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What advice do you have for people like me who want to become a professional musical theatre performer?
From what I've observed if you want a career in this industry you must persevere. To have talent is not enough you have to keep trying and have faith that your hard work will meet with opportunity when the time is right. I like reminding myself that many people achieve their dreams just after they were going to give up. Also that Elvis didn't get signed with Sun Records until his second audition. Tell me about first audition and how you felt the first time you got cast?
My first audition in the city was for a production of Grey Gardens at Portland Center Stage when I was a Sophomore in college and I was TERRIFIED. I remember sitting there nervous as a nelly and glanced over to the girl waiting to go in front of me and recognizing the name on her resume from a Broadway album I idolized in High School. Needless to say…I didn't book my first NYC audition. The first time I got cast out of an NYC audition was for Wicked and I really can't put that feeling into words. It's the highest high of any I've ever experienced next to my baby brother being born. Favorite roles you've played and roles you want to play?
Some favorite roles have been Cinderella in Into the Woods, Reno in Anything Goes, and Little Edie in Grey Gardens. I would LOVE to play, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Nellie in South Pacific, and Miss Honey in Matilda. Biggest blooper you've ever made?
The biggest blooper I've had to date had to have been the time I ate pavement in the Ballroom Crossover in Wicked. We're literally onstage for 30 seconds in this 30 foot hoop skirt and I fell for what felt like EONS onto the floor front stage right. It was AMAZING! What's it like being an understudy?
Being an understudy is awesome and challenging in the best way. It's such a good experience to learn from those in the role and also to work behind the scenes on developing your own take on the character to have ready to lock and load when you get that exciting text/call from Stage Management. There is no feeling of accomplishment greater than the euphoria you feel upon completing the first show going on for a lead with little to maybe no hiccups. What's it like going on when it's a mid show switch?
I have never experienced this personally but I was on in my ensemble track when an Elphaba had to call out mid show, Act I, and it was THRILLIFYING. The standby slipped on with Glinda in the very quick transition from train station into Emerald City and the audience had ZERO clue until they made an announcement before Act II. How was your Glinda and Nessarose debut?
My Glinda debut was hilarious. The automation was down that day AKA NO BUBBLE! So I sauntered saucily on by foot stage right and had a ball. I actually preferred it that way…it's hard when all you're trying to do your first show as the Good Witch to feel grounded at 20 feet in the air in a 20 pound frock of sequins. I felt much less nervous for my first time on solid ground. I don't remember my Nessarose debut but I had the opportunity to go on many times for the role and loved doing it. That scene in Act II is so fun to do. Do you keep contact with a lot of the people you performed with in the past?
I do. Our little, big business makes it easy to keep in frequent contact with one another either by doing other shows with people with whom you've worked previously or all the run ins throughout the city whether it be at auditions or in the park. My very best friends have all come out of this industry and I am most grateful for that. If you can play any role as male who would they be?
There are so many! I always say "ugh! I wish I was a dude so I could play this role!" My top is probably Leo Frank in Parade…I love singing his parts when I listen to the Parade album. Craziest thing and nicest thing a fan has ever told you?
I don't have a craziest yet….I feel like I'll know it when it happens and the nicest has been all of my fan letters/interactions. I know it sounds super cheese but I've had the most kind/positive meetings and words exchanged with all kinds of amazing people and I couldn't just pick one. What made you realize you wanted to be a performer?
I think when I realized not only the love and joy I felt doing what I do but especially that paired with the sense of family and community that you feel as well in the company of a show. It doesn't feel like work at all and isn't THAT living the dream? What are the auditions and rehearsal processes like?
Auditions are all so different, rehearsal processes as well but in the case of Wicked. I went in twice with Glinda material and then had a third and final dance callback. Rehearsals were interesting because I had never been put into a show that was already mounted so it was mostly me in a room with two dance captains running around me as the other 15 ensemble members until I had a singular put in with the full cast and then I was up three days later! Weeeee!
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