I’m very pleased to share that I’ve signed with NV Talent Agency in Chicago for Midwest theatrical and VO representation.
Chicago is where I went to school, met my hubby, got my SAG-AFTRA card, and made so many formative memories! I’m thrilled to reconnect with my roots.
Improv Improv Improv!
I don’t know what it is, but things seem to come in waves. I’ve had the opportunity to pull out my improvisation skills a whole bunch lately for multiple auditions and a feature film!
(Did you know I trained at Second City Chicago and UCB in LA; and have extensive sketch experience: writing, producing, acting with online sketch group onewordnocaps and BuzzFeed; and was featured on WhoHaHa?)
Most recently I got to work on a feature film written/directed by my pal from onewordnocaps, Vinnie Duyck. This improv-heavy film is done mockumentary-style and I, for one, am dying to see it. Can’t wait to share more.
I feel so grateful that I’ve been asked to brush off these skills so often this month. It’s made work time oh-so fun!
#happythankfulmoreplease
Social Emotional Learning. You’ve probably heard of it. It’s a major buzzword these days and for good reason. SEL includes learning about our feelings: how to recognize them, how to manage them, and how to notice them in others. A hugely important social and life skill, SEL is finally being recognized and addressed in schools.
In our family, we’ve made sure it’s a big part of our home teaching as well. My kids watched Daniel Tiger, and we fill our bookshelves with books about naming and recognizing feelings.
“All feelings are normal. All feelings are human. And all feelings belong and can be worked with.”
But as an adult, I’ve found the hardest part is practicing what we preach. I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to bottle up all “bad” feelings–sadness, anger, embarrassment–until I can be alone.
It’s a natural instinct and not necessarily a bad one. Clearly, we don’t want all our anger exploding all over our children. But what if our kids could watch us work through some of these feelings, could actually see their grown-ups process . . . say . . . sadness?
When my daughter was just under two, I broke down crying in front of her one day. It wasn’t anything dramatic that caused it. I was just overwhelmed. She stood close to me, looked at the tears on my face, and said “mama sad.”
Ooh, look!
I was featured on Medium’s ShowBizzBuzz section. Check it out to hear my take on working on Dark Winds, acting, and some interesting facts ala Kate.
I had the pleasure of playing a high and mighty, highly ridiculous mom in the new digital series Maternity Leave. Created by Angel Laketa Moore (That Chick Angel TV), it’s a hilarious look at a new mom trying to get back into her acting career. (Yeah. I can relate.) In episode 2, I play one of the over-the-top mothers in her lactation support group, The Milky Moms. Check it out!
Make sure you don’t miss the bonus material from the episode as well, where all of us Milky Moms got to improvise. Watch the crazy come out! Look, if you leave the camera on me long enough, I’m gonna start singing!
Call it typecasting but this new mother got to play a new mother on a new digital series “Maternity Leave” written by Angel Laketa Moore. My character, an absurdly perfectionist mom is part of a breastfeeding support group full of misfits. I had a great time with the cast, working out my scripted comedy and improv chops. I can’t wait to share it with you!
I’m currently being interviewed by a blog about strong women (more on that later!) and was asked how I found myself wearing so many hats (actor, writer, singer, sometimes director and producer). Aside from my creative family upbringing, upon moving to LA I discovered that everyone here was making things! I had ideas… and I had inspirational go-getters to shadow. So I dove in!
I’ve been looking at the amazing and amazingly large catalog from my sketch group onewordnocaps. We’re a bunch of actor/writer/director/producers who are constantly stretching our creative muscles and wearing multiple hats to make it all happen. Check out a few of my favorites (so far) that I’ve been involved in!
This Wednesday October 18th at 7:30/8:30c, I’m back again on ABC’s Speechless as the English Teacher who is… um, not so good at her job. I’m excited and grateful to be recurring on this sweet, poignant and funny show.
For this episode, I had to do some physical comedy, a minor stunt, and learn a new skill! I can’t wait to see how it all turns out in the edit.
Check it out! And thank you for your continuing support!
Save the date! Catch me April 5th as an inept English Teacher on Speechless on ABC! I had a fantastic time on set and am so excited to see how it turns out. If you haven’t seen it, its a very funny and sweet show about a family with a special needs son. Please check it out!
As you know, I work with a terrific sketch group onewordnocaps. We’re in the process of putting together Season 4 and really need some new equipment (lights, sound gear) to do so. So we shot a funny video to tell ya all about our needs. Because that’s what we do! Enjoy the video (warning; adorable guest stars ahead) and please consider donating!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/onewordnocaps-comedy-season-4-and-beyond/x/15867337#
