The Armed Forces Film Challenge is a 60 Day challenge, (extended a bit due to the coronavirus pandemic and Covid-19) during which VetPics Productions selected one of several stories offered by the Challenge management, wrote a screenplay (by Tommy Anderson), filmed (with 2 assigned elements), edited (by Floyd Strayer) and submitted to the Challenge management.
Based on the Story Oblivion by Adam Stone
The story we chose is Oblivion by Veteran Adam Stone. It is about a Marine Sniper returning from Afghanistan and the ghosts that come with him. It focuses on a singular event that tends to stick out amongst the many he has experienced. It stands out with our team as a phenomenal opportunity to show the world a snippet of what our veterans struggle with when they come home.
Life After Oblivion – Photo by Tommy Anderson
About the Producing Team
The VetPics Productions team includes:
Floyd Strayer (Chula Vista, CA) ~ (Team Leader/ Producer/ Director/Veteran) works withSurvivors of Suicide Loss in San Diego, supporