Mama Morton research

So my first dig came up with some background on the show, the time period and who my character was designed after.

I went with the last clue because I had actually heard of the woman before and wanted to know more. She was based on Sophie Tucker - a brassy vaudevillean from the 1930's. She initially performed in blackface ( if you dont know what that is, it is a style of minstrel show done with white people painting thier faces black and doing clownish "coon" songs - hugely popular - HUGELY offensive... but it does give some context) Sophie went so far as to hire black performers to teach her to "be black". Hmm.

I was taken aback by this a bit and I still dont quite know what to do with that information. Is Mama a nasty "coon" character? I suppose I could play it that way and people would enjoy it. But maybe there is more to it.

Looking at Sophie Tucker, her history and choices... I think she might actually be a good place to dig deeper. I think I am going to get a biography of her. How does a Russian Immigrant become a vaudeville star? How does that influence Mama Morton. Stay tuned...

Being intentional about art

I am an artist. This is true. I am often unintentionally so. I do it cuz I can.

I am trying something new in my journey. It's inspired by my small group THE ARTIST'S WAY. It is important to be intentional and to do what I do on purpose.

To this end, I begin blogging about my process for developing the character of Mama Morton in CHICAGO. This is one of my favorite kind of roles.... one that is more of a cameo than anything else. Two songs, two scenes be fabulous and I'm out! The risk in that is I can easily zone out and not put any effort into my process.

That is why I am doing this. If I claim to be an artist, and I long to encourage and teach others to honor thier process, I should actually be intentional about my process.

Today, I am thinking about how to go about developing a character. The writer and the composer have given me the skeleton, the outline of the character. I bring my own nuances and personality to the mix. To start with I am going to write a biography for my character. I'll take the information that I have been given - the clues that lie in the script and in the words of the other characters and develop an idea of how and why she is who she is.

One of the challenges of doing this process for a musical theatre piece is that the potential for one dimensionality is so high. You have to make a choice to be real on stage. I think it is the difference between the performer and the actor/artist. I have to be truthful, I have been known to perform. Just go out there and do "my thing". Realistically, I dont think most of the audience will know the difference or care - especially if I sing the heck out of the numbers. But I will know. And for the first time in a long time, it actually matters.

Stay tuned.

Sail On...

One of the things I miss about living in NYC is the opportunity to see special events. Benefit concerts, one night concert events and the like. Just before I moved back home, I was starting to sing in cabaret rooms and getting to know the people who make music in NYC. I had just put my foot in the water and then I was called home to be with my Dad.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret a step in my journey. I am just saying I miss some things about my life in “the city”. Luckily, I still have friends in the business and they still remember me. This is what brings me to my current news. I have been asked to be a “pit singer” – which is essentially an ensemble person who just sings ..yay! – for a concert of the musical “Titanic”. Some of the original cast members are going to be in it! In fact the two people I remember most from seeing the show, Brian D’Arcy James and Michael Ceveris are going to be in it! ::swoon::.

This is one of those times when I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Am I intimidated? Yep. Am I nervous? Yep. Am I blessed? OH YEAH!

I’ll keep you posted and give your more info on the show later… I just wanted to share it with you for right now.

Compelling. Engaging. Exciting. PAIGE IN FULL

Last week I was blessed to be a part of the opening weekend of a very special show. Paige In Full is a dance-theatre piece by Paige Hernandez-Funn. She is one of the most amazing performers you have never heard of…which is a crime against art! She is a dancer and an actress and an all around amazing person. Her show is a self exploration that covers pretty much her life from age eight to the present day. She wraps it up nice and tight in a one hour dance, music and monologue event.

Photo credit: Colin Hovde

I believe everyone has a personal soundtrack. Mine is a combination of eighties pop and contemporary Christian music. Paige’s is pure hip hop. She breathes it. It’s a part of her DNA. She can connect the songs and the culture to her entire being. More importantly, she can explain it to the rest of us. She is beautifully articulate in her storytelling… she is enticing in her mastery of her body and movement. This performance is a delight.



I am not one to blow smoke about performers and performances. I will always tell you what I think. I think if you miss the opportunity to connect with this show, you will really have missed something great.



