Month: January 2019

 

Q: You are no stranger to the Dock Street Theatre stage. What are a couple of your favorite past roles that you’ve performed with Charleston Stage?

I’ve been with Charleston Stage for nearly two years now and my favorite role would definitely have to be Ethan in Helium. This was my first role with Charleston Stage and it was a really great learning experience and all around great time! I made a lot of strong bonds with the cast and crew and I gained a home away from home. I also had the privilege of playing Albert in Bye Bye Birdie which I had a great time with because I love musical theatre and all music in general. My time with TheatreWings has also provided me with a variety of roles and growth opportunities.

 

Q: Where are you from? Are there any special subjects you are studying or activities you do that fuel your passion for the arts?

I am from Goose Creek, South Carolina, and I am sixteen years old. I attend Goose Creek High School. I am majoring in Theatre with Berkeley County Center for the Arts and this definitely fuels my passion for the arts because I am able to do what I love every day.

 

Q: You are playing the iconic role of Christopher Boone. How would you describe this character and what is your favorite part of performing this role?

Christopher is a highly intelligent kid with a beautiful mind full of creativity and brilliant ideas. He has a great passion for the things he loves and he is very brave. My favorite part of performing this role is the accent because it really helps me stop being myself and go into the character of Christopher Boone. Some challenging elements of this role would be staying true to Christopher himself and not falling into the clichés that people have about people on the spectrum. Christopher is a unique person and doesn’t fall under any labels. He is his own person and that person is magnificent.

 

Q: What has drawn you to this story and what are you hoping audiences will take away from this production?

This is such an incredible story about the world and how people see it and take it for granted. I want audiences to see the world through the eyes of Christopher and see the many things in daily life that people might not think about and may glance over.

 

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to play my instruments and practice music. I love music! I like to hang out with my friends and spend time with my family.

 

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time run Feb. 6 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

I grew up in NJ around the Seaside Heights area. As a kid, I loved dancing so that is where I really formed my passion for the arts. As a teenager, I learned to sew and I loved all kinds of creative work but I had no idea that being a Costume Designer was a job that even existed. My only experience with theatre was being thrown into musicals as an ensemble member dancing in the background and pretending to sing!

 

Q: Where did you receive training?

In college, at the College of Charleston actually, I found my way into theatre because I asked for a job sewing in the costume shop to help me pay my tuition. Once I was in that world I learned about all the amazing jobs theatre has to offer and that being a Costume Designer would combine my love for art, history, fashion, dance, music, and building clothing. I went on to get an M.F.A. in Costume Design at the University of Virginia and then moved to NYC where I worked with Martin Pakledinaz and on numerous Broadway shows, opera, dance, and more, and was able to work as a costume designer on my own as well. I have continued working as a freelance designer along with now teaching at the College of Charleston as the Costume Design Professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

 

Q: What other companies have you most recently designed for?

I recently designed for the San Francisco Ballet and am currently working on our production of Urinetown coming up in April at the College and on The Great Gatsby for Trustus Theatre in Columbia. I am also the Resident Costume Designer for PURE Theatre where I am currently mentoring some of my students on design work for upcoming PURE productions.

 

Q: Please discuss your process as the Costume Designer for The Curious Incident.

I spent a lot of time on this play just trying to understand how Christopher sees the world. My assistant, Laighton Cain, and I did a variety of different research from reading to watching movies, videos, and gathering visual research to allow us to have a better understanding of someone who would take in the world in as much detail as Christopher does. Our plan was to use that to help establish a color palette that was increasingly vivid as more information is presented to Christopher. We thought about colors and textures and things he might like and dislike in all the decisions we made. So much about these characters is not revealed in the play. More about them is found in the book but for this production who the individual actors are, and what the director is finding in the rehearsal process, is key. We’ve had to be flexible and think about how to support the pace of the play and the idea of trying to create a world for the audience that gives a glimpse of how Christopher perceives things.

Q: What are you most excited about that audiences will experience with your designs for The Curious Incident?

Honestly, I hope they don’t think much about my design. I know that sounds weird, but it is so important to support the story and not have the costumes stand out but for them to just seem right in a way that allows the audience not to notice them. We have really tried to choose the right looks for these specific people in these roles, paying attention to what is happening in the rehearsal process. For the actors, we tried to include clever things like using the colors Christopher dislikes on characters he doesn’t like, but the audience probably won’t notice those things.

Q: Tell us a little more about yourself.

I am the Costume Designer Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance where I have worked for 13 years in addition to continuing my work as a freelance Costume Designer. Working at the College is amazing since I get to be part of seeing current students find their passion for theatre and dance and work to help them develop as artists. My husband is in the theatre business as well. He works as an actor and carpenter and is currently also working on a production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Trustus Theatre in Columbia. We actually met in theatre when we were both working on a production of My Fair Lady at the Flat Rock Playhouse in NC five years ago, and now we have an amazing 3 year old son who already is showing his acting and singing abilities!

 

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time run Feb. 6 – 24 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, click here.