New Jersey Stage November 2014 | Page 59

have been in a better production it was phenomenal. Favorite theater company? I feel a great debt to Walnut Street for all the opportunities they have given me on stage and in the classroom. It just feels like home; one of my favorite places to work. In New York, I love the Transport Group. They do brilliant work on the Off-Broadway scene and I was lucky to be a part of their sold-out summer concert of The Music Man this fall! Do you have any performers that you really admire? Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Jessie Mueller, and James Gandolfini. Oh, and Kelli O’Hara and Beth Leavel. I learn endlessly from watching these folks at work and always leave inspired. What are your dream roles? Winnifred in Once Upon A Mattress, Ella in Bells Are Ringing, Gertrude McFuzz in Suessical, and Steph in Reasons To Be Pretty. Do you have any film or television aspirations? I do but mainly I’ve been focusing on the musical theater world, especially transitioning to becoming New Yorkbased. Plus, nothing beats live theater for me! When I move to New York this summer, I plan on taking some on-camera classes and getting those wheels in motion. Did you catch Sister Act on Broadway or see the movie before being cast in the tour? I sadly missed Sister Act on Broadway, but had a mentor in it so I knew all about it. I rented the movie before my final callback. I had never seen it! I had seen portions of Sister Act 2 as a kid but have watched both multiple times since I got this job. They are classics! Kathy Najimy just gets me every time. I know the Sister Act tour has just kicked off but how has your experience been so far? We are in week four and so far - so good! This cast and crew is just terrific, creating memories for each other and making the most of every city we get to visit. We’ve already done some awesome things like Advertise here for $25 - $100 call 732-280-7625 pg 59