After studying at the SC Governor's School for the Arts (Gerald Freedman, guest faculty) I began my professional acting career with a production of Hair at Trustus Theatre (Jim Thigpin, director). While attending the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, my acting portfolio included student MainStage musicals and classics, summer stock at The Lost Colony (Fred Chappell, director/ William Ivy Long-costume designer) and minor supporting roles in the St. Louis Rep's studio theatre (A Question of Mercy, Steve Woolf, director).
Upon graduation, I joined the St. Louis Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company, where my interest in applied theatre and outreach was sparked by my participation in a company reading of the play Wit (Susan Gregg, director) for students at the Washington University Med School. I rounded out my outreach work in St. Louis as a teaching artist for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' inaugural season, visiting local schools to prepare students for the production with scenes from Romeo and Juliet (Juliet).
In New York City, I freelanced with talent agencies including Ingrid French Management (signed), Paradigm and Expecting Models. My bookings consisted mostly of commercial and print work. Booking highlights include Accenture and Dowling College (Industrial); Bob Evans (Regional-Chicago Creative); Whole Foods (Regional-midwestern market); Ocean Spray (Print/Web).
From 2004-2010, I was a member of the Chekhov Theatre Ensemble (CTE). CTE was the resident theatre company for the arts education organization, Stages of Learning. CTE served as a training ground for artists inspired by the techniques of Michael Chekhov while also focusing on outreach to NYC public schools. Guest artists and directors included Floyd Rumohr (Founder), Ragnar Freidank, Elena Araoz and Joanna Merlin. Show credits include Between Worlds (Ghost); Trojan Women (Ensemble); The Odyssey (Penelope); Labyrinths (Tango Singer); Macbeth (Witch 2/Malcom); The Poe Project (Ligeia).