Too many choices? It could be worse!

I HATE turning down a Shakespeare play, but life is all about making choices... The grass can look greener too often if you choose to see it that way. So I try not to.


Last month I was told by Jimmy Dragolovich, director at Carte Blanche Studios, that I would be cast in his production of Titus Andronicus. I've never been so disappointed in having to turn down a play... He hadn't decided on which role to cast me in yet, but I had to decline before he got to that point because I was cast in another role that I also wanted very much, May in Fool For Love at The Alchemist Theatre in Bay View. Unfortunately the performance dates conflict in June and I had already accepted the role of May.

Still, I continue to look for future opportunities to perform Shakespeare... In fact, I'm currently preparing for an artistic rendering of Hamlet through the new Milwaukee troupe FOOLS FOR TRAGEDY. The project sounds very interesting and I can't wait to audition! In the words of Jordan Gwiazdowski, Milwaukee actor and producer of this project: 

"In My Mind’s Eye tells the story of Hamlet through the mad eyes of Hamlet. A fractured Hamlet – if you will. A breakdown of a breakdown. The full text of the tragedy is a resounding symphony of the perils of the human condition. Our selection of the text takes exclusively from the scenes that involve the titular character and present a stylized representation of Hamlet’s experience."

So the role of Ophelia will be cut down significantly, but I'm still excited to audition because I'd love to be involved with this innovative project. Plus I feel that I can connect with Ophelia in some big ways and would be able to portray what's vital between Ophelia and Hamlet for the In My Mind's Eye production. I can relate to her dependence, neediness, longing, loneliness, and loss. Not to say that my husband Matthew has gone insane or that I'm contemplating suicide, but it's more a matter of taking those occasional feelings and disappointments in life to the extreme! I LOVE the rush of acting!

I still hope to play Lavinia in Titus some day. I think she is such a dramatic symbol, and quite a challenging role... But this time, I chose to take on a different challenge in May's character that will also call for deep, raw, intense emotion, as well as demanding physicality through some stage combat. I'm itching to begin rehearsing Fool because I'm very proud to have earned the role and I am eager to give it my all!