I was one of the lucky ones to grow up in Baraboo, Wisconsin in the 90s. Baraboo certainly wasn’t perfect – what town is? – but it was a surprising and unique haven for artists and it was home to one of the most spectacular theatres: the Al Ringling Theatre. I grew up on that stage. I acted in Baraboo Theatre Guild productions, travelling Missoula Children’s Theatre productions, and school plays. I did dance with the local dance company, BRAVO. I was first chair flutist in our high school symphony band. That stage, that theatre, felt like a second home. That theatre, along with Baraboo itself and its surrounding natural beauty, shaped me into the woman and artist I am today. My work continues to be rooted in my small town upbringing. My acting work tells the stories of women of the upper Midwest region. My love for our Wisconsin natural wonders are evident in my digital and 35mm film photography. In my journey of pursuing acting and an artistic lifestyle, I have noticed how I am often overlooked as being “average” because I am from the Midwest, the flyover states. I take so much pride in knowing just how many incredible artists reside here and proud to call myself one of them. My hope as an artist is that I can continue to shine a light on this “flyover” region and showcase one perspective of its multifaceted layers of culture.
"I am baring my soul on the stage [...] but the reason I do it is I'm sharing these personal moments and so many people connect with it."
When I turned thirty and was still in the trenches of actor auditions, it dawned on me that what all female actors dreaded was now happening to me. I was no longer young enough to play the 20-something roles that were abundant. If there was something I could put myself forward for, my age skewed me toward mother roles, roles I felt I was, ironically, too young to play. I was living in London, United Kingdom at the time, freshly out of graduate school at Drama Centre London. My fellow classmates decided to apply for a grant to put on an alumni showcase. We had 10-20 minute slots and I started writing about a thirty year old woman going through audition after audition and realizing she was aged out of her career path. Inspired by a true story, safe to say. Sadly, we didn’t receive the grant and my short play was shelved. Fast forward a few years later, and the opportunity came knocking to bring this play back to life and make it a full-length performance. I went for it and I am so glad I did.
The play follows 20+ years of my life pursuing a career in acting. All the highs, all the lows, and every twist and turn in between. It went on to have three additional successful performances with standing ovations and incredible reviews. But I know it is not done. It is not done because it has yet to premier on the stage I grew up on: the Al Ringling Theatre stage. The play starts with my childhood acting on that stage and to bring the play home to its origin would bring it full circle and fill my heart and soul with joy. Looking at the short term benefits, I know so many Barabooians will swarm to the theatre to see someone who was born and raised there back on the stage they grew up on. This show will have immediate impact on the community and theatre in terms of yes, revenue, but also emotional impact. I wish you could hear the things audience members have said to me after the performances…one dad told me it had him wanting to reconnect with his daughter. Another told me it had them rethinking their career choices. Another inspired them to get back to their art, get back to living their life. These are vital and unquantifiable short term effects from my work that directly impact my artistic growth. It all inspires me to keep going, keep creating, and to keep challenging myself. Long term, those emotional effects will hopefully still be in place. Hopefully it will invoke positive change in people that will continue for a long time.
