Author: Charleston Stage

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up in the southwest area of Houston, TX, better known as Sugar Land. I can remember in 5th grade writing and directing a comedy sketch along with my friends for the Talent Show. The sense of satisfaction I got from it absolutely solidified my desires to be a performer. I also remember being completely obsessed with Jim Carey’s Ace Venture: Pet Detective. That may have also had something to do with it.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I studied Theatre Arts at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, Louisiana.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: Previously, I’ve worked for the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Seaside Repertory Theatre, and the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. A few of my favorite past roles include Mr. Bungee from A New Brain, The Hare from Tortoise and the Hare, and Detective Fix from Around The World In Eighty Days.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing Warner in Legally Blonde? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: To prepare for Warner, I would practice perfecting his signature “smolder” look in the mirror while listening to a playlist of 90’s boy bands. My solo “Serious” was a challenge and exciting at the same time. Not being a trained singer, the song really helped me stretch and grow as an overall performer.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past three weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Warner?
A: I see the show differently every night. Each performance brings a new discovery about my character and a new opportunity to fill every single moment of the show with life and energy.

 

Q: Please share with us your thoughts and experience so far on being a Resident Actor with Charleston Stage.
A: I am continually reminded of what an amazing opportunity I have to work for Charleston Stage. From teaching the craft of theatre to young eager minds to performing on the historic Dock Street stage, this job is nothing short of amazing. I am so utterly thankful to be a Resident Actor at Charleston Stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A:I grew up in the suburbs of Hamilton, New Jersey. As far back as I can remember I took every type of dance class. There was a point, however, I decided I wanted to be a professional gymnast at age 6 so I stopped dancing. Two weeks later I was right back in dance class. I couldn’t stay away.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I studied musical theatre at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: I have worked at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre two summers in a row. Some of my favorite roles include Val in A Chorus Line, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Bambi in Curtains and Bird Girl in Seussical.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing Serena in Legally Blonde? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: I was never in a sorority in college so I decided to call a friend from home who is currently in a sorority. She described how big of a deal it is to be in a sorority and how excited they are about events (such as engagements, birthdays, parties). My roommate (Arielle – who plays Margot) and I decided to talk like sorority girls for a week. We also sat in a small cafe in Mt. Pleasant just reading the script over and over. I was really excited about playing a cheerleader and experiencing their “spirit” since I was a band geek in high school (which was awesome). I think my biggest challenge with this show was keeping up my energy throughout. Serena, Margot and Pilar have the challenge of leading the “Greek Chorus” and making sure Elle is always thinking POSITIVE!

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past three weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Serena?
A: I look forward to working with all the girls (Greek Chorus) and the audience really enjoying our performance of “Legally Blonde.”

 

Q: Please share with us your thoughts and experience so far on being a Resident Actor with Charleston Stage.
A: I have nothing but positive things to say about Charleston Stage Company. I have never worked with a company who is so passionate about what they do. They really want us to excel in the performances as well as teaching all of the kids. The most exciting part is performing at Dock Street Theatre, but the most fulfilling part is teaching the kids!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I spent most of my childhood in TItusville, Florida and most of the activities I took part in were sports. In middle school I joined the band, but I didn’t really get into theatre at all until my Junior year of high school. I was always interested ( I had a fascination with TV) but never pursued anything until later in school.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I went to the University of Central Florida and just graduated from there with a BFA in Acting.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: I did some community theatre in my home town of Titusville, and I also took a part of Playfest! at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Most recently I worked as a dancer at The Lost Colony in Manteo, North Carolina. Some of my favorite past roles have been Benny in Rent and Kenickie in Grease, but my absolute favorite so far has been playing Antonio in Twelfth Night.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing Kyle (the UPS Guy) and your other multiple characters in Legally Blonde? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: The first thing I did was re-watch the movie so I could get the basic story line down. Other than that, I just spent a lot of quality time with the music and the soundtrack. The biggest challenge I faced was all the different kinds of dancing I had to learn. I had never worked with jump rope’s before, let alone done a Riverdance! All that aside, I was really excited to try a lot of new things and I have a blast with Kyle every night.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past three weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Kyle?
A: I really look forward to when the audience is first introduced to Kyle. He pretty much comes out of nowhere, but I feel that he brings a nice new element for Paulette to deal with.

