Introducing... The Archbishops!

I'm so excited to announce that I am now a member of an independent improv team: The Archbishops! 

A friend from my UCB 301 class had started a practice group when he first began taking UCB classes and he invited me to join their group about 6 weeks ago. We meet once a week with a coach and improvise for a few hours, it's so fun! Then last week our coach, Ian Herrin, invited us to perform at his show at The PIT Loft, and suddenly we became a team! 

The performance last week went well, and we're all very excited to continue performing together and growing as a team! I'll post any future performances here, so stay tuned! 

Mauritius- The Artist's Sandbox

"Mauritius" by Theresa Rebeck, The Artist's Sandbox, Photography: Yadin Goldman

Last weekend I performed as Jackie in The Artist's Sandbox's production of "Mauritius" by Theresa Rebeck. I was so excited to share our work with audiences, and had such fun performing this show all weekend! 

I am really grateful to Alex Nicholson, the founder and producing artistic director of the company, for giving me the opportunity to join this production, and to our lovely director, Emily Naylor, for guiding us through this process. When looking at a synopsis of this play it seems to just be about an old stamp collection, but there is so much more going on between these delightfully rich and complex characters. I loved the challenge to play Jackie, a young girl who has had a very dark past and is now desperate for the chance at a new life, and maybe even a real family. Her motives and objectives go far beyond her personal finances, and it was a joy to be able to play within her world. 

If you missed the show- below are some of my favorite shots from the first half of the play, which include my lovely cast members: Aleigha K. Spinks (Mary), Matthew Shaw (Dennis), Connor Lawrence (Phillip), David Alexander (Sterling). Photography by Yadin Goldman.

UCB 301 in the books!

UCB 301 Class after our show at UCB East!

After 8 weeks of study I have completed 301 Improv at UCB! This level was definitely more challenging than the prior two, but so much fun and I really loved working with the other actors in my class. When we started the course I remember being surprised that there were only four women in the group. Of course I know that women in comedy are a minority, but up to this point my classes had been evenly split. It was definitely a different dynamic with so many men in the room, but I had a really great time and learned a lot. 

I am so lucky to have had such a great group for 301, and to have found a practice group from it as well. I'm going to take some time to keep rehearsing and practicing long form improv in my practice group as well as at improv jams, and then I'll jump right into 401- the next and final level at UCB! 

Mauritius: November 11-13

Early blocking rehearsals with Aleigha K. Spinks (Mary) at the Player's Theatre

The Artist's Sandbox's production of Mauritius is gearing up for performances November 11-13! 

Mauritius, by Theresa Rebeck, tells the story of two estranged half-sisters who discover a book of rare and valuable stamps in their mother's belongings after her death. While older sister, Mary, reminisces about learning the history and importance of the stamps, younger sister Jackie plans to sell them. When three high-stakes collectors enter the story, things become a little more dangerous, and a lot more interesting. 

Mauritius was Theresa Rebeck's Broadway debut at MTC in 2007 and I am thrilled to be playing Jackie in the Artist's Sandbox's production this November. Performances one weekend only: November 11-13, 8pm Friday and Saturday, 3pm Saturday and Sunday at the John DeSotelle Studio Theatre at the Times Square Arts Center! 

Tickets on sale now at http://artistssandbox.org/tickets- you're not going to want to miss this!

Staying Classy

September always feels like a new beginning. The end of summer heat, vacations, beach days, spending time outdoors, and the start of boots and jackets, checking the weather forecast before you leave your house, and opting for indoor seating on a chilly night. Maybe it's the years of schooling that have trained my brain to expect new challenges and opportunities come September, but even without a new year of school, September feels like time to start something new. 

So I became a student again! I began a work-study position at Broadway Dance Center where I am fortunate enough to work at the dance studio in exchange for discounted classes, and I also enrolled in the Upright Citizens Brigade Improv 301 class. 

Broadway Dance Center has been fantastic in getting me back in the dance studio and strengthening my technique as a dancer. I have been able to take a wide range of classes with world class instructors, and I am very grateful to be a part of the community at BDC. 

Just up the street from BDC, is the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center! I began Improv 301 classes in September and have my last class this week! For the last 8 weeks we have been learning The Harold- the long form improvisation structure brought to New York and UCB by Del Close. Performing Harolds is very challenging, but so rewarding when you can find the game and the fun in your scenes. We have our class show this Saturday, October 29, at UCB East on 3rd Street and Avenue A- 5:30pm, $5! It may be hilarious, it may be humiliating, it will probably be somewhere in between! Come check it out! 

A few laughs, and some more dance!

This spring has been a whirlwind of auditions, classes, and rediscovering what I love about performing.

In the last month I've jumped back into the comedy world and completed Improv 201 training with the Upright Citizen's Brigade, as well as performed in a sketch comedy show called "A Sketch of New York!" Check out the picture of my UCB 201 class performing our graduation show at UCB East! 

In the last few weeks I have also begun rehearsals for "LQQK, The Way I Look"- a Glam Electro Pop Concert by José Rivera Jr. about lost love that fights its way back from darkness. LQQK celebrates queer thought, physicality, form and function through live visual art, sensorial athletic dance, and live vocal production. The full piece premieres in Spring/Summer 2016 with a work-in-progress showing in the end of June, and sections of the piece debuting in the Fall/Winter. I am so thrilled to be a dancer in this exciting project. A few weeks ago our dancers were hired to perform at the Becky Party at the Ace Hotel, which was such a trip! Here's a picture featuring Rebecca Marie Hidalgo, Vincent Donato, and myself. 

Check back soon for updates on the work-in-progress, and other exciting projects I have planned! 

Learning to Stand Opens this Week!

You live, you love, you break, you grow. "Learning to Stand," an original dance concert with The Artist's Sandbox, conceived and choreographed by Bekah Shade, opens this week at the South Oxford Street Art Space in Fort Greene! 

I began this process as an understudy and am excited to announce that I will now be a company dancer in several pieces during this concert! I am so grateful for the encouragement and support of our beautiful choreographer, Bekah Shade, and the talents of my surrounding cast members. I have learned so much during rehearsals and am thrilled to share our work with audiences. 

The concert runs March 10-13, check out our promo video below and then head to http://artistssandbox.org/tickets for tickets! 

The Artist's Sandbox- Learning to Stand

I'm so excited that I am now a company member with The Artist's Sandbox! The Artist's Sandbox is a performance arts company with theatre, dance, and new works branches. Their mission is to unite different types of performers and artists into one company, giving them the opportunity to create and grow together. 

My first role with The Artist's Sandbox is as an understudy in their first dance production: Learning to Stand- a piece about creating and discovering yourself, and learning how to be alone without being lonely. Rehearsals began last week and we open March 10! 

Check out the website at http://artistssandbox.org/ and stay tuned here for more updates!