Whittier Center Theatre's 32nd Annual Hunter Awards!

Last night local theatre enthusiasts and members of the Whittier Center Theatre gathered for the 32nd Annual Hunter Awards. It was a lovely night reliving the past season and previewing what is to come next season.

I was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Alais in The Lion in Winter. Although I did not take home an award last night, I was in very good company. I am most proud to say that our Eleanor, Candace (Candy) Beck took home Best Actress. I am so very happy for her and she deserves every success for her efforts. I could not have done my job without her. She is simply the best to work with and a really hard worker. Congratulations to Candy and all the winners!

 

And the award goes to....
 
Oh My God Award: Andy Kresowski

Techie Award: Don Yeomans (not pictured)

Special Recognition Award (for services over the past seven years as outgoing WCT President): Richard De Vicariis

Special Recognition Award ("Best Performance by an Attorney in a Supporting Role"): Lewis Crouse

Best Set: Suzanne Frederickson - Rumors

Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Minor Role: Jonathan Tupanjanin - The Lion in Winter
 
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Cleta Cohen - Rumors
 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Richard De Vicariis - Rumors
 
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Candy Beck - The Lion in Winter
 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Jason Falske - Rumors

Best Director: Justin Patrick Murphy - Rumors
 
Best Show: Rumors

Best Supporting Actress Nomination - The Lion in Winter

I have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Lion in Winter at Whittier's 32nd Annual Hunter Awards. I am so incredibly proud of this show and all the people involved. The Lion in Winter is nominated in EVERY category! It is also my hope that we win best production of the season. A huge congratulations to all the talented nominees!

The Lion in Winter Opening!

We had a spectacular opening weekend for The Lion in Winter! I am so thrilled to be working with such talented performers in the beautiful Whittier Center Theatre. We have put in many hours, working with the local community and a super hero band of volunteers to make this show come alive on the Whittier Center Theatre Stage. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us this weekend! We appreciate each and every one of you!

The Lion in Winter Casting!

I will be returning to the stage this fall in The Lion in Winter at Whittier Center Theatre. Alais is a role that I have been wanting to play for some time. Best of all, the director of my most recent project, The Women, will be playing Geoffrey. I am so excited to team up with Brandon Ferruccio again. We are the best partners in crime, and while our characters may not directly interact, I know we will continue to learn a lot from each other. Rehearsals begin on Monday. I can hardly wait!

WCT's 27th Annual Awards of Excellence

I just returned from Whittier Community Theatre’s 27th Annual Awards of Excellence presented at the Whittier Center Theatre.

I was nominated for best supporting actress for my performance in Almost, Maine. I am honored to have shared the category with such accomplished actresses. My cast-mate, Jennie Silva-Villa received an award for her role in the same production. I cheered and clapped like a proud mother.

In addition to the award ceremony, we also celebrated with a Kick-Off Party for WCT’s 89th Season! We previewed scenes from the upcoming season: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 12 Angry Jurors , Quilters, and Arsenic and Old Lace. I think I need to put in a word to include some Shakespeare in their 90th Season!

Northern lights

Tonight marks the second weekend of Almost, Maine. We have managed to pull in two fabulous reviews and the audience feedback has been wonderful. On opening night I heard both laughter and cries of despair as our audience invested themselves in our characters. After weeks of rehearsing with only our director in the room, the validation our audiences have been graciously bestowing on us has been refreshing. I can only imagine what this weekend will hold, with a packed house. We had a pick-up rehearsal last night, and despite all the goofball antics and Cruz feeling under the weather, we fell right back into place. Consistency has always been something I strive to achieve in this art form that is constantly changing and evolving every time the lights come up, as the northern lights dance behind us in the sky.

Almost there - Almost!

Rehearsals for Almost, Maine are becoming more and more exciting. There is something very enchanting and compelling about this show. It is like the tiny piece of polished sea glass that I have been missing in my theatrical mosaic. I feel so privileged to be involved in this exploration through the depths of love. I am constantly being challenged by my director and my talented cast members. Every rehearsal is an adventure and I know the final product is going to be a special jewel for all to enjoy.

It's the polite thing to do, you know, get a kiss/give a kiss, very fair.

I was filled with anticipation at our first rehearsal for Almost, Maine. Which characters would I be playing? What would the cast be like? Would I be able to read cold from the script? I was filled with relief to sit at a little round table in the Transit Depot with my fellow cast members and director. Michael Eiden reminds me of Richard Dreyfuss for some reason. He smoked a cigarette in his van before he came into the rehearsal space. I feel safe when he is there, like I can experiment and try new things. I am playing Ginette, Sandrine, Gayle, and Hope. Our first read-through was very exciting since all of us were reading the script as a whole for the first time. They were many discoveries made and we made them together. I love the magic in this play, the element of surrealism that gives it a fairy-tale-like quality: literally falling down with love, shoes falling from the sky, sacks full of love and tangible pieces of broken heart. All of the characters are developed, deep and relatable. The script is very challenging. I am looking forward to actually getting on my feet and putting movement to the work.

Almost Maine Casting!

Yesterday evening I got news that I have been cast in Almost, Maine at the Whittier Center Theatre! I do not know which scenes I will be playing yet, but I am thrilled. I am excited to meet the other three cast members. I have a good feeling that this small cast will be a tight knit group, full of ambition and knowledge. We are being led by director Michael Eiden into the fictional town of Almost, Maine. Today at 7:30 PM we begin our travels!