 

Q: Please share with us your thoughts and experience so far on being a Resident Actor with Charleston Stage.
A: I’m having a blast working for Charleston Stage. I get to do something that involves acting pretty much every day which is way more than I thought I would be doing right out of college. Teaching is a new experience for me, but I’m enjoying it so far. It’s nice to know that these kids are getting some theatre or arts experience at a young age, and i’m glad that I get the chance to be a part of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up in Canton, Ohio. I went to a school of the arts from 4th grade on, so I always knew this was the path I wanted to take.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I started out at Capital University and then moved to Kent State, both in Ohio.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: Most of my professional career has been in Orlando, FL. Including 7 years working for the Walt Disney World Resort. I must say, performing alongside Mickey and Minnie was pretty amazing.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing the role of Vivienne? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: I had seen the movie many times and was familiar with the character. I’d never played this mean or straight of a character before, so I was curious if I could come across as such. It actually came to me pretty easily, so it’s been fun playing the nemesis of perky Elle. Especially when Vanessa and I get along so well off stage.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past two weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Vivienne?
A: Every audience is different, so I love seeing what “this” audience will love or laugh at the most. But getting to perform with this fantastic cast has been such a treat. I look forward to all the excitement of live theater. There’s nothing else like it.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I’m currently pregnant with my husband’s and my first baby, so right now, my life pretty much consists of preparing for our little fella. Other than that, I love to find new ways to be creative, whether it’s with photography or updating my blog or YouTube channel. I’m basically having fun entertaining myself. (And anyone else who’s around.)

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts? Where did you study theatre?
A: I am a product of the great state of Maine. Clearly the soil produces better actors than it does potatoes. Just kidding. Kind of. I have never been fond of Maine potatoes. Lobsters are another thing.

Outside of occasional school productions growing up, including a couple of perfectly inane college video projects, I did not seriously pursue acting until I was married and had kids. I had always wanted to be an actor, though, and discovered early on that I had a distinct talent for impersonating people. I’m told I do a dead-on imitation of Richard Nixon, for example, and also of my wife Chris’s eccentric and dearly departed “Uncle Jimmy.” Which would be great if people actually remembered the former or that he did not look or sound like Frank Langella, and if the latter had ever attained celebrity outside of dysfunctional family gatherings.

With the exception of an acting course here and there, I have never formally “studied” theatre. I graduated from Colgate University (where, incidentally, I met Chris, my wife of now 36 years) with a B.A. in Social Relations, a combined discipline of sociology, anthropology and archaeology, which thoroughly prepared me for a lifelong career in marketing, advertising and graphic design. Getting back to theatre, though, and without meaning to blow my own horn, I have always been a fairly quick on the uptake and pretty intuitive with regard to scene study and character development. Maybe it’s something in the genes or something in the water, but acting is something that has always been second-nature to me. Having said that, I work extremely hard at it and have had the great good fortune to hone my craft by working with a great many talented actors and directors over the years.

 

Q: Where have you acted previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: I’ve been in Charleston for six years, in which time I have been amazingly blessed to work with a lot of different theatres. My first show here was Arsenic and Old Lace at Footlight Theatre. I figured if I wanted to get on the local radar screen, that would be a good place to start. I was cast not on the basis of anything on my résumé, but rather, I suspect, solely because of my hammy impersonation of Teddy Roosevelt. From there, I went immediately To Village Rep, where I played Shelly Levine in Glengarry, Gen Ross. Immediately following that, I was cast as the disturbed and disturbing man-child Michal in Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman at Pure Theatre. Capturing these two roles so soon upon my arrival in Charleston was, in a word, a rush. Both roles required a lot of research and character deconstruction, and as such the process was emotionally exhausting, but immensely gratifying in the end.

Other roles I have particularly enjoyed, and grew as an actor from, are Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off, which I performed with the Montgomery Theatre Project in Pennsylvania, aged Tom Garrison in I Never Sang for my Father. The latter (also staged in Pennsylvania by a brilliant director friend of mine, Hal Holzer) was my first role playing a man far older than myself. Much of the characterization I took from my own father who died a month after I graduated from college. My dad was a highly intelligent brilliant, charming man (he was admitted to Harvard at age 16), but like Tom Garrison, was not always terrifically comfortable with the emotional demands of fatherhood, probably in no small part due to the fact that he never knew his own father, and so lacked the requisite skill set. I learned a lot about my father and myself during the run of that play, and I like to think of that production as a testimonial to his “humanness.”

Locally, other shows I am exceptionally proud of are Educating Rita, which I performed with Sheri Grace Midtown Productions a year ago, and Footlight’s second-stage production of The Weir, written by Conor McPherson. Both were directed by my extraordinarily talented and self-effacing friend, Jo Ellen Aspinwall. And, of course, I would be remiss not to mention three times over the course of four years taking on the iconic role of The Old Man (a.k.a, Ralphies’s dad) in Village Rep’s production of A Christmas Story.

A couple of years ago, after long ago privately swearing to myself that I would never again take a part in a musical, I accepted the role of Danny/Zeus in Village Rep’s production of Xanadu. I had frankly forgotten what a thrill it is to belt out a song on stage, and to do it more-or-less convincingly. I had people coming up to me after the show saying, “I knew you could act, but I didn’t know you could sing, too.” My usual response was, “I didn’t really know I could, either.” At any rate, my modest renaissance as a song-and-dance man (well, the “dance” part is arguable) led me to audition for and accept the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charleston Stage’s production of A Christmas Carol this past season. I don’t think I’ve ever worked as hard as I did in that show (in a 30-pound flying truss, no less) or enjoy the fruits of my labor so much. Plus, I finally got to perform in the venerable Dock Street Theatre. Last spring I was fortunate to be cast as the eponymous wizard in The Wiz and was thus happily reunited with my Charleston Stage buds once again; and I have now segued from that performance to my current role as the lecherous Callahan in Legally Blonde.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing the role of Professor Callahan? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: My main motivation in any musical, first and foremost, is not to screw up. I wish I could say I always succeed in that aim, but that would be disingenuous. I think that’s the biggest challenge of any musical: it’s so much more than “just acting”; it is mind-numbingly time-consuming, even for a role such as mine, which thankfully involves no real dancing. It’s all timing, timing, timing, and it’s so easy to “derail the train” if you don’t stay in the moment and out of your head. As to what excited me about Callahan is that his character, while his persona is the insufferable, stereotypical lawyer type, offers up such an opportunity to have such a delightfully nasty bit of fun. “Blood in the Water” is the consummate lawyer joke. More than a few of my college friends went on to become attorneys, and every single one of them would crack a wry smile at Callahan, because they’ve all encountered guys like him. (Caveat: Note that I did not in any way say that my lawyer friends have turned out to be like him.) On the flip side, as despicable as he may be, I try to make him believable: he’s proud of what he does and he takes no prisoners. And while he may, ultimately want to take undue advantage of Elle Woods, I think he is uncharacteristically impressed by what he calls her “instincts.” In short, the challenge with Callahan, like Scrooge, is to not play him as a one-dimensional caricature.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past two weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Callahan?
A: I think it comes down to finding a another nuance or level to build into Callahan’s character, and continuing to smooth out my vocal performance. Above all, to gel with my cast mates, and have fun. This is a terrific ensemble show, and it never ceases to amaze me how many interlocking parts there are to it. Thanks to Marybeth, Cara, Sam and Chet, it is an extraordinarily well-oiled machine, and the audiences’ laughter and thunderous applause night after night just confirms that.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: What spare time? When I’m not working or performing, I like to play tennis. I’m not very good, but I’m trying to get better. My wife is a phenomenal player. I occasionally play her, and if I keep my cool (i.e., don’t throw my racquet and cuss like a sailor), I can sometimes take two or three games a set from her. Trouble is, theatre and work sometimes leave me very little time to work on my game outside of summer. My goal going forward is to not sacrifice the gains I’ve made and to play and practice regularly. It’s a good workout if nothing else.

I like to paint (watercolor is my medium of choice), but I am ashamed to say I have not done a lot of it lately. I also like to bike the back roads where I live and kayak on my creek and the nearby Wando. I can spend entire days sprawled on a beach reading a book. Fortunately, I live within minutes of some of the best beaches in the Southeast. I recently bought a keyboard and hope to overcome my musical inadequacies and teach myself to play something beyond “Ode to Joy.” Maybe Sam will give me lessons.

I also like to travel and Chris and I finally have gotten to that point in our lives when we can take the time (or rather make the time) to do it. We went to South Africa last January and had an absolutely fabulous experience. So much so that we would like to go back several more times to see what we missed the first time around. This coming January, our wanderlust bug will be further indulged when we set off on a three-week trip with friends to New Zealand. Needless to say, we are totally psyched!

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up all over the south, my father is a pastor so we moved around quite a bit. Ever since a young age I’d sing in the church choruses and when I got a little older I’d audition for the musicals that each school had. That’s where this crazy obsession with theatre all began.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I’m currently at the College of Charleston studying theatre performance and scenic design.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: I’ve worked at the College of Charleston and the Charleston Actor’s Studio with Sheri Grace Productions.

My absolute favorite role I’ve played is May from Last Train to Nibroc by Arlene Hutton. She was so challenging for me because it was a character that was so close in age and background. It forced me to find a different person within myself in order to play someone who grew up very similar to how I did.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing the role of Pilar? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: Preparing for a role is always an experience. For this role in particular I had to do a little bit of background story work. I had to figure out every relationship I had with all the girls in Delta Nu, especially Elle.  Everyone in this cast is so phenomenal and friendly so the actual friendships that are the foundation for the character came naturally.

I was a little nervous when I was offered the role because it is the most modern character I’ve ever had the opportunity to play. Plus, Pilar is super sassy. (Sassy is the last word anyone would use to describe me.) So I was very excited to try things that had a little bit more flare than I could pull off in everyday life.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past two weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Pilar?
A: I always love the court room scene in the second act. It is my favourite because Lauren, Arielle and I get to play around with our characters while the trial is going on. We are snapping, dancing or trying to get Paulette’s attention in the craziest way possible. It gives us a little bit of time to show our vivaciousness compared to the composed law students. It offers a really neat dynamic to the environment. I think all three of us dive head first every night into our characters and truly enjoy watching Elle, played by Vanessa, win the case.  It’s always exciting to perform with those girls.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: Spare time, that’s a foreign concept for me. I tend to take advantage of any opportunity I can, so I keep pretty busy. But when I do get a little time I take my dog, Brother, out for a run. On on some Sundays that I don’t have a show some of my close friends and I all cook a whole lot of food and have “family” dinners. I look forward to those days because that’s when we all relax, laugh and enjoy each others company. Whether I’m running between meetings and rehearsals or designing a show I am always excited for whats to come!

 

 

 

 

 

Choreographing Legally Blonde has been an adventure to say the least. Going in I thought “it’s just a little show about a sorority girl following her love to law school.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. This show is anything but little. The music doesn’t stop so there was a lot more choreography than I expected. The more I worked on it, the more I realized how charming and clever the show really is. It has so much energy and that is one of the things I love most about it.  Elle’s admission essay into Harvard was not only my favorite to choreograph but it’s also what I get most excited for the audience to see every night.  There are so many things going on at once, in this almost 10 minute long number, between band members and the men of Harvard admissions to cheerleaders and frat boys and they are all doing something different. This cast really had their work cut out for them and the result went beyond my expectations. It’s one of those numbers where there are so many things to look at and you can feel the excitement and energy each night. It makes me want to jump on that stage and root for Elle too.

The most challenging part of the show for me may be the most impressive. Enter “Whipped Into Shape.”  Working with jump ropes is not only a lot harder than you’d think but there are about a thousand things that can go wrong. From hitting yourself in the face with your rope to getting tangled with the rope next to you, it can throw the whole number off.  If it can happen, it happened in rehearsal. When the number came together though, it was nothing short of amazing. I love seeing the audience reaction to this because it’s so impressive to see the stamina and coordination that these actors have. I’m so proud of how far everyone has come.

I never thought Legally Blonde would be my favorite show thus far to work on but it really has been. I still really enjoy watching it every night and I’m genuinely happy every time I leave the theater. I’m so thankful to have worked with this cast and of course Marybeth, Sam and Chet. I’ll cherish the memories I made in this show for the rest of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up in Columbia, SC and as a little girl I played basketball for almost 10 years. I always wanted to be on the stage so I went to a magnet high school and concentrated on theatre.

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I received by Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: Most notably I have worked alongside Ms. Debbie Allen in Debbie Allen’s Brothers of the Knight. My role Happy was probably my favorite until Paulette.

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing the lead role of Paulette? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: The director, Marybeth gave me the honor of playing Paulette so i knew I had to do my best to make her proud. I worked with our choreographer Cara and music director Sam for help in creating Paulette’s physicality and voice. Also, being inspired by my fellow actors helped me make choices to take chances that I normally would not have taken.  The biggest challenge I faced with Paulette was bringing the energy to her every day of rehearsal and performance. She is a happy, loud, and excited person. So, even if I am not feeling that way, I have to bring it to her; it gives her life.

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past two weeks… what do you look forward to each performance playing Paulette?
A: Paulette is an optimist and a great friend. I love being on stage and playing a character that believes that there is always something better in life. Also, even though Paulette and Elle come from different backgrounds, their belief in love bonds them together.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I just got married to my husband Derek, so I love spending the evenings with him watching a movie and eating pizza.

 

 

 

 

 

Legally Blonde has been particularly challenging for several reasons. The show itself is surprisingly music-heavy. In fact the score for this show is longer and much more involved than shows like Les Miserables and even some operas. Another big challenge was coming in right before the rehearsal process began since I was new and not having the normal 1-2 months of prep time I spend before taking on a show like this. Given this and the fact that I had a cast of 28 who I’d never met, much less worked with, I’m very pleased with how it’s all come together.

This show is a ton of fun, musically, and there are moments I look forward to each night. “Positive” and “Ireland” make me giggle every time I hear the lyrics, and playing “Bend and Snap” with the orchestra is a blast. I also look forward each night to hearing the crowd’s reaction to the show and the music. We especially appreciate those people who stick around at the end of the show to let the orchestra know how much they appreciate them!

Don’t miss the last two weeks of performances running Sept. 13 – 23! See you at the Dock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up? Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for theatre and the arts?
A: I grew up in San Jose, California. I tap danced a little in preschool (emphasis on a LITTLE), but the thing that really got me interested in the arts was the shows my parents took me and my sister to at the Center for Performing Arts in downtown San Jose and at the local children’s theatre.  I always knew I wanted to be on that stage someday too!

 

Q: Where did you study theatre?
A: I started in 6th grade at a community theatre drama camp, and from there kept performing up through high school (I took classes in school as well as places like American Musical Theatre of San Jose and Actor’s Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco).  After that, I jumped over to the East Coast to get my Bachelors of Fine Arts from Emerson College in Boston.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously? What are some of your favorite roles?
A: I’ve been lucky enough to work at theaters in California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Indiana and South Carolina now and have loved all of it!  Some of my favorite roles so far are Kate Monster/Lucy in Avenue Q, Olive in Spelling Bee, and Hilda in Plain and Fancy.  I think Elle is now moving to the top of my list though!

 

Q: How did you prepare for playing the lead role of Elle Woods? Were there any challenges or things that you were excited about with taking on this character?
A: I was pretty lucky to come into the role with the experiences of having lived in both California and Boston, so I didn’t have to do much research on that! I’ve been a huge Reese Witherspoon fan and have loved Legally Blonde, the movie since I was a kid and have probably seen it over 300 times–so I was also really familiar with the material.

Some of the challenges that came with this role for me were getting into the sorority mentality.  I was never in a sorority and never really felt a draw towards it, so that part of it was a little challenging to get in to.  I also LOVE the story, so I really wanted to do it justice!

 

Q: You’ve been in performances for the past two weeks… what do you most look forward to each performance playing Elle Woods?
A: I really look forward to the journey I get to take every night.  Whenever I’m in the Malibu scenes I think “Man, I can’t wait to get to the Harvard scenes!” and when I’m in the Harvard scenes I think “Oh! I can’t wait to get back to the Malibu scenes!”  Then I remind myself I get to do it all over again the next night and that calms me down a little.  I love that the show is so fast-paced and always moving!

 

Q: Last season you were a Charleston Stage Resident Actor. What did you learn from that experience and what are your thoughts on returning to Dock Street Theatre as a Guest Actor?
A: One of the biggest things I learned from that experience was how to make my acting and rehearsal process efficient.  The volume of shows we did last year was faster and much more than any series of shows I’ve ever done before and I really learned how to produce quality work quickly.

I’m so glad I get the opportunity to return to the Dock! I love this company and the theatre is absolutely beautiful! I feel so lucky that I get another opportunity to perform in this space let alone with Charleston Stage again!

 

Q: What’s next?
A: Up next I’m making the move to New York City.  I’ve been saving and working up to it for quite a while now and I think I’m finally ready to take it on!