Paige in Full


What: Inspired by mixtapes, siblings Paige Hernandez and Nick the 1Da combine hip-hop poetry, dance, and live music to tell a story about identity and ethnicity in Baltimore.








When: Thru May 29. Previews, Tues. & Wed., 8 p.m. Regular showings, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri., 8 & 10 p.m.; Sat., 3 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.





Where: Flashpoint Mead Theatre Lab, 916 G St. NW, b/t 9th & 10th Sts. (202-315-1305).





Tickets ($20) online at ovationtix.com.

Funny Nun Monday

...is it wrong when you have more fun waiting for the audition than the audition itself?

I was able to spend several hours in the company of a bunch of women I havent seen in ages... all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. It was kind of cool to see all of these talented creatures in one spot. All of us vying for the chance to be nuns in an upcoming production of NUNSENSE.

I met my friend M-boogie in the parking lot and we went in together. We found many pretty young things sitting on the settees outside of the theatre. Slowly but surely as the matrons ( me included) came into the lobby, the younguns moved to one side of the lobby to stretch and preen and be young and pretty. M-boogie really should be with them - but she is way more grounded and cool than them. ;) So she was with the over 40 crowd. For some reason, this theatre only calls her in for old lady roles... anyway thier short sighted ness.

We sat and laughed and cut up for hours and then finally went in. It was a short audie... a scene and a song. I have NO idea how I did. it felt weird. The director gave me notes and made me sing the song again. I dont know if that is a good or a bad sign. The owner of the theatre gave me loving looks - but then again she always does :)

Whatev... I drove home, had dinner and told the cat about my day. I have NO idea how this is gonna turn out.

Being Sylvia

I have to say that being “Sylvia” in All Shook Up is still one of the best artistic experiences of my life. She’s such a great character and so much fun to play. The show is adorable and the music is Elvis… you can’t beat that!

I have had the opportunity to be “Sylvia” twice now and I no matter the circumstance, or the venue – “Sylvia” just fits like a glove. This weekend, I had the pleasure of reviving my role at the Way Off Broadway Theatre in Frederick, MD. I was understudying for a friend who had a competition to attend (she won by the way!)

I went in unsure, as usual, about being in a new place with new people. They welcomed me and celebrated my being there and basically made me feel like I belonged. Two important things came of this event… one was the confidence boost I needed desperately and two was the confirmation that my role in the world is to share what I know with others.

Several of the younger performers thanked me for the advice I had given them. It was really nice to know that my being in their world for even just a little bit made an impact. I’m a teacher. I’m an artist. I’m Sylvia.

First Rehearsal - Getting MY Head in The Game.

So today was the first rehearsal for High School Musical. It was great! Lots of fun - people were in a great mood and ready to work.

I arrived at the theatre only to find that there was no power. Let me tell ya - this was NOT the way I planned to start the day. It was cold to begin with and there would be no hope of it warming up if the power hadn't been on all night. SIGH.

I was there ahead of time to audition two more guys for the show. We're still short a couple of fellas ( So, if you know anyone who might want to do HSM for a couple of months - please let me know). I was worried I would have to audition them in the parking lot. What a great impression that would have given! The stage manager arrived and opened up the bar at the top of the hill. There is a dance floor with a bank of windows that would give us light to work. SHAWEEW. The guys never showed up, which was a bummer but the people that did show up were ready to roll!

The choreographer started them off with " We're all in this together" the big dance number at the end of the show. I thought everyone did really well. I know some people dont think that they are dancers, but they all did really well.

We did a read thru of the script. The group had fun being silly and really learning what the story is all about. It's a sweet show and I am very excited about how good the group is. We were missing our "Ryan", "Martha" and "Darbus" as well as a few additional Wildcats. We'll be almost complete tomorrow and I will take a "class picture" then.

I've started taking a few snaps for my scrapbook.... I hope you enjoy them.

Sister Margretta takes shape

I am working on The Sound of Music at Toby's. I have been cast as "Sister Margaretta" the "nice" nun. She is the Mistress of the Postulants, which means she is the nun who is charge of the women who are contemplating a life in the clergy. She guides them through the process of discernment, where they spend time in and out of the abbey trying to find out if the cloistered life is truly what God wants for them.

