Haven't seen one of these in awhile

Usually I just post in this thing to tell you, our loyal readers, about events that are going on. You've probably been getting a lot of stuff via the various means of communication regarding what's going on at our humble theatre, so I figured I'd step down from that capacity for a moment, and just tell you a little about myself. Why? Well, I'm mildly interesting.

Performance has always been something in my veins. I'm not a particularly spotlight-seeking-person, I just rather enjoy putting stuff out there for people to enjoy. I've sang, played violin, and when younger even forayed into Chinese Opera. Even now, when I can't find any place to let off my creative steam, I traipse into a smoky bar where I can sing Karaoke.

The problem for me is (and I know this sounds stupid, so bear with me), no matter what I had ever set out to do, I was always very good at. If not the best, I was quite close to it always. Tennis, Soccer, Figure Skating, Violin, Piano, Singing...you name it. I never enjoyed settling for mediocrity, so I always pushed to be good at what I did, and it usually took very little effort to get up to the top.

My journey into the acting world started a long, long time ago. It was my freshman year in High School, in French Class, where one Lauren Friedman had just come flouncing into the classroom. "There are auditions for this play called Pippin. It's a musical. Try outs are soon."

So I auditioned. Why the hell not? I got cast as chorus.

I had gotten a small part in a play, in a large collective of people where I was unknown. Finally, I had the opportunity to work my way up from the bottom. I wasn't starting at the top this time. It was a challenge now! Ever since that production of Pippin, I've been in love with theatre ever since.

It had been a few years since I'd done any sort of performing outside of Karaoke, but then First Stage came along, and it was like being reunited with a long-lost love.

Sometimes I feel the need to declare myself a poster child or mascot of First Stage, because I am, in fact, one of those upstart actors who has made First Stage his first stage. I've made my professional debut here, and hopefully (cross your fingers for me) this is the start of a wonderful career. I sit in the theatre, and I'm surrounded by people who are simply masters of their craft, and I cannot help but be inspired and awed by the goings on around me. It is indeed a magnificent place to be a part of, in any capacity.

As I explained to Jessica Lefkow, director of the current production Red Herring: "I walk in every day, and my pulse quickens, and I can barely keep my excitement at a manageable level. It may look like I'm tired or sleepy, but inside, I'm trembling with joy, almost ecstasy. And when I leave, I may have just had the worst rehearsal of my life, and nothing may have gone right; I leave with a smile (even if its just on the inside)."