Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, I was considered the shy, quiet one in the family.  Being the 6th child of seven, I had dreams of being a pilot.  As with any kid, ambitions change when you open yourself up to new experiences.  I sang “America The Beautiful” in front of my sixth grade class, which seemed to set the sparks in motion. When I started performing in plays and musicals in high school, it didn’t take long for me to find my passion.  After high school, I took advantage of the local theatre where I continued to grow.  My confidence and my talent started to shine and I soon left the Twin Cities to see what the rest of the world had to offer.

My first stop was Seattle.  I was lucky enough to work with the Seattle Civic Light Opera and sing with the Seattle Men’s Chorus.  One of my proudest moments during that time was being part of the chorus in two PBS specials, “Radio Craze” and “Swelegant Elegance” featuring Harvey Fierstein, where I was also  featured in the small ensemble, The Emerald City Volunteers. 

I eventually gave up the rain of the Pacific Northwest and moved to the other side of the country to experience the East Coast, because that sixth grade singing voice told me I needed to be in the heart of it all.  I discovered The Actor’s Studio and studied Meisner.  One of the proudest moments of my life  occurred a few years later when I received my Equity Card performing in an original play at Theatre Off Park.  Some of my favorite roles since have been Serge in the play “ART” and Fredrik in “A Little Night Music” to name just a few. 

When I am not working on my craft, I find comfort relaxing at home with my husband and our dogs.  Whether we are binge watching new shows or spending time working in our gardens, I am grateful for what I have and all the experiences I have been able to take advantage of during my travels across the country.  Without the love and support of my parents encouraging me to follow my dreams, that little boy from Minnesota may have missed out on a life that truly shaped my existence, which I truly believe is to authentically tell stories that resonate and transform the lives of everyone with all the humanity that’s possible. 

“This is my quest. To follow that star. No matter how hopeless. No matter how far.”

—Joe Darion