York High School Class of '88

This year marks the 20th anniversary of my high school graduation. My god that happened fast! Of course, recently, a few old classmates have tried to get the word out about a 20th year reunion. It has been kinda fun to see the names of people I haven't thought about in a long time in the address line or database file via email. It has really made me stop and think about their faces and how I knew them back in the day.

Rene Baltrus, has taken on the filing and re-connecting job with all of us. She has asked that each of us send her a paragraph about our lives and what we have been up to. I totally chickened out and just sent her the link to this blog. I guess I just figured, "Who the heck really wants to know all that about me?!" Well, my wonderful husband has told me to stop being a dork and "own" my successes and share them with everyone!

So, for those of you who may stumble upon this blog, where I can be completely self indulgent, right? Here goes:

After my parents split at the end of senior year, I ended up at Christopher Newport instead of VCU. I studied vocal music and dabbled in the theatre department a bit. A couple of years before graduating, the school started a new major - Musical Theatre. I decided to stay in school for an extra year and a half so that I could get the most out of both of my loves, music and theatre. (Oh, and I met my future husband here too!)

Came time to make some decisions about what I was going to do after undergrad and that was scary! I decided to apply to VCU's theatre grad program and was accepted. I studied Voice for the Actor and Theatre Education.

When I was done with that three year stint, it was time to get a job! I was very lucky and started right away with the theatre dept at Longwood University. I taught voice classes for their actors and some non-major courses as well. A year went by, and suddenly and without notice a public school teaching job fell in my lap. Better money, better benefits - why not?

And that began the career I didn't know I wanted. I have been teaching Drama for almost ten years. I love it. The students are wonderful and showing a new generation of students how to appreciate and maybe even love the arts, that's a beautiful thing. I direct three shows a year in addition to my daily teaching schedule.

You may be wondering about my own acting endeavors? I have acted along the way. Sung some too. It's who I am and I could never dismiss that part of my life. I have worked professionally in local companies every two or three years. Since having children, it makes it much more difficult to go to rehearsal for weeks and then run the show for even more weeks. I need to see my babies and they need me too!

Anyway, the last year has seen more of me as an actor than in recent years. I played Casey in "Anton in Show Business" and Gertrude, yes the Queen, in "Hamlet." Both of these roles I did with a local professional theatre company, Actors Guild of Lexington, and it looks like I will be in another show with them at the end of the year. It's been great, I have really loved being back on stage. When I am not on stage, I am near it listening to actors and coaching them vocally. This means dialects, articulating, over all vocal production. I really love to hear the actors speak the playwright's words and help them make the most of their instrument.

I mentioned my children before and if you look at this blog they are ALL over it. They are my joy. I am so lucky to have them.

Olivia is going to be nine in June. She plays basketball and guitar. She is also a junior girl scout and a great student. I sometimes wonder how it is possible that she is mine - except for the musical part!!

Aidan is three and he is my daredevil baby. He is opinionated and strong and brave and mouthy and ever the mama's boy. I love him to absolute pieces!!

My husband is an Artistic Director. I (this is HIS story!) lured him away from the baseball team and his history major at CNU. He fell in love with me and the theatre, pursued a directing master's degree and now runs a theatre company. Kooky, huh?

So, that's about it. We live in Lexington, KY horse capital of the world. It is beautiful here and they love their UK WildCats. It's a bit obsessive if you ask me!

Drop me a comment if you'd like. I would love to hear from you . . .