These past two months have been an artistic dream and joy.  If you ever have the opportunity to work with director Scott Edmiston, please say "Yes".  You too will experience artistic freedom and pleasure!  Scott began our first rehearsal saying (I am paraphrasing here) "I have assembled many guests at this party, and I am your host.  It is your choice what kind of guest you will be..."  And just like that, we welcomed each other, played with each other, laughed, cried and supported throughout the process.  A true joy to work with an ensemble that honored the story first and foremost.  

Our fearless music director, Catherine Stornetta, who I was honored to collaborate with on our fourth production, kept us crisp and articulate each night!  Her stunning arrangements for cello, violin and piano brought new life to this classic... The lively pizzacato in "You Did It" just made my heart dance!

David Connelly, choreographer, was a treat from our first dance call to opening night.  He has a gift for crafting choreography organically as an extension of the music.  It was so clear that the music mattered to him, as he was present at each rehearsal, whether we were moving or not.  Each piece had it's own life and all numbers had signature moves, not repeated in other parts of the play.  How we LOVED inhabiting his choreography each night, especially in "A Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church!"  

I could go on about each everyone in the cast, crew and design team.... truly wonderfully gifted performers, technicians and people.

During the rehearsal process and dramaturgical discussions, I was reminded of my Senior Thesis Project at George Mason University, where I highlighted musicals based in literature.  My formal training was in straight plays and classical music-- at the time, our school of theater did not care to produce musicals and I was hoping my project would convince them of musical theater's importance.  Much of my time and research was spent on the comparison between Pygmalion and My Fair Lady.  I performed "Without You" and the scene preceding with classmate, Zach Myers. Scott reserved much of our rehearsal time to discuss Shaw's play, and our discussions brought us deeper into the work, exploring a Shaw ending vs Lerner & Loewe.  Makes me want to go back to the library and research again!

Thanks Lyric Stage Company!  Thanks Spiro Veloudos for producing such important work!  Thanks to all who took the time to come out and see the show!

Thrilled to announce my return to the Lyric State Company of Boston this fall for MY FAIR LADY, the classic musical by Lerner & Loewe.  I have loved this musical since I was a very young girl, and cannot wait to get down to some nitty gritty cockney!

Photo from http://megane-me.deviantart.com/art/My-Fair-Lady-Costumes-349237935

This March-May, I look forward to returning to The Lyric Stage Company of Boston for "City of Angels!"  The show is a musical theater homage to the Film Noir era, and I am a member of Angel City 4, reminiscent of the vocal jazz group Manhattan Transfer, who's music I knew inside & out as a child... and went on study in our high school jazz choir "Jive!"... (and then became a part of the first ever All-State Jazz Choir in RI- okay, enough bragging)... Za ba doo-op ba da ba da ba doo ba doo wop... Do come check us out March 27-May 3rd!

Happy New Year!  2012 has been a year of professional and personal growth, with lots to celebrate... 

I began relationships with three reputable theatre companies this year: Lyric Stage Company ("Avenue Q"), New Bedford Festival Theatre ("Hairspray") and Merrimack Repertory Theatre ("Beat Generation").  The wonderful world of puppetry made "Avenue Q" an amazingly unique experience.  "Hairspray" was exciting every night, as we performed to audiences of 1000+ each night.  And the world premier of Jack Keruoac's "Beat Generation" was pure joy, as I shared the stage with actors I admired from the New York stage and television.

I experienced tremendous growth and success with students in various classes and hundreds of private lessons.  My students earned scholarships to Camp Broadway, won East Bay Idol, and were accepted to the Rhode Island All-State Band & Chorus. As a choreographer, I found joy developing pieces for musical theater as well as for a 40th birthday party!  I directed "Once On this Island, Jr." at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, a summer camp for Arts Alive in Barrington and began rehearsals for "Aladdin Kids" at Nayatt School.  Click HERE for more info on my private lessons/classes/directing projects.

On a personal note, I purchased a new cello, and have been passionately practicing my dream instrument (which I actually began playing at the age of 8 and put down at the age of 13).  I perform with the Rhode Island College Chamber Orchestra, and have been invited to join their Symphony Orchestra. 

Finally, the year ended with an engagement ring.  I just couldn't be happier!