Exit...Stage Left

It is official. I have left the theatre business for good. It is a both sad and exciting occasion, where I can reflect on some of the highlights and life changing events from my theatre career. Here goes:

Lockney Elementary School:

• My first performance onstage was of a stick in our kindergarten production of "The Three Little Pigs". My costume was rolled up brown construction paper tied to my arms and torso, and when the big, bad wolf came around, the house of the first little pig made of sticks, left me and my fellow sticks scattered on the ground. Too cute.
• In the second grade, I had my first starring role in "Wack-a-doo Zoo" as a zoo keeper. My first role in drag.
• As fifth graders, we put on a play about saying "no" to drugs. I played a nutty professor with an unidentifiable accent, again in drag.

Lockney High School:

• My freshman year, I started off in drag once again as Mechanical, Peter Quince, in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Little did I know, this wouldn't be the last time I would perform in this play.
• Sophomore year was perhaps our most successful year in UIL One-Act performing "Dancing at Laughnasa". We all won awards and our cast made it all the way to the Area competition.
• Junior year, I had to die in the play. I don't think my parents really enjoyed this one.
• Senior year, I sang a lot, and the show didn't go as far as I hoped. I took comfort in the fact that I was still going to do theatre in college.

College--WTAMU:

• Freshman year, I was in a lot of plays, but the most memorable for me was my first ACTF competition performing in "The Trial". This is when I first realized how fun it was not performing fluff and that I really could be funny. It also marked my first and only original play. My first year in college was really difficult, but I found sewing in the costume shop to be my escape.
• Sophomore year, I believe I enjoyed the most performing as Catherine in "A View from the Bridge". The play did not advance, but I felt the most connected to this character and the people in the cast. The set was amazing and I learned a lot about myself.
• My Junior year, I realized that acting was too draining for me and performed my last major role as a prisoner. I lost someone really close to me the night before my last performance. When I am reminded of this show, I think of him.
• During my last year, I was able to direct "The Lover" by Harold Pinter. I was really proud of how every element fit together, but was frightened about how much of myself I had to put out there. I did "Midsummer" again. This was the year that I performed for the last time in a student play with one of my dearest friends.

After College:

• I made a move to Boston, MA where I thought I wanted an MA/PhD in theatre, but felt too young and inexperienced to really commit. Sept. 11 happened, and I hauled ass back to Austin to be with family.
• Knowing I wanted to be closer to NYC, I moved to East Haddam, CT as a costume apprentice for Goodspeed Musicals. I lived in substandard conditions, met incredibly talented people and learned everything I know about sewing. My favorite show to sew for was "Very Good Eddie," where the designer was fantastic and fed us fattening food every day. I met my fella while working here, which makes my stay at Goodspeed truly special. I was also blessed to work for Yale Repertory Theatre with more talented folks before I made the move out to San Jose, CA.
• California has been a challenge, but the work always seemed to come my way. After freelancing for a year, I finally landed a full-time gig with American Musical Theatre as a stitcher. Here, I worked harder than I ever thought I could work. My coworkers, from Russia and Iran, always made sure that I was eating, and I even learned some Russian on the side. I will always remember these ladies and how much they helped me get through some difficult times.

So, this wraps up my memories of 25 years doing theatre. Documenting this has surely helped me be proud of the time I spent in the business and the friends I have made all over the world.