst thing that can happen? You can fail. That’s it. If you don’t take big risks, you won’t get big rewards. I am no longer talking about theater, but it can apply to theater too of course. Now my brain is wandering. I was doing so well at staying concise. I did warn you though. hmmmm what do I want for dinner? What is the meaning of life? If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, did it really fall? So many questions. Goodbye. See you in hell.

Harmony