Happy New Year and welcome to my new blog.  I’d like to introduce myself, tell you a little about my interests and about what services I offer.  I do like to consider myself a “theater artist,” as that encompasses a wider range of activities than “actor.”  (Yes, I prefer the gender-neutral term “actor” unless, of course, I ever get nominated for an Oscar, Emmy, Tony or Golden Globe–;))  In addition to my theater pursuits, I also work at my local public library and lead tours for Mural Arts Philadelphia.  For more information about that inspiring organization, please visit their website at muralarts.org.  Maybe I’ll see you on one of my tours! I have two adult children–both of whom have picked up at least some of my theater bug–who are happily married and out of the nest, leaving me time to pursue my interests in earnest.

As indicated in my bio, I’ve been interested in performance my entire life.  I was fortunate to be able to take “drama” lessons at the Pittsburgh Playhouse when I was a child and pre-teen.  Being able to bring characters to life through acting both thrills and amazes me.  Audiences and directors alike have enjoyed my work and have sought me out for the talents I offer.  Please see my resume on this website to get an overview of the work I have done.  Because I was raising children, I generally didn’t have opportunities to pursue out-of-town gigs or shows with long-term evening commitments, but I was able to do a lot of educational outreach theater, some quality community theater and the occasional mainstage production.  I was dragged kicking and screaming into trying improvisational comedy at the Walnut Street Theater School and found out that I really love it and am pretty good at it!  I have appeared with several comedy improv groups and am currently working with a bunch of first-timers who will be putting on a show later this month (see calendar).  I have also applied my improvisation skills  in more serious contexts, such as programs about conflict resolution and in socio-drama.

I had the good luck to meet Pam Sommerfield, one of the founding directors of the American Historical Theatre (AHT), over 20 years ago.  I let her know that my educational background is in American Studies and I have taught American history at both the high school and college levels.  When I expressed interest in working with her company, I was offered the opportunity to become their Susan B. Anthony.  Since then, I have performed as Miss Anthony many times, in both scripted and unscripted productions.  Like all of AHT’s company members, I had to do thorough research in order that I might field questions that might come my way in audience Q and A sessions or in  more informal gatherings.  I have performed at the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Federal Hall in New York, the National Archives in both NYC and Washington, a teachers’ convention in Lansing, Michigan, Rocky Mount Museum in Tennessee, the Chatauqua Institute in Greenville, SC, and many other places too numerous to mention.  I will go into more detail about my work as Susan B. Anthony in future blog posts, and you can also learn more by going to the “Susan B. Anthony” link on this website.

I have also loved my experiences teaching and directing, as well as my extensive work as a standardized patient–but I’ll go into all of that in subsequent blog posts.  I think this one is long enough, don’t you?  Thanks for reading!