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| Spring is coming! Several
projects will debut along with better weather. Laura Shapanus'
short film "Acceptance," in which I'm a librarian who bonds with
Laura's struggling mom at a critical point, is knocking on festival
doors. So is "Mental Health," a Judd-Apatow-meets-Carol-Burnett
sketch comedy pilot in which I play...Jim Morrison--yes, THAT Jim
Morrison! And soon I'll be appearing in the web series "Dearly Departed,"
in which I
play RJ's mom in a recurring role. This flamboyant, um,
Florida trailer park resident, will be a blast. That shoot awaits
warmer weather (in the suburbs of Philly), as I also await my episode
of the web series, "The Unlovables," which should be live soon.
Keeping busy and sharp meantime at Weist-Barron, where I am a
scholarship in Bill Hopkins' advanced film acting class. During holiday season I appeared in multiple roles in a return appearance at 12 Miles West in A CHRISTMAS CAROL: The Radio Play. My family were also in the cast, and we had a wonderful time. I'll be coming back to the 12MW boards in 2013, playing a juicy (gender-switched, thanks director Robert Cox for conceiving this!) villain in their production of the Western farce WILD OATS. Dates TBA. Had a meet with film director Nick Taylor about his new feature screenplay, which I've already had the pleasure of doing a table read for...he's planning a fall shoot and I can't wait to play this great role. It's always a pleasure to work with NIck, who most recently directed me in PARADISE EAST and "The Chip and Ernie Show." BOYS IN THE BACKROOM will be done in 2013, come hell or high water, with me playing the damaged Reba in my adaptation of Le Wilhelm's haunting play. This past spring, appeared with Rutherford, NJ's 12 Miles West in THE CLEAN HOUSE, in the leading role of Lane. Directed by Robert Cox, the company's Artistic Director, with an amazing cast! A wonderful story of laughter and the power of unselfish love. Review said I let the audience "see the hurt underneath her cold exterior without ever hitting a false note; her final scenes...were played so tenderly that your heart broke." Meanwhile, I'm a rocker chick for the first time since high school, vocalist with a classic rock band. I'm the new kid, added to a band which had a long history in Queens but disbanded, and has now reunited. First gig in May was very well received, more to come. I also sang in the feature film "Snow," directed by Saba, and had a blast backing up our lead singer at Madison Square Garden, courtesy of green screen. Earlier in 2012: wrapped my role in "Acceptance," and working on another short by Tim Kelly. Wrapped up 2011 with reading at Blue Curtain Theatre of a new play by Robert Gulack, and appeared as Delilah in the world premiere of play with music (a cappella), LADIES OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Yes, I played another...lady of the night...but she's very special, in this tale of the 1930's. Visited the 1940's in It's a Wonderful Life, the radio play, at 12 Miles West in NJ. Meanwhile, the trailer for my upcoming feature Boys in the Backroom, with me as barfly/mascot Reba, can be seen here! And Jasmine (Paradise East) appears in web spinoff "The Chip and Ernie Show," the holiday episode. WARNING: Like the film which inspired it, the web series contains very strong language and adult situations. Appeared as Emily (Arvide) Abernathy in GUYS AND DOLLS for Genesis Repertory/BAPA. Outer Stage loved us, and mentions my "acerbic wit and lilting voice added a new dimension to the character and a deeper understanding of the plot." I was thrilled with my segment on The Onion News Network for Independent Film Channel (IFC) as one of my damaged ladies, here the spokeswoman for the Damaged Women's Coalition's march on Washington. Segment is online here. PARADISE EAST is on the festival circuit, with me playing troubled mother Jasmine. A new, more tightly edited version was recently screened at the Quad in NYC. Footage of my money scene is here! Highlights 2009-10 November was spent in Haverstraw, NY as the title role in Jean-Paul Sartre's THE RESPECTFUL PROSTITUTE. Yes, another damaged lady...Lizzie McKay as a pawn in a race and class struggle in a small Southern town remains timely and disturbing today. Had a wonderful time at Shades Rep, directed by Samuel Harps. Doubled up some of the rehearsal period to reprise my role as FRAU DRACULA (the Prussian She-Bitch from Hell) in NYC...inflicting some of the damage this time! Still proud of my fifteen minutes of fame in my segment for the online ONN, which subsequently was featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Enjoy, if you haven't seen it already, or see it again! Appeared with Instant Shakespeare, recently featured in the NY Times for their readings of Shakespeare around NYC. Reprised my role as lost soul Reba, the mascot of the BOYS IN THE BACKROOM by Le Wilhelm. First onstage, then in my first feature film as actor/director. Visit the website often for updates as we move through post! "Wally and the Chosen Few," in which I play an earthy MILF/La Belle Dame sans Merci (fun!), was part of the NY Downtown Film Festival and won Best Ensemble! Black guy meets gal at Jewish Speed Dating...! And coming soon, "Our Gotham"'s latest episode, which I AD'd and in which I have a cameo as one of my most frequently cast roles (can you guess?)...look for me in the trailer. AUTOPILOT, in which I play the disaffected mom of a delinquent teen, premiered at SXSW and took international festivals by storm. Appearances include Clermont-Ferrand, Bilbao (winner Silver Mikeldi), Indielisboa, Breda, and Hamburg. Bowed again here in the states at the Brooklyn Intl Film Fest. I directed/edited/starred in a music video for singer extraordinaire Athena Reich, "Just Me," which won second place in her video contest and now has over 2900 views. All about heartbreak and lost love. THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL, or it was, at the NYC Fringe Fest. Two businessmen have the world in the pockets of their tailored suits. But then they get greedy with top saleswoman Janet (me), things get ugly, and they decide to eliminate the competition...literally. Having just wrapped PARADISE EAST, I came roaring back with one of my more well-adjusted ladies. Edge Boston (yes, Boston) and Outer Stage liked my work. THE MIND (scenes at the link), an indie horror feature which saw me playing another well-balanced gal (in the vein of WITH AND WITHOUT), a supportive wife whose husband is unfortunately possessed by a murderous entity, had its world premiere in Philly. Missed it because I was working on PARADISE EAST. I play another of my damaged ladies...Jasmine is a loving mother with some very dark secrets, who comes to a very bad end. |
