Inspiring Women : November 2020
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visuals to in-person gatherings and productions. I started directing over the last two years and now<br />
have experience in multiple mediums (stage and now Zoom thanks to the pandemic!) and have<br />
taught as an adjunct professor on the university level. Moving countries has opened so many new<br />
doors in the creative space. We love living in London and have no immediate plans to leave. My<br />
husband, J.D. is the Founder of Finmo, a fintech startup based in London and I’m enjoying growing<br />
my career. On our wedding day J.D. gave me a silver box engraved “Make great art and be better<br />
than you ever thought possible”. I strive to live by that motto everyday.<br />
Getting Involved in<br />
Theater<br />
At age 13, while attending the school of the arts, I<br />
had the opportunity to audition for Meredith<br />
Monk’s world revival of Quarry running at Spoleto<br />
Festival USA. I was the youngest cast member by<br />
at least 15 years and learned what working on a<br />
high calibre professional production meant. My<br />
other castmates were hired from LA / NYC,<br />
meanwhile I was learning how to be in school all<br />
day and maintain a full-time professional rehearsal<br />
schedule. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to<br />
work and perform with world-renowned artists like<br />
Meredith Monk and her ensemble.<br />
I’ve been very fortunate to form close relationships<br />
with several mentors over the years, many of<br />
whom are incredible women. My first voice<br />
teacher, Nancy Eaton Stedman, sweetly known as<br />
my “Music Mama”, taught me how to sing<br />
Julie Jordan in Carousel at Carrier Theatre, NY ©Genevieve<br />
Fridley<br />
everything from Mozart to Sondheim. I will never forget standing around her piano holding the<br />
Sondheim Song Books signed and marked up with interpretations by Mr. Sondheim himself. Ms.<br />
Ellen Schlaefer, my university opera director, taught me everything I needed to know to be a working<br />
professional. Know your material before day one, an “Equity 10” is precisely ten minutes, and always<br />
be the hardest working person in the room. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two fabulous men, Neil<br />
Semer and Stephen Svoboda, who took (and still take!) chances on me. And Ms. Mary Hammond, my<br />
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