I was on the road with the Chicago-based Griffin Theatre Company and my cast mates and I were greeting audience members after what was a particularly emotional show when, a 30-something man approached us. He was very fit and self-assured but it was clear that he'd been crying. He then thanked us and said, "I've been trying to figure out how to talk to my family about my experience being at war for many years, and now I see how to do it. Thank you." 

 

Admittedly my desire to become an actor arose from the fun I had cracking up my classmates and teachers alike throughout my school days. It felt good to get a laugh and help us all get through the long days of a standard-fare public school education. I loved the attention too. 

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Theater school introduced me to the power of storytelling. There I developed the skill of being emotional and physically vulnerable in front of an audience.  I learned that by inhabiting a deep emotional life on stage I became a tool for communicating directly with the souls of the audience members. It's a powerful experience. ​​​​​​​​​​

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The story above is not an everyday occurence but it's what keeps me working in this career. To be someone else for someone else.