It
has been a dream of mine forever to have my own company. Getting long
in the tooth now, I realize now is the time! And, I feel ready to be a
producer now. I know what kind of material I want to bring alive--that
will challenge, delight, disturb, affirm, or inspire audiences.
I've been a publicist, an actor, a director, a designer, a playwright,
a techie. I've lived in the Valley for over twenty years and know the
theatre practitioners. I've got the tools to do this job (except the
money. And there are plenty of people who have plenty of that to help).
Women
are vastly under represented in professional theatre. Martha Richards
posts excellent statistics on her Fund for Women Artisits website.
Pauline has as its mission:
1) fostering strong roles for women in theatre----as producers, directors, designers, and actors
2) supporting local causes. Many of our productions will raise funds for local causes I want to support.
Theatre
is one thing I feel I really do well. I think it is a calling and the
call has been coming loud and clear since age 13.
You're an AEA member. What are the pros and cons of that when living in Western Mass?
I
have been instrumental in getting theatres here to hire Actors' Equity
members. I was the first AEA actor hired at The Theater Project at the
Majestic Theatre and Enchanted Circle Theatre.
Pros: If people want your talent in a project, they have to pay you.
Cons: Even
as a member of the Actor's union, pay is so low. It is part of the
nature of the beast. There are so many costs to put on theatre. Here
in the valley, ticket prices are relatively low. The math has to work
for viablity.
Why choose Western Mass as your home when typically "the biz!" is in New York and Boston?
I
started out in NYC. I spent my twenties there and am glad I did. I did
some really stimulating theatre there. (This Spring I am going to in
act in a re-mounting of Jean Claude Van Itallie's Tibetann Book of the
Dead to be performed in NYC at LaMama ETC. LaMama is the theatre where
I got my professional start. This is a kind of coming full circle for
me.)
I came to
Northampton to be an Ada Comstock Scholar at Smith College and I really
loved this community. I decided I wanted to lIve here because of the
people, the landscape and other elements that compel many of us to live
here. And I have now lived here for 22 years. I don't want to have
to uproot myself to do my work. I believe in "buying local." So, I
want to provide a good local product that people will want to
consume...that is grown right here...fresh, supporting those who grow
it (the artists) and those who consume it (audience that lives here).
What has been your most rewarding role to date?
Vivian
Bearing in 'WIT' by Margaret Edson (who is also a Smith graduate). I
experienced such a powerful connection with the audience when
performing that. I've often thought it would be great fun to call a
meeting of all the actresses who have played Vivian...have coffee
together somewhere.
What roles are still out there that you hope to take on?
I
will be playing Sister Aloyisius in J. Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize
Winning play DOUBT. Pauline Productions is producing it here in
Northampton and in Ashfield (I live in Goshen) February 29 thru March
9. The rights were just recently released and this will be the Pioneer
Valley's premiere production.
