Friends on Friday- Renee

Renee is one of my dear friends.  She knows some of my darkest secrets and still likes me.  Besides being an amazing friend, some of her other titles are wife, mother, teacher, runner, director and actress.  She recently moved to NC and while that is closer it is still not close enough to me.  I am grateful to have her as a friend.  So here goes...

N: Tell me about yourself.

R: I'm a 34 year old high school English teacher, mom of 3 year old G and wife of 5 years to L. I grew up in Vermont where I attended the University of Vermont for undergrad (Major in English, double minors in Theater and Art History) and for grad school (a Master's in English Lit). I have been teaching since 2001. Although I would rather be an actress anyday, other than acting, there is no other profession that I would consider doing besides being a teacher.

N: What are you passionate about?

R: My daughter. Being outside. Being active. Acting.

She ran a marathon very shortly after giving birth to G.

N: What was one of the defining moments in your life?

R: My first defining moment is when my father put my master's hood on me. (He's a professor at UVM, so he was allowed to hood me). The next is the moment I heard G's little voice right after birth. The final defining moment was when I performed in a play in which I stripped down to a bra and fell on a couch kissing my co-star. I was terrified of what my parents would think of me after this, but, rather than feeling embarrassed, they were enthralled by my performance and the show itself. This made me realize I had some talent. 


N: What is the most favorite role that you have ever performed?

R: Let me see... My favorite role would be Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. It is one that I had always wanted to play. She is smart, witty and one of Shakespeare's most well written female characters. Also, one of my favorite actors played opposite me as Benedick. Shakespeare in the Park in Nashua, New Hampshire is where we performed the play. It was also done in the same time period as Kenneth Branagh's film, late 18th century.

Renee as Beatrice along with the cast of Much Ado 

Another favorite was Truvy in Steel Magnolias. She is loud and boisterous. I got to wear gaudy jewelry and awful 80's clothes.

Beatrice was more of a complex challenge and Truvy was just a blast.

Renee as Truvy

N: What role would you like to play that you would never be cast in? For instance, because of gender, body type, etc.

R: I would love to play Richard III and Hamlet as a close second.

N: What role would you love to play but haven't had the opportunity to perform:

R: Oh, that's a hard question... There was a role in the play Reckless that I really wanted (Rachel). It is about a woman who walks out on her husband and child on Christmas day. Actually Mary-Louise Parker played the role on Broadway. I loved the role but I didn't get the part. I did take a secondary role in the production. I wanted to dislike the woman who got cast, but I couldn't. She was so nice and talented. She was amazing in the role. She actually even ended up coming to my wedding. I would joke with her that I wanted to be her when I grew up, even though we were the same age.

N: What would you say to your daughter if she decided she wanted to be an
actress?

R: I would support her. If she said that she wanted to be a professional, I would support her but caution her about the Hollywood scene. I guess I'm a bit prejudiced against Hollywood. I would tell her to stick to the stage. I thing stage acting is more challenging. There is a newness with every performance on the stage. It seems that screen actors get bogged down with the media and pressures to be thin and look a certain way. I wouldn't want her to have to deal with those issues.

Renee and G at rehearsal

What Renee looks like at rehearsals more recently.

N: Because you are an actress, I am going to harass you with these question that James Lipton adapted for Inside the Actor's studio.

-What is your favorite word?

R: Mulch

N: What is your least favorite word?

R: Faggot (I even have a hard time writing this word)

N: What turns you on?

R: Sculpted arms.

L's sculpted arms.

N: What turns you off?

R: Discrimination.

N: What sound or noise do you love?

R: My daughter's voice.

N: What sound or noise do you hate?

R: The fire alarm at school.

N: What is your favorite curse word?

R: Shit

N: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

R: Stage actress

N: What profession would you not like to do?

R: Anything in a cubicle.

N: If Heaven exists what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

R: Nice work.

N: And now since you have been so gracious as to answer all my questions, you get to ask me any question you would like.

R: Oh, hmm... What role would you like to play that you haven't had the opportunity to play?

N: Hmm, that really is a hard question. I would actually love to play Evita. I don't know that I'll ever have the opportunity. I just love the songs and the original cast version with Patti LuPone. I know it would be a huge challenge. The bug to play that role was actually placed when the Set Builder for Hamlet said that I looked like I could play Evita.

Thanks, Renee for letting me pester you and for being my friend. I am blessed to have you in my life.

Theatre Thursday- Private Benjamin or The First Detour

Biology is driving me crazy right now and I had my first test yesterday. I am scared of the results of that test but for now some reminiscing of the theatre.

