Pirates is a Smash Success!

The critics attended opening night and declared Pirates of Penzance a must see operetta.  There are only four chances left to see the show The Tribune says is full of "pretty costumes and an attractive cast that's eager to please," and The Sun Times says is "a winning combination of top-flight singing, colorful orchestral accompaniment and antic staging."

Family Matinee: Wednesday, December 30, 2pm
Thursday, December 31, 8pm
Saturday, January 2, 2010, 8pm
Sunday, January 3, 2010, 2pm

Backstage Details

Pirates Sneak Peak

Here's a little preview from our first dress rehearsal of "Pirates of Penzance."  We open this Saturday, December 26th with two shows, 2pm & 8pm.  Enter the code "Paradox" and receive 50% off tickets here.

Mitislav Girls

Can-can fun at the Cultural Center's 'Day of Opera'

Headshot Prints

I picked up my headshot prints from the J&S printshop this week.  They look great, and it's so exciting to have new headshots.  I used the first one at an audition tonight!

Mitislav the Modern

On Sunday, December 13th The Chicago Folks Operetta will participate in The Chicago Cultural Center's free Sunday Salon Series: Day of Opera with their production of Mitislav the Modern.  This rarely seen operetta is Franz Lehar's own parody of his famous Merry Widow.  Come see the third production in the "Widow Trilogy," a fabulous romp about modern love....complete with can-can girls.

Sunday, December 13th @ 1:00 pm

Chicago Cultural Center 77 East Randolph Street

Free Admission

Above, I used this vintage pin up photo for my character inspiration.

New Headshots

Thank you to everyone who helped me select my new headshots.  Here are the three I choose as my favorites!

Aniko Salon Modeling

Check out photos from my recent shoot at Aniko Salon & Spa. Fabulous hair modeling and fabulous fun shot by 5th Floor Photography.

Photos by 5th Floor Photography

Just Cast!

I was just cast in the ensemble of Light Opera Works' Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan. I'm very excited to be working with Light Opera Works again. I was in their production of Iolanthe last summer, and can't wait to work with their talented production team again!

More details coming soon! Can't wait? Learn more here.

Jackie Puppets!

Check out the John Husted and Hughdie puppets!

Fabulously Funny Website!

Here's a site for all the musical theatre kids out there...The Musical Theatre Dictionary!

http://mtdictionary.blogspot.com/

Some of my favorites...

Downstage Center- noun- The single most desired position on a stage. MT's with egos will try anything in their might to move as close to downstage center during dance numbers, tableaux, and ensemble numbers. Remaining downstage center almost always ensures that an actor will be in the production photos, which is brills.

Jazz Square-choreography- The most insulting piece of dance to ever be given by a choreographer. A more simplified version of walking (instead of a straight line one merely crosses one leg over the over and repeats in a box formation), jazz squares are the last resort when choreographing a company of Sondheim/Character Actresses and barely-Fancers.

LaDuca-noun- The nonpareil designers of women's character shoes. These shoesfeature the support of a sturdy heel with a softer, malleable sole perfect for dancingand other stage business. Moreover, these are the fiercest shoes that any woman canever put on her feet. The ferocity of LaDuca shoes transcends cast dividends: fromingenues to ensemblists, character actresses to chorines these shoes take anyordinary woman and makes them an MT. If you don't have LaDucas and you're reading this, I have no respect for you.


***and yes, I have LaDucas***

Cloclo Closing & Cast Party

Adeiu Cloclo! It was a fabulous run and a great cast.

Costume Fitting at The Lyric!

Love the retro building style of The Lyric! The stage door sign was cleverly hidden and brilliantly blended into the building. I would never have noticed it if I wasn't headed there for a "Don Giovanni" fitting!

Cloclo Opening!

My "Happy Opening Night" gifts for the cast,

Dum Dum Posies.

Post show reception complete with Champagne

and catered by The Pasta Bowl.

Amanda Horvath and I

Noel Taylor, Jamie Woodhull, and I

Cloclo's on the Marquee!