Why do I know so much about this? I was in pre-postulant discernment with the Daughters of Charity in 1989 - 1990. I was in serious contemplation of a life as a nun. I had a "Sister Margaretta" in my life. Sister Mary Robert was her name. She was a lovely woman, about 35 or so, she liked a lot of the same things I did - art, music and theatre. She guided me thru the process and prayed with and for me. I invited her to come see me in a play I was doing at school. It was Agnes of God - dont laugh, yes I invited a nun to see that play.

After the show, she and I went to dinner and she told me that she had been thinking it for a while, but after seeing the show she was convinced. My calling was not as a nun. She spoke a life of theatre into my life that day. I was crushed and thought I was somehow unworthy to serve God. Now I know, Sr. Robert blessed me by sending me on... on to do the things I was meant to do.

As I look to embody "Sister Margaretta" I definately take a little Sr. Robert with me. Wisdom, gentleness, laughter and faith. You can't beat that.

I'll give you more info on what the process is like later... that was just what was on my mind today.

Getcha Head In the Game...

Okay you guys... remember earlier in the year when I maligned the pop phenomenon that is Disney's High School Musical? Well guess who is directing HSMjr? Yes, me as part of a class I start teaching next week!

Left Brain (tm) would have an aneurism if he knew he allowed me to change my work schedule at Ye Olde to direct middle schooler in HSM. I think it is poetic justice.. and frankly going to be whole lot of fun.

The opportunities just keep on comin' AMEN. Maybe soon, there will be enough of those that I wont even need Ye Olde to sustain.

I guess I gotta " get my head in the game". Yeah, trust me I went there.

And for some truly fun HSM stuff, check out this video from University of Michigan Musical Theatre students - FUN - E.

We're all in this together.

Opening Night

Okay. It's open.

The Wiz is almost in the past. Last night, I ended up gathering a basic black outfit out of my closet, just in case. Good thing I did, because when I got to the theatre.... I had no costume - on OPENING NIGHT. People. I am not kidding. They seemed so unconcerned about it too. That was when I shut down. I was, like, y'all get what you get. I was so mad.

After the show, the AD comes to me and says " This worked out better anyway... you looked great." WHAT! I almost blew a gasket. And when the director came over to me and tried to throw his arms around me and congratulate me, I had to ask him not to do that. Now, I know that isnt Christian of me... but I couldnt pretend that I was happy about the way it all turned out.

I need some sleep and I need this to be over.

Um, I dont know what happened tonight.

Earlier today, I sent an email to the powers that be asking if someone had secured a costume for me. I got an email back stating " Oh, we forgot about you." uh huh.

I got to the theatre and someone excitedly told me that they had something for me to try on. It was a "halloween store" witches costume...which did not fit. I did the run ..it was rough. I wont lie... I am not sure this is a good show. There are some really talented folk in the show. There are some good moments. But overall... this is turning out to be a "short bus" collision.

I can't even seem to remember the words to the one song I sing. Lord, help us.

Who had an anxiety attack in a dance studio?

Why that would be me. The whole Wiz process is driving me batty. I feel less prepared for this show than anything else I have ever done in my life. And it just doesnt seem to matter. It's like a dance recital gone horribly wrong. I just dont know, people... I just dont know.

I dont think I will be inviting anyone to this.

The Wiz

As I start to wrap up my days on Skid Row, I just wanted to tell you about another road I will be on this fall... the yellow brick road. I am playing "Evilene" in the Expanded Dance Project's production of The Wiz.

Here's the scoop!

The Wiz

book by William Brown

music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls

based on the The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum

September 5 - September 9, 2007

The Atlas Performing Arts Center

1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

For tickets go to atlasarts.org or call 202.399.7993

Come join me as I "Ease on down the road..."

Ease on down...

I just got off the phone with the Artistic Director of Expansion Dance Project. She offered me the role of "Evilene" in The Wiz. Awesome!

The summer of eeeeevil continues. It runs in September. I will send out more information as I get it.

But...yay!

Divagirl strikes again.

