“I said that's life, and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin' around.
I’ve been a…”
Reimagining Opera for Kids’ (ROK) world premiere of Tony Plog’s Aesop’s Fables: Performing as the Hare (right) at Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, IN
Performer
My biggest non-design passion is performing: singing, preparing for recitals, workshopping new musicals, songwriting, playing the guitar…
Quick on my feet: Not only have I performed hour-long repertoire, but I have had to learn, polish, and memorize them within a very short amount of time. I have had a lot of experience working under great pressure, sometimes having to learn a new role within a week.
Creative: From the age of 6, my creative confidence has grown through setting my own lyrics to my own compositions, choosing repertoire to fit a theme in my recitals, performing never-before-seen operettas and musicals, and most recently, teaching myself guitar.
Public Speaker: Depending on the occasion, I will introduce to the audience the music prior to the performance, and explain the meaning behind it, and/or why it is being performed.
Storyteller: I have stepped into the shoes of Lewis Carroll, Luisa von Trapp, Princess Larken, and many others onstage. Getting into the mind of someone completely different allows me to more easily empathize with similar characters and people.
Planner
A planner since birth
Organized: I have always prided myself on my organization skills. By using at least one planner a year (more specifically, Passion Planners), I have been able to organize every aspect of my life, thereby more effectively managing my time.
Good Communicator: In order to convince people the benefits of using planners, I have had to find a balance between discussing my own relationship with it, and seeing what they personally can get out of using it.
Dependable: Having a planner is essentially my version of having a personal assistant. I rely on my Passion Planner to keep me on track with all my tasks and goals.
Innovative: After pinpointing certain things that my planners lacked, I began creating printable templates in Adobe InDesign.
Internship presentation: showing how I used my Passion Planner in order to organize tasks and track issues during my metadata internship in Bloomington, IN
Prop tracking during a rehearsal with Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, OH: one of seven shows we put on that summer (2014)
Assistant Stage Manager
I’ve been an Assistant Stage Manager for 10 shows since 2012, including “West Side Story,” “Next to Normal,” “Pirates of Penzance,” and “My Fair Lady”
Problem Solver: Whether it be ensuring the satisfaction of performers and backstage crew by finding solutions to anything that arises during rehearsals or performances, or making adjustments to props lists and rehearsal schedules, my job is to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Flexible: Part of the job is being on call 24/7, in case rehearsals or performances are added, or if there is a need for an additional creative meeting.
Leader: In order to successfully communicate with performers and backstage crew and confirm that time is used wisely, it’s essential that information and regulations are provided articulately.
Interpersonal Skills: Not only have I worked with cast and crew of up to 100, but as an Assistant Stage Manager, I have been involved in several meetings where we bounce ideas around until a compromise is made.
“Each time I find myself laying flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race”
-Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon