The long...
~Was born in a small town called The Bronx, and after a short stint in Fort Lee moved just a couple of towns over to Teaneck, NJ, where I would eventually incorporate the majority of my coping mechanisms.
~ Spent Kindergarten through 12th grade in the Teaneck school system. Took acting classes in high school and got top marks, but was never cast in any plays. (Oh, wait. I was in the chorus of Bye, Bye, Birdie, and mouthed the words to all the songs - this is an harbinger of things to come.) I was discouraged about theatre and decided not to pursue it.
~ Went to Bucknell University on the strength of their Animal Behavior major. (I know.) Failed the required Molecular and Cellular Biology almost before I started it. Wandering aimlessly through various classes for a while, I auditioned for and was cast in student-directed The Real Inspector Hound, by Tom Stoppard. I was a sophomore and no doubt unbearable to live with, so high on myself was I. I played Mrs. Drudge. There was no going back.
~ Decided to double-major in English and Theatre, since there was a huge Venn Diagram overlap in requirements. I was cast in a couple of short comedies, directed by students, but in my senior year was cast as Viola, in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It rocked my world, and I am forever indebted to professor and director Dr. Gary Grant, for taking a chance on a complete unknown. Had the time of my life.
~ Attended graduate school at Pitt for my MFA in Theatre. I got the stage experience that I knew I needed, along with a few life lessons. It was sometimes rough going, but I made friends I wouldn't trade for anything. It was here that I perfected my brand of lip synching any and all songs (you have to hit your plosives and sibilants, People.) The Powers at the school made a lot of their summer Shakespeare Festival in the pitch to get me and my cohorts to go there, but we found that being trusted with a decent/speaking part was next to impossible. Here's when I coined the fake Pitt Theatre Dept slogan, "Come to the University of Pittsburgh. We train actors we wouldn't hire!" Bitter? Oh, yes. Yes, I was.
~ While in Pittsburgh, I received "best-of" mentions in year-end stage recaps for four years running. I was also a founding member of the very well-received Young Company of the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival. (They gave us no choice.) I did five Equity shows with St. Vincent Theatre, on the St. Vincent college campus in Latrobe, PA, and had a wonderful time there.
~ But. With so few professional theatres in Pittsburgh at the time (6) I moved to Chicago, which boasted a few more than that (150.) I braved several winters, did a couple of shows, but finally moved to LA. Not sure if I was running to something, or from, but here I am.
~ I am a graduate of the bang. improv conservatory, located in the Fairfax district in Hollywood. I would recommend it to anyone. I've met wonderful people and learned skills that I use in all areas of my life. If you're an actor, it can only make you better, and whether you are or not, if can be the most fun you ever had. If this doesn't appeal to you, then for pity's sake, come and see some shows. You can't find more laughs per comedy dollar, I guaran-damn-tee you. www.bangstudio.com
~ You may find me on the bang. stage in shows such as Piñata, Comedy Klatch, and The Periodicals. Check out this page, for a current schedule. Ish.