During rehearsals for Hamlet, I had gotten a call from an Army recruiter and basically told him there was no chance I was joining the military.  Fast forward several weeks,  I had finished up Hamlet and H on T and then didn't have anything lined up.  Southwest Shakespeare Company's next show was the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  At that time, I was not a singer and so didn't even bother auditioning.

So, I tried to attend Scottsdale Community College, but I couldn't really afford to go and didn't really know about financial aid or how to get it.  I didn't like my acting class because it was full of students who had no experience and let's face it, I thought I was better than them.  It wasn't challenging and so I wasn't doing very well.  It never occurred to me to ask my instructors or even the director of Hamlet (Lynda Linford) who was actually a part of the theatre program at the University of Utah for help on navigating the college world. 

I was sitting at home and I got a call from the recruiter again.  This time I wasn't doing anything and wanted a way to pay for college.  So, I dropped out of my classes and joined the Army.  (I actually didn't drop out of one of my classes correctly so I have an F on my record for Acting. Ooops!)

I learned a lot in the Army.  I felt a bit like Private Benjamin in some ways. I got in great shape. I got a free trip to Germany.  I studied Computers, had a Top Secret clearance and graduated top of my class.  Fun stuff.  

I also met my first husband in the Army. I got pregnant. I got out of the Army. I got married to my first husband and then gave birth to my first son. J1 was born premature and was in the hospital for a month and then came home.  

When J1 was about 6 months old or so I discovered that my first husband was cheating on me. I then divorced from him as he had no intention of leaving his mistress.

I moved back to AZ.  Met DH, got married, had A1. My X signed away his rights and DH adopted J1.  

After I had A1, I was struggling a bit with PPD that turned into full blown depression for a couple of years. I felt like I needed to get back into the theatre and that is when I decided to take Track 2 of the Conservatory.  But that will be for the next post.

Hell week.- Skipping daily blogs this week.

This is my first week of going to college full time.  I am really struggling even though yesterday was the first day.  So, I am going to take this week off from blogging so that I can write better blogs next week. I'm sure you will all some how survive with out my dailyish blogs.

If there is any specific topic you would like me to address regarding Mommy Monday, Trailer Trash Tuesday, Whatever Wednesday, Theatre Thursday or Friends on Friday let me know. Since Wed. is whatever day you can really just tell me whatever you would like to see featured.

So, ask away.

Friends on Friday- A2 - a day late

I have some interviews in the works but they just haven't been completed yet.  So, I sat down with A2 and a video camera to record her responses.  I took some of the questions from the Actor's Studio. She is so sweet and fun. I am lucky to be her mom.  Sorry this is a day late.

Theatre Thursday- The First Conservatory Year

My senior year of HS I was awarded two awards: Best Supporting Actress and Best Overall Thespian.  Which basically means I worked my butt off and never got a major part.

After HS however, I got accepted into the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory which was run by my former HS teacher's wife at the time. It is a summer program, that is similar to boot camp but for actors.  These days it is called The Scottsdale Conservatory Theater as it is now more closely associated with Scottsdale Community College as opposed to the Southwest Shakespeare Company.  Track One of the Conservatory involves movement classes, voice classes, improv, text analysis, scene study and other fun stuff like mask work.  We got 12 college credits for attending and passing.  I actually got a C from one of my instructors.

It was really a lot of work but it was exceptionally fun too.  I got to play Joan of Arc, which ended up giving me a great monologue for auditions.  Which brings me to the first time I auditioned for The Southwest Shakespeare Company.

The show they produced first that season was none other than Hamlet.  When I read Hamlet in HS, I promised myself that one day I would play Ophelia.  Let's just admit that I'm a bit crazy and I identified a bit with the character.  I was auditioning with all my classmates and all my instructors because Hamlet is a show that every classical actor wants to be involved with.  I auditioned with my Joan monologue and the Julia letter monologue.  I saw the director sit up and take notice and the other people behind the table whispering to her.

I was called back for the part of Ophelia along with one other girl who had not been in the conservatory.  I read sides along with three of my male instructors for the conservatory who had been called back for the part of Hamlet.  The man who eventually got the part of Hamlet thought he was too old and that the director might be looking at him for Polonius and me for Ophelia.  I just inwardly shook my head because I felt he would make an amazing Hamlet.  It turns out I was right.  He was also the instructor who gave me a C.

I'm the one in front in the nightgown.

Nunnery scene

I got cast in the role and got the confirmation call from none other than my HS Drama teacher.  Let me tell you, that was really cool.  Rehearsals were grueling and it was difficult to get into the crazy mind set and make it believable but with the support of an amazing cast and great director, I somehow pulled it off.  My Jr. High English teacher even came to see the show.

