Guthrie Theater

What's your hometown?

Valparaiso, Indiana

First show you saw at the Guthrie?

She Stoops to Conquer

First show you were in at the Guthrie?

Pericles

First show you were ever in?

An adaptation of Harold Pinter's A Kind of Alaska my first year in college

What's the best advice you've received from a fellow actor?

You are in competition with no one but yourself.

What's the worst advice you've ever received from a fellow actor?

"Use it!" For Example, right after places one discovers that he or she really should've eaten that day or that they should've availed themselves of the restroom. Then some fellow actor backstage enthusiastically says, "OOOOO, Use it!" As if actual physical hunger or weakened kidneys will elicit a newly glittering performance.

Cue or Target Lounge?

Depends on me mood.

What is always in your dressing room?

When I'm in a production that HAS a dressing room designated for performers (hasn't and isn't always the case) I usually keep cards from family and a picture of my dog around.

Favorite place at the Guthrie?

The yellow see-through floor patch on the 9th floor. Still gives me hilarious heebie-jeebies when I walk on it. And I love watching other folks become giddy and childlike around it.

Where else do you go to see theater in the Twin Cities?

There is no theater or venue which I would leave OFF my list here.

What's your dream role?

Some one once asked phenom Michael Jeter what his favorite project of his career was. He answered, "The one I'm working on right now."

I'm stealing that. To be working at all is, honestly, such a beautiful thing. And you kinda HAVE TO find joy in every project. They're all different, but each show is a new opportunity to share a story. (Yeah. yeah. I know that might sound hokey to some, but it's at the core of why I think I do this).

Is there a local actor you haven't worked with, but want to?

Many many many! There is a community here so talented you wonder if there's something in the water!

Favorite movie?

Ugh....

How about a few: Raising Arizona, Funny Bones, How's Your News

What's the last book you read?

Islam: What Non-Muslims Should Know

What's on your iPod?

Mexican Cheerleader, Schumann, Bad Religion, Cocteau Twins, John Denver, Beethoven, AC/DC, Tool, Otis Redding, Springsteen, Camper Van Beethoven, Heartless Bastards, Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Doves, The Fratellis, Rufus Wainwright...that's a start

Relationship status?

I have a dog. And lots of amazing friends and family.

If you could have dinner with any playwright, living or dead, who would it be?

I have been wracking my brain over this one and I just CAN'T come up with an answer. But...How could you NOT want to pick the brain of The Bard while sipping cocktails and nibbling canapes?

Best State Fair food?

Oh lord in heaven... I freakin' LOVE the MN State Fair. Cheese Curds are a must have. As is the corn on the cob. And the pork chop on a stick. and.... (OK, have you noticed a pattern here?.... I don't pick favorites very well :) )

Ever been arrested?

Nope

What's your drag name?

Crud, is this the first pet's name and your mother's maiden name?... Then it's Inky Mcgrew (The ugliest drag queen this side of the pond!)

What's the most cringe-inducing thing you've ever said or done in front of Joe Dowling?

Ok, now... come ON. You gotta give me SOME sorta time restrictions here. Do you mean the one from yesterday? or last week? or the previous month?

Any place in town where you're considered a "regular"?

Used to have a bar where the servers and bartenders and I just nodded at each other and the drink, MY drink, would appear before me.

Dogs or cats?

Love animals. Period. But I'm a dog person.

Shaw or Chekhov?

Today, I'm going with Shaw.