After the show last night, Puppetboy started giving me notes again. I tried to be calm about it and even walked away to avoid saying something ugly. I did what a responsible professional should do and I told my stage manager that there was a repeated incidence of a cast member giving me notes. I told her if it happened again, I would request an official meeting. I thought she would be cool about it and be "warned" that it might be coming. Instead, she went to the actor and I am sure in the unkindest of ways told him to back off. She called me last night to report what had happened and that he was defensive about it and she had commanded that he give me an apology.

Great. Now puppetboy will hold resentment against me for telling someone of my displeasure. I have been listening to Joyce Meyer's Approval Addiction and I realize that my bristling about this issue is part of my own problem with being critized and being found lacking. I dont think he is 100% correct for giving me notes after every stupid show, but my reaction to it could be better. I am sure I could just let it roll and say "God is my only critic." I am, however, a human being and as such succeptable to the "slings and arrows" of other humans. I am working on it.

So today I am praying for the best way to be a beacon of peace to the dinner theatre. I certainly didnt intend to cause any trouble. I will pray for forgiveness of my pride and ask for a little more strength.

Two Show days...

Two show Wednesdays are the best. It's the day I wake up and feel like I am who I am supposed to be. I know that I am going to do something I love all day long. It's just been the coolest day really.

During the shows, ive been alternating between reading and working on the MAT workbook. I've gotten through the review part and now I have to work on vocab and remembering all the stuff I forgot from college ( It's like studying for a Jeopordy tournament!)

Between the shows, I had dinner with the stage manager ( what is it about me and stage managers - I always seem to befriend them!) We shared some stories about our lives. She shared some insight into some of the relationships and people in the company. This really helped me because it gave me a whole new way to pray for some of these people. The thing is, the theatre is a mission field ripe for revival. Theatre, as generalization, is filled with a lot of hurting people. We are by nature, seekers and we often fall into things that seems to satify that need for community, validity and love while we are on our quests. I feel very strongly that I am called to the theatre to help people. I dont know how that is going to play itself out... but I know the opportunity is there. The pain is there for sure.

Anyway, that was a major ramble... it's late...and I am happy.

Divagirl and Godgirl collide

I've been working with one of the best casts I have ever been a part of for months now. Of course, we are all drama queens and so there are moments where everyone is a pain. But for the most part, they are professional, talented and efficient, we have put together a fabulous Little Shop, if I do say so myself.

What I am about to complain about then?

My number one theatrical pet peeve: actors giving other actors notes.

For those who dont know, notes are what the director, musical director, techincal director, choreographer or stage manager give performers or techinicians to inform them of places where they " miss the mark" or need some improvement, etc.

Notes should NEVER be given from one actor to another. If you are talking to a fellow actor and you ask thier opinion or ask what they think you can do to make a task ot a scene work better - that is different. Walking up to someone before a show and telling what they should do differently - totally uncool.

To be specfic, one of the actors who operates the plant wants to make it my issue that he cant seem to sync the plant with my voice. He is always a beat behind. Therefore, he wants me to give him an audible cue as to when to open the " mouth" of the plant. Uh, no. The other actor who shares " plant duty" with him has no problem with how we have worked this out. That is probably because he took the script home and studied his lines ( my lines are HIS lines too). He says the lines while he is in the big plant so the movements match the words. He has also studied me, so he uses some of my head movements for the plant ( which is neat - and pretty hard to do - the plant is really heavy and takes a LOT of upper body strength to manipulate).

The thing that irritated me the most about the situation, aside from this child coming up to me and telling me how perform my lines, was that he went to the director and told her that both puppeteers were having serious issues with how I was doing what I was doing. Which, after talking to the other puppeteer, I found out was not true.

So, I have to let the whole thing go really. Half of the time Whinypuppetboy (tm) wont be there anyway. Since I know whcih shows those will be, i'll just have to pray harder for some patience on those days :). Over all though, I still have to give thanks for an experience that is just what I need right now.

I guess that is how a Diva moment turns into a God moment.

Amen, Ya'll

Lean, mean green queen of the scene

Hey look guys, I'm in the paper!

This article is running in today's Baltimore Sun ( Howard County section).

How cool.