The Sophian

Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Arts

Major: Theatre
House: Chase
Hometown: Chestnut Hill, Mass.

How long have you been acting?
I have been doing theater for about four years now, but when I was five, I got to play the part of 'Librarian' in a kindergarten production of Freeport, That's My Town. It opened and closed the same night.

Tell us a little about what you are currently working on.
Right now, I'm acting in Smith's production of Mrs. California, which goes up tonight. I never thought that I would spend so much time at Smith setting tables and ironing! I'm also an official script-reader for the National Playwright's Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. It's an honor to be part of the process that makes this conference a creative haven for developing artists from around the world. And, I'm proud to say that this is my fourth year as a member of SIKOS and we're busy planning a show for Family Weekend.

Were you involved in the arts before coming to Smith?
I've trained as a musician since I was little and I actually transferred to Smith from a conservatory for music. When I was very young, I would howl along to my mother's opera records.

What inspires you?
People that run outside in the cold. They don't think about it, they just do it.

Where would we find you on a typical Friday night?
Lately, I've been doing a lot of homework on Friday nights; it's one of the few nights without a rehearsal scheduled.



What kind of music do you listen to?
All kinds, but I do prefer tonal music.

What type of character do you enjoy playing the most?
I really like working in comedy and am frequently cast as "that" girl - usually the characters that I play get to make things difficult for others and that can be fun.

Are you involved in any other forms of artist expression, even if just as a hobby?
I specialize in recreating well-known impressionist works using spaghetti. Van Gogh's Starry Night took seven hours. I try to write a short scene or song at least once a week. Last semester, I learned how to write computer programs using Processing to create digital art, and I also had a great time making a stop-motion film for a Comparative Literature midterm project. In my defense, that particular assignment was rather open-ended.

What do you aspire to do after graduation?
I hope to remain active in the entertainment field at the graduate level or professional level. I'd also like to write musicals and I'm currently looking at some graduate programs.

Who or what has influenced you in your work?
In theater and other performing arts, you rely on your ensemble for support, so we learn a lot from each other. I owe a lot to the Smith theatre department. The faculty and staff are experts in all aspects of theater.

What is your favorite spot on campus?
It's a rare treat when you get a few moments alone with a tuned piano in Sage Hall. I'm also a big fan of that pond thing.

What has been your favorite class that you have taken here at Smith?
Logic 100 and 101 were the best classes I have taken at Smith. It took a lot of work to get the hang of it, but once I did, it was incredibly rewarding.

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