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Countless readings and workshops continue to fill much of my work as an actress.
Whether these plays will ever see the kind of success we all experienced with A Chorus Line . . .
that's the fun part of life itself . . . ya just never know . . .
Writers were challenged to create plays inspired by fairy tales and folklore. My play, Small Group, written by guest writer, Tom Slot, featured two Asgardian Gods, the forbidden fruit gal and a foul-mouthed Queen Guenevier, all in therapy with Princess Leia who valiantly tries to make sense of their (& her own) messed-up lives. Reboot. Recharge. Choose to make the next life BETTER! |
Continued fall-out from our Folk City Stories performed in February. I hear Lily saw the show and was writing "something" with me in mind. This was a complete hoot to do with former Broadway gypsy & friend, Patti Mariano. Thank you to Director, Joan Kane, and Lily for helping us craft this challenging "rappin" dialogue. Next stop: Hamilton?
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Writers were given the task of writing a one-act based on 60's folk music. I ended up directing, "Babe, I Hate To Go, " written by Rhea MacCallum (Guest Artist), inspired by Leaving On A Jet Plane (John Denver) and performed with Joanne Dorian in Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace written by company member, Kelly Zekas inspired by Suzanne by Leonard Cohan. Sold out evenings with talk of moving the project for a longer run - read about the creative synergy HERE.
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Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace, written by ATC member, Kelly Zekas, featuring Joanne Dorian and Denise Pence; reprised again in a staged reading at the Women in Theatre Festival, July, 2016
Babe, I Hate To Go featuring Jennifer Wilson McGuire, Adam Parabo and Stark Witz, written by Rhea McCallum and directed by Denise Pence |
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September, 2015 with Adam Perabo |
Although an opera, I was hired as an actress by Tom Morris, Tony award-winning Director for War Horse, so feel it's an appropriate addition to this page). Having been immortalized as "the girl who can't sing" in A Chorus Line, finding myself on the stage of The Metropolitan Opera was a bit of an out-of-body experience. As with every project I've ever done, I learn from those so much smarter than I. Thank you to all for welcoming me into The Met Family. Nothing like being in the eye of a storm!
Klinghoffer Remains A Lightening Rod
NY Times, Michael Cooper
 
Snezhana Chernova, Svetlana Kifa, Jenna Jenson, me, Marie Christine Katz, Nancy Gordon, Diane Nicole & Inna Yesilevskaya |
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  Starring Lyle Waggoner
(Wonder Woman's husband)
My very first "straight" role after leaving Pippin. I was hired as "Connie" in Lyle's production at the Carousel Dinner Theater. I lied to nail the audition. I did (and my agent at the time backed me up)! The producer wanted someone who had "done the show already." Lyle had been doing the show in FL and "didn't like his 'Connie'." I'd auditioned for the same role 6 months earlier elsewhere, but when I saw the producer shut down when he read all musicals on my resume, I vowed to lie the next time I got the chance. And Lyle (bless his heart) was super about mentoring me and bringing me up to speed throughout the production. Thank you, Lyle, for your support. I came back into town and immediately booked "The Guiding Light." |
Performed at Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, I portrayed "Glorianna Fulsomme," a young Stratford, CT, girl who fell in love with a stranger who'd come to town. He left her alone and pregnant, promising to return. While she believed he would come back, the town turned against her. Ultimately however, her faith proved fairytales DO come true! He returned, they married and she became a Princess. This collaboration between writer Steve Otfinoski & Director, Steve Boockvor served as the basis for History Alive! currently performing in schools throughout the tri-state area.
Rex Everhart, who was the original "celophane man" in Chicago on Broadway w/Gwen & Chita, Jim Nobel a well-known TV personality at the time and others from the Workshop of Westport were in our company with me.
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