...and we're in TimeOut this week.

Check out the article here:

http://tr.im/syxd

Awesome Advice for Actors

"In order to stay resilient in this business, we need to put stock in the little things: getting a callback, great feedback from an audition, or receiving a compliment from a fellow actor. Success, as we seek to define it, is incremental in its development."

~Kate Wetherhead

'Dear K8' goes on with more great advice for appreciating every moment and not getting hung up on only defining success by great shows in great theatres with great revues. Read the full article here.

Sneak Peek, Cloclo Act III

Here's a sneak peek at "The Dancing Turtles" from Cloclo.

Cloclo Opens Thursday, July 16th!

You're Invited....

To Opening Night of Franz Lehar's Cloclo! Presented by Chicago Folks Operetta, the show finds new life with a fresh English translation, sexy Can-Can dances, and fabulous singers from the Chicago area and beyond. Cloclo tells the story of a ravishing Folie Bergère dancer, and her army of suitors who will do anything for her even after she is arrested for hitting a police officer. Follow Cloclo as she tries to escape to the country in this hilarious madcap comic adventure.

See me, and two other Millikin University Alums, at the intimate Chicago Center for the Performing Arts from July 16th-25th. Balcony Talks on the history of Operetta offered July 16 & 17 at 6:30 pm by Michael Miller. Buy your show tickets here.

Directed by E. Loren Meeker. Choreography by August Tye. Conducted by Marta Johnson.

Cloclo Sitz Probe

Take a sneak peak at Cloclo from our Sitz Probe on Sunday.

Bye Bye Performink in Print

Sad day, the June 19th issue of Performink will be its last one in print. They're going the way of lots of newspapers and appearing only online. I got my letter in the mail today announcing the change and the updating of their website. A fancier website will be great, but I'll miss being able to cut out the audition notices and tape them in my planner...

Just Cast!

I usually like to wait until the contact is signed before I announce my upcoming shows, but I couldn't resist. I was just cast as Lee, Jackie Onasis/Kennedy's sister in "Jackie, An American Life." It's running weekends in September. Visit the Theatre Hikes website for more info!

Dance Injuries...

I was google-ing dance injuries while icing my ankles and found this great article from NYU. Read the full text here.

Top Ten Prevention tips for dancers

1. Proper training and teaching are essential to allow dancers of all ages to develop their skills without injury.
2. Take adequate rest to allow the body to heal itself from daily wear and tear
3. Maintain energy levels by eating and drinking adequately.
4. Conditioning and strengthening of the leg muscles that support the arch are crucial.
5. Try to avoid dancing on hard or uneven surfaces, which could cause injury.
6. Take care of your shoes!
7. Dancers should adopt new training schedules slowly.
8. Although not always possible when dancing, but more so off stage or out of class, wear supportive footwear, and if you need to wear orthotics, wear them as often as possible.
9. If dancers perform excessive pointe or demi-pointe work one day, they should focus on other types of work during the next workout.
10. Early recognition of symptoms is important. Stop activity if pain or swelling occurs. If the pain persists after a few days rest, consult a sports-medicine physician

First "Cloclo" Rehearsal

Tonight I had my first rehearsal for the operetta Cloclo. I love first rehearsals because they're so full of excitement and nerves. It's always fun finding out who is in the cast and learning, yet again, that the theatre universe is super small. I went to school with one of gentlemen in the ensemble, and I am covering for a girl that knew some of my husband's friends. Small world.

The show should be great! The production staff is comprised of several staff members from The Lyric Opera and the director has some great ideas. We heard the concept presentation, saw the set designs, and sang through the majority of the show!

Check out the Chicago Folks Operetta website for more information. Keep your eyes peeled for our bios, which should pop up with our posted headshots, under "Ensemble," in a few days.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. It's my hope to keep everyone informed on my upcoming shows, gigs, and musings on being a musical theatre actress in Chicago. Feel free to wait in wings, while I get everything up and running!

Break a leg!
~Kirsten