Where is your home neighborhood?
My home neighborhood is a teeny little town called Cabot, Pennsylvania. I grew up on a farm, and I ran wild through the woods and learned to love trees and animals and quiet spaces. It also helped me to grow up and appreciate air conditioning, paved roads, and the convenience of nearby Thai takeout.
What do you do during the day?
I teach Performance, Musical Theater, and Voice in the University of Pittsburgh's fantastic theater department. Prior to my time at Pitt, I spent many years working as a preschool teacher and I still relish every opportunity I can get to work with young learners.
We would love to hear a brief history with Stage 62 and/or your local theater/creative work.
My first show at Stage 62 was in 1997—I was onstage that year, and the following year, I was directing here for the first time. I've done many shows with my friends here at Stage 62, and it's opened doors for me at so many other Pittsburgh companies. I've been lucky to perform on some of the best stages in the city, but Stage 62 will always be home to me.
What do you do as a creator?
Both of my parents were teachers, and both of them had side gigs as writers. We are a family of compulsive, manic readers--my shelves are overflowing with books that I've read that I can't bear to part with, and books that I can't wait to read. I'm also a musician--a singer and a pianist with a little bit of an accordion addiction--so there are stacks and stacks of music on the shelves, too. As a creator, I think of writing like a recipe. I want a little of this book, some of this author's style with this type of flow to it. Whether I'm directing, singing, conducting, writing, accompanying, or acting, the process is the same--throw in a little bit of everything and figure out what feels right.
What do you think makes a really good story? What do you think makes a really good song?
A really good story is a story that you're thinking about when you're not reading it. When I'm reading, I give a book three days. If I am reading it for three days and don't think about the story while I'm not reading, I put the book aside. The very best stories are ones that creep into your conversations and visit your dreams--those are the books you can't wait to talk to your friends about, and those are the stories I love.
What about these stories made you want to make something new with them?
I chose stories that would focus on the relationships we have with the people we live with, since they're the ones we're spending the most time with right now. How can I be more helpful? How do my talents make my home happier and better for the other people who live in it? How can I be a better friend? These are universal themes for all of us right now as we navigate this weirdness.
Which character do you most relate to?
Well, I wish I could say Hen or Turtle, but I'm probably more of a Bird or a Rabbit.
What recommendations do you have for someone who wants to be a writer/musician/lyricist when they grow up?
You never arrive at being a creative person. There's no award ceremony congratulating you on becoming a musician or a writer--you just do it, and then that's what you are. My suggestion to young creatives is always to take your art seriously. Take yourself seriously as a writer--if you're writing, you're a writer. If you're singing, you're a singer. If you're dancing, you're a dancer. Apply yourself in that creative direction, practice every day, develop the discipline to continually improve, and you'll be amazed at what you can do. Put your heart in the work!
Is there anyone you'd like to say thank you to for making these happen?
Cynthia writes the best songs.
Lynnetta draws the cutest animals.
J'Quay has the smoothest moves.
I couldn't be more grateful for their talents and their friendship!
Lynnetta draws the cutest animals.
J'Quay has the smoothest moves.
I couldn't be more grateful for their talents and their friendship!