ABOUT ME
I am a Boston-based director, choreographer, actor, educator, writer, and presentation coach. People often ask me which of these jobs is my favorite. My answer is honestly: "whatever I happen to be doing in the moment." I am so lucky that my work is my passion.
Living through - and trying to work in this industry through - a global pandemic made me revisit my goals in and for life. I found true joy and fulfillment teaching senior citizens about icons of the American Musical and holding playreading classes with them. I wrote the first drafts of a young adult novel. I learned how to knit. And I became more active both politically and as the Clerk of the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund helping those in my community in need. I spent a lot of time at home with my husband, two kids, and our dog while making a point of becoming a Zoom expert to keep in touch with those friends and family I could not be with in person. Whether or not I would come back to the business of theater was a real question for me. I made the decision to leave my position as Associate Artistic Director at Greater Boston Stage Company, but the moment my friend, Tom Frey wrote to invite me to direct and choreograph Beehive: The 60's Musical at Peterborough Players, I grabbed the script and score. Theater - I can't quit you yet.
Having donned my first pair of tap shoes at the tender age of four, growing into a choreographer seemed like a natural step for me. I love dance and telling stories through dance. It is my strong belief that everyone can move and, as well as choreographing for dancers, I have honed the very unique skill of choreographing for non-dancers. From Urinetown to On the Town to creating the world premiere Swan Lake in Blue: A Jazz Ballet, choreography is one of my greatest joys.
When I found that I have more to say as a storyteller than I could through making acting choices and making dance, I jumped into the world of directing - feet first. From dance based shows like Sweet Charity to comedies like The 39 Steps, from classics like She Loves Me to newer pieces like Lizzie: The Musical, to the wonder that is theater for young audiences like Mr. Popper's Penguins - I look for a story to tell that speaks to me and the audience. I find joy where I can and meaning throughout.
Favorite acting roles include such varied roles as Gangster #2 in The Drowsy Chaperone at Lyric Stage Boston, The Storyteller in Peter in the Wolf with the BYSO, Dessa in Tongue of a Bird at the New Repertory Theatre, Joyce/Evie in the House Theatre’s production of The Sparrow at Greater Boston Stage Company, and Little Becky/Mrs. Millennium in Urinetown at Lyric Stage Boston. I originated the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past in Rick Lombardo’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the New Repertory Theatre and can be found listed on the inside cover of MOMologues 3: The Final Push as a performer in the original production. You can listen to me narrate Eve Bunting’s book My Teacher is Having a Baby and see me on various commercials including spots for Comcast, Dunkin' Donuts, CVS, and Star Market.
Born and bred in Massachusetts (with quick jaunts to live in Chicago and London), I work primarily in the Boston/New England area, but love to travel as well. Theaters I have worked at include United Solo Festival in NYC, The Umbrella Stage Company, Lyric Stage Boston, Speakeasy Stage Company, Peterborough Players, The Hanover Theatre, Greater Boston Stage Company, Central Square, Underground Railway, New Repertory Theatre, The Modern Theatre, Fiddlehead Theatre, Hope Repertory Theatre, Overture Productions, Jewish Theater of New England, American Stage Festival, Boston Theatre Works, Wheelock Family Theatre, Museum of Science, Reagle Music Theatre, and The Publick Theatre.
I am a MA certified public school teacher and teach regularly for all levels from elementary school to graduate students to senior citizens. My specialties include creative drama education, critical thinking, dance and theater history, and public speaking. It has been my great honor to coach and adjudicate for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival witnessing our brightest new talent burst onto the musical theater scene.
It seemed a natural leap for me to move from teaching high school and college students how to speak in public to teaching business executives the same skill. Now I train corporate and private clients in presentation skills and storytelling, drawing on the acting and directing skills that I have honed and bringing the same basic techniques that I use on stage to the boardroom.
My degrees include a BS in Communication/Theater from Northwestern University, certification in theater from the British American Drama Academy and a Masters in Education from Harvard University.