Audition Selfie

Otello Stage Photo

Check out the screen shot from the Lyric Otello's home page!  Can you find me?  Hint I'm on the second balcony just to the right of the right pillar.

Otello has gotten good reviews and the singers are fantastic.  5 Shows left, it runs through the first week in November.

Otello Promo Video Trailer

Tonight is opening night at the opera and the season opener for the Lyric season. Check out the promo video for Otello!  I pop up a couple times...like on the table at left below.

And since you can't see how fabulous I look in the video, here's a shameless selfie of my gypsy look.

Kirsten Lendyke is Now A Member of AGMA!

I was hired as an actor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago for their season opening of Otello and was offered my AGMA card!  I'm now a dues paying member of the union!

Accomplice @ Metropolis

Check out the cast photo from opening weekend of Rubert Holmes' thriller Accomplice, running now through April 21, 2013 at Metropolis Performing Arts Center.  I've been pleased to finally work on a production at Metropolis.  I'm understudying the lead, which has been a fun challenge in this "one set, two act, four scene, four character thriller."  If you get a chance - go see it!  It's funny, witty, and full of a handful of twists.  Get more info here.

Behind the scenes: Jewelry Modeling

I posed for more photographs for my jewelry designing friend Alex Agudo of Monsieur Pamplemousse this past week.  It's easy to feel pretty wearing such lovely jewels!  Photographer photos to come (watch the facebook page), but here are a few shots snapped impromptu.

Jewelry Modeling for Monsiuer Pamplemousse

Music in the Air Photos

Some lovely photos from last weekend's performances of Music in the Air.  We sang to a sold out house Saturday evening, a full house Sunday, and both standing ovations.  The benefactor of the show, Harry, had seen the original production on Broadway in 1934 gave a sweet curtain speech with the most important part hitting home for the actors and the audience: "please be sixteen again with me tonight and enjoy the show."

A special thanks to the George Williams College photographer and cast member Amy Norton O'Donnel for the fabulous photos.

with my fabulous dance partner, tenor Ryan Douglas Wells

 

Music in the Air Opens Saturday!

Come see me as Tila and a featured dancer in Music in the Air this weekend!  

Ticket info here (hurry - the orchestra seats are already sold out!)

Music in the Air: Hair and Makeup Inspiration

Lots of times costumers, or the makeup artist (hair/wig designer in large theatres) will have sketches, ideas about hair for you.  Sometimes, they leave it up to us to decide, so I've done a little research for young hair styles in the 30s and late 20s.  (Small towns, country towns, were sometimes behind, although I think Tila is a stylish gal in her own way...that or copying her BFF.)

Photos from: Squidoo, Absolute Astronomy, Warez for You, Immortal Empherma, Rick Steve's Europe, Chelsey

Show opens one week from today!  More info here.

Staging Rehearsals Have Begun!

A sign pointing us to the artistic director's house. 

She hosted the final sing thru at her home ... followed by a pool party!

Then today we started staging rehearsals and a read thru in the gorgeous Ferro Pavilion.

Show Info

Music in the Air Research & Inspiration

Have you heard of Music in the Air?  Me either.  This little operetta style gem isn't well known,  which makes research very interesting, case in point: goole image "music in the air" and you literally get pictures of music notes in the sky.  But since I'm a good actor/singer, I've done a little digging.  Here's my show research.

Who am I?  Tila (derived from Matlida, pronounced Tiylah).  She's a young girl, 16ish, who is best friends with Sieglinde.  The English say it means "Good" while the Germanic meaning is " Powerful Batter."  Some sites attribute it to Polish or Danish origin.  In Finnish, Tila translates to "Space."  Guessing by her dancing in the beginning of act one, I'd say she's slightly enamored of Hans, the Goat Boy.

A simpler time: The show takes place in 1932 Germany: This great article interviewed a couple who were born in Germany in 1925.

The mom-and-pop stores survived because they would give you credit," he said. "They had a notebook and would keep track of who owed what. A loaf of bread cost 10 cents, and small pies sold for a quarter. A quart of ice cream cost 35 cents. 

"No one stole from anyone. Grocery stores didn't lock their doors."   

Gene recalled that "if someone was sick, no matter how poor you were, you would send something over to them."

From the director about the region: Located in a romantic, mysterious and unique region, the lake is surrounded by an imposing mountain landscape. Walking through mountain passes below high rocky summits, we discover beautiful valleys, waterfalls, gorges and rivers.  


Here's a clip from the beginning of the movie, although slightly different from the script.





Ticket info here.

Photos from: Bavarian Country Singers, Tias, Everything about Germany, Get Balance, Digiscraping, Playstation, BJD

Character Inspiration: A Special Project

One of my greatest college friends, Josh, is working on a book on theatrical education techniques and asked for my help creating a character board. So here are my inspiration boards based on characters I have previously played and characters I would love to play.

Cinderella, Into the Woods 
Cinderella is different in this show because who she is and who she becomes are on the surface different.  She has to cope with longing and wishing in addition to the aftermath of what her wish gives her and ultimately, change her mind.

Photos from: Deviant Art, Robert Finklestein, Hispters on Broadway, Kristoper Dukes, Five Sixteenths Blog, Graphics Fairy Blog, Girly Bubble, IHC Creative, Seforium

Carlotta, Phantom of the Opera
This is a role I don't think I'll ever get to play. I'm more of a type match for Christine or Meg, but I LOVE this role and all of her music is divine.  I think the challenge in playing her would be to keep everything rooted in reality and not let her get too over the top, even though she is the prima donna.  She's amazing and strong, comfortable, yet with the slightest fear of being replaced.  She taps into that place we all have been when we're worried about being forgotten - you just never get to see that side of her as it's not her story the show revolves around.

Photos from: Limelight Floral, Everyday Beauty, Become, Neiman Marcus, Closet Obsession, Hippie Chick, Visualize Us, Fan Pop, Style Hive 

And of course...check out my other character inspirations from past shows:
Secret Garden
Little Red Riding Hood
Phantom of the Opera
Arizona Lady
Pride and Prejudice

Music in the Air Rehearsals Start

Choral rehearsals for Music by the Lake's Music in the Air started last Sunday.  I'm looking forward to being back on stage after a mini kids show only hiatus.  The music is fun, operetta based, and catchy and the ensemble sounds fabulous!  Next rehearsal is Sunday the 24th for a sing through and costume measurements!  It's going to be a quick process - the Show opens July 21st.  I'm excited to be back in beautiful Lake Geneva for a summer show!

Cinderhood Promotional Video

Chicago Opera Playhouse created this promotional video for the children's show I'm currently in: Cinderhood (I play Little Red Riding Hood, The Fairy Godmother, and Cinderella's Wicked Step Mother).  It's a fun 45 minute musical romp about what happens when half the cast shows up to do Cinderella and the other half prepared to do Little Red Riding Hood.

Check out the video to see clips from the show.


Cinderhood Promo 2012 from Hannah Goering on Vimeo.


Cinderhood is currently playing around the midwest and Chicago Land.  Please contact me for more information about additional bookings.

Sneak Peek - My New Hair Look

I had the pleasure of getting my hair cut, colored, and dyed by Patrick Daniels last week.  Today I returned to the salon for a photo shoot for Patrick's hair and makeup blog: Chatting with Patrick.  He opted for a pretty in pink look with a subtle nod to Mad Men.

Look for his post on Thursday, all about dying my hair...my first time!  You can check out more photos and my thoughts on my virgin hair dying here.

I loved posing for the photos almost as much as I loved that shimmering poppy pink lipgloss from MAC.

My Next Production - Music in the Air

I'm delighted to announce that I'll be returning to Music by the Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin after performing the role of Jean MacLaren in Brigadoon there last year!  This summer I'll be dancing the role of Tila in Music in the Air by Hammerstein and Kern.  Performances are July 21st & 22nd.

More details coming soon.

My Website ~ Visit the NEW KirstenLendyke.com

It's finally here!

Check out the brand new KirstenLendyke.com

Secret Garden Reviews

"Its holiday season production by the company, featuring elegant direction and choreography by Stacey Flaster (one of several women who have emerged in recent years as major musical theater talents in this city), it is being beautifully sung and acted...Flaster’s staging expertly captures the contrasts in Eastern and Western visions of magic and death."
-Chicago Sun Times


"This very well-meaning show surely delivers the most beautiful garden one could expect. There were gasps of pleasure in the audience, especially from the young."
 -Chicago Tribune


"The expert staging by Stacey Flaster works  to create just the right tone and atmosphere to create a ghost story."
-Chicago Theatre Critic


Light Opera Works does a stellar job with its large scale musicals using a full orchestra in the marvelous Cahn Auditorium located on the campus of Northwestern University. Roger L. Bingaman brings this hauntingly beautiful music to life as he conducts this orchestra and the voices that Flaster has assembled fill the theater with the richness and tone of the music and lyrics in this sterling piece...The ensemble players are up to the highest of standards:Barbara Clear,Maggie Clennon Reberg,Erin Thomas Lobo,Phil Higgins,Kristin O’Connell,Patrick Byrnes,Rob Riddle,Peter Oyloe,Harmony France,Jon Landvick,Maggie Clennon Reberg,Daniel Spagnuolo,Jennifer T.Grubb,Christen Boulette,Loren J. Connel, Kirsten Lendyke and Amy Orman- great job!
-Around the Town Chicago


There are four chances left to see The Secret Garden at Light Opera Works.  Friday, December 30th at 8pm,  Saturday December 31st at 2pm and 8pm, and closing on January 1st at 2pm.  Purchase your tickets now.




Image from: http://www.lyricspond.com/artist-secret-garden

Secret Garden Opening

Secret Garden opens tonight!  Come see show for a heartwarming evening filled with gorgeous music (...and find out what the rest of my costume looks like).  Runs through January 1, 2012 at Light Opera Works.