FAQs

1. How long have you been acting? What got you into it?
I started doing commercials when I was a kid and then stopped for a while etc. (If you go on my website and go under BIO it explains how long I have been acting etc.) What got me into it as a child was that I really loved watching TV and wanted to be on television -- so my Mom took me to a manager and I began auditioning for commercials and film and TV. I had always loved to sing and when I got the role in LES MIZ as a little girl it began my career in musical theatre. I stopped performing professionally in my teen years and in college -- I thought I wanted to be a lawyer at that point -- but then I started performing again.

2. How long have you been with Wicked?
I started with Wicked on October 30th, 2007 (oddly enough October 30th was the day Wicked opened on Broadway). I started out as the Elphaba standby on the First National Tour. As of November 5th, 2008 I took over for Carmen Cusack in the actual ROLE of Elphaba.

3. How did you get the role of Elphaba?
I auditioned for WICKED in August 2007. I had one audition for the whole creative team that afternoon -- it was my first audition for WICKED ever! A week later I got the call that they would like me to join the tour as the standby for Elphaba.

4. What was the audition process like?
Well...it has been different for everyone. I know many people who have auditioned for WICKED almost 10 times at this point! I was very lucky because I only had one audition. I went in on a day in August and sang some stuff from the show and did one scene and then was offered standby. It was actually very quick and painless. I was lucky and am grateful for that.

5. Do you love this role?
I do. I love the character of Elphaba and feel so honored to have the opportunity to play the role.

6. Who is Elphaba to you? What are her qualities that you feel you've brought to the stage? What makes her different from other actress's Elphies?
To me Elphaba is not a victim in any way. She actually is a strong, stubborn young woman with conviction. She is witty and determined and ambitious. What I feel I have brought to her is more of her activist side -- as well as her scrappier, bullying side.

7. What are your pre-show rituals or practices?
I always run one mile (at least) on the treadmill about an hour and a half before the show. I warm up vocally for a half an hour after that.

8. What is the show like behind the scenes and on stage?
It is actually like watching another show. At any given time there are dozens of stagehands, dressers, flymen, stage managers as well as ensemble members moving around, changing costumes, moving set pieces. But there is an order to it all and it is very important to be aware backstage cause it can get dangerous if you are not paying attention.

9. How are your cast members?
They are a really fantastically talented bunch of individuals. We become a bit like a family on the road by necessity. And like all families, sometimes you want to be with them all of the time, and sometimes you need your own personal space. But this is one of the most talented groups of people with whom I have ever worked.

10. Well, I'm sure you get asked this all of the time. Tell me about your makeup. I think it's fabulous, just so that you know. But how long does it take, is it hard to get off, and do you break out, etc?
Well thank you! I don't do my own make-up but Joe Dulude II does my make-up. He also designed Elphaba's look when the show first began in San Francisco. First of all, there is a link on the front page of my website talking about the make-up process and with a video showing you how long it takes etc. So you can always use that as a reference. It takes about 20 - 30 minutes to get the make-up on. It can be challenging to get it off but I am getting better about it. And I have been getting some breakouts yes but not nearly as much as I thought I would!

11. Do you love the music?
Um...YES!!!!!

12. What is your favorite song, scene, costume, etc?
My favorite song to sing is THE WIZARD AND I. My favorite scene is the bedroom scene with Katie (Glinda) when she sings POPULAR. My favorite costume is the Act Two dress although I also LOVE the plain black dress that Elphaba wears at the end of the show. It is so soft and light and lovely and I think it shows her vulnerability for the first time.

13. What do you think the message of Wicked is? What is the message you like to convey?
I think there are many messages in WICKED. I think the value of friendship and the emphasis on strong women are some of the messages. The message I love to convey is that we should always question authority and not take what our leaders (or the media) says at face value .

14. Life on tour - How do you do it?
Haha! I've been on tour for a year and I STILL don't know how I do it. I'm still figuring it out. It is certainly challenging so I just take it one day at a time and learn along the way.

15. How many shows do you do a week? Does it get monotonous? What do you do to prevent that?
There are 8 shows a week. It doesn't get as monotonous as it could get because we change cities about once a month which definitely makes it exciting! So I don't ever feel bored really.

16. Do you have any crazy show or tour stories you'd like to share?
Um...nothing too exciting. I have fallen down many many times in the show and I have come to realize that everyone falls on stage. It is a rite of passage!

17. Any advice for our high school performers?
Yes. Go to school and study LOTS of different things. Make friends with people not just involved in theatre. The more well-rounded you are the better performer and better colleague you will be. I think the fact that I went to college NOT for theatre has helped me immensely. Oh and...it is NOT a glamourous life...it is a wonderful life to what you love to do but it takes hard work and discipline -- just like any other profession.

18. What is it like to be where you are? Is it as amazing as I hope it is? What was your journey like?
It has been a wonderful adventure and I am still on it. It IS amazing but it is a TON of hard work and dedication. It is NOT a glamourous life.

19. What is the difference between a standby and an understudy?
The best answer to that question is answered on WIkipedia if you look up UNDERSTUDY. It is the most comprehensive answer I have found.

20. What was your schooling or training? Any suggestions?
As I said above, I did not go to school for theatre. I feel like I did a lot of "training" just by getting jobs and performing and learning on the job. I think I answered these questions above. I suggest that it is ALWAYS good to find a voice teacher. A voice teacher with reputable credentials and someone with whom YOU feel comfortable.

21. Would you do anything else if you had the chance?
Yes. I would travel all over the world and be a photographer for National Geographic. Or I would be a documentary filmmaker. Maybe someday I will be able to do the latter.

22. Any advice or words of wisdom to share?
Yes. If you follow what is in your heart -- what is deeply and truly your passion -- things always seem to work out the way they are supposed to. So be true to yourself and your desires and don't try to be someone you are not. Be YOURSELF.

23. Is the audition process really, really cut throat? Scary? Fun?
I had an easy time with WICKED but with HAIRSPRAY I auditioned about 14 times. Every experience is different. Some auditions are not fun and others are. There is a lot of competition though so yes it is always a bit cutthroat to be honest.

24. What are your hopes for the (yellow brick) road ahead?
My hopes are to enjoy my journey on this road -- wherever it may lead -- and then after that...I hope to jump on another road that may or may not be yellow at all!