During one of the rehearsals (which was held in a VFW hall)  a producer came to watch us.  He was casting a show called Hamlet on Trial for the UK/AZ festival.  I got called in to audition formally.  Only two people from our cast were chosen to participate and I was one of them.  The other actors that they got for the show were all equity (Actor's union).  They also brought in Billy Connolly as a guest artist.  They originally tried to get Vanessa Redgrave but she had scheduling conflicts so they brought him in instead.

He played a role in "Muppet Treasure Island."

 We only had one week to rehearse. The show had three different endings, and the ending was chosen based on what the guest jury decided.  It was held at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. It is a really beautiful theatre that has a ceiling that lights up to look like the sky and as the time gets closer to curtain time it turns it to look like the night sky.  It was incredible.

OrpheumTheatre-Phoenix

I had made cards for all the cast members the day of our one performance of Hamlet on Trial. The day of the performance was spent rehearsing because that was the only time Mr. Connolly could come.  I had left a card in his dressing room and noticed that it had been tossed aside later.  He was very stand offish towards everyone.  I was not impressed.

That night, I found out the mayor of London was in the audience and we had a full house.  Normally, the costumer would wait back stage for me to help me put on my robe.  My costume was a sheer nightgown (I had a flesh toned body suit underneath) that was bright white and we didn't want people seeing me backstage.  After, I did the "I have been so affrighted." bit, I came off stage hearing the deafening roar of the audience.  There standing in the shadows was not the costumer but Mr. Connolly with my robe over his arm clapping. He then helped me put on my robe and approvingly said, "Bravo. That was very well done." in his thick Scottish accent.  It is a moment I will never forget.

Me as Ophelia and M. as Hamlet

After the show, there was a champagne reception.  I was the only minor there and no, I didn't drink.  However, Mr. Connolly pulled me near him and somehow we started bantering back and forth and became the center of the party.  Later the director pulled me aside and confided in me that she was very concerned when she found out the producer had cast an 18 year old in the part of Ophelia.  She told me that he had assured her that if she didn't like me during the first rehearsal that I Could be re-cast.  I had no idea.  She said that I was wonderful in the role.  She also offered me a chance to move to NY and stay with her and her husband, if I wanted to try to make it in the Big Apple.  I politely declined for several reasons, mostly because I was terrified.

And that is just part of the story.

Trailer Trash Tuesday

Trailer Trash Tuesday is to highlight the joys and nuances of living the trailer trash life. 

Don't I just look the part? 

No? I suppose I don't.  I guess I am a living breathing example of not judging a book by it's cover and if I am not a prime example, then my home is a textbook example:

While the outside isn't much to look at, we have made it a home.  It is our safe place from the outside world, a place to feel loved, a place to learn, and a place to have fun.

When me made the long move up from AZ to OR we joked around about being like the pioneers.  We even had one of the trailers we were pulling break an axle and had to stop for several days before we were able to continue on our journey. Like most things, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  We ended up having to sell our broken trailer and bought an enclosed one instead. This covered trailer ended up saving many of our possessions from the elements of OR.

So, when we were faced with needing to buy a trailer in which to live, we found it amusing that we ended up picking one with the name of Pilgrim.  The similarities of pioneers and pilgrims were not lost on us.  We both left our homelands in search of something better.  We seem to still be on that journey. We just got stuck for five years.

Our lovely Pilgrim home has many interesting features.  One that I was surprised about was our propane oven.  This little beauty measures in at 15 inches wide and from the rack to roof is about six inches.  It also hates cookies. Don't even think about trying to stuff a full sized chicken/turkey in there or a sheet cake pan.

Whenever I want to bake, I have to stoop down with a lighter, turn and push the knob on the farthest right and reach my arm way in the back to light the pilot light.  Then, I have to carefully turn the knob while pushing it in to light the rest of the element.  The propane element is located where you see the bluish light in the lower middle part of the oven.  The pilot light is way in the back.

Yesterday, I decided to roast some squash that we had gotten from DH's work and then cook a pizza.  The problem arose when we ran out of propane after the squash was done.  After changing the propane, the element and pilot light went out.  The oven was still super hot and we had to light it again.  It was quite amusing watching the hubs try to light the silly thing with an oven mitt on.  He eventually succeeded with my help. So, he was proclaimed hero of the day and made it so that the kiddos didn't just have to eat their veggies but got some pizza for dinner too.

While it is a pain in the butt to light my oven, I am still grateful for it.  I am sure that pioneers and pilgrims had a much harder time cooking and preparing dinner than I will ever have.  After all, it is still better than cooking like this:

Moral of the story; be grateful for what you have.  There is always someone who has or had it harder than you do.

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Mommy Monday

Too busy being a mom to blog about being a mom. :P
So here are some pictures of my cuties from our last trip to the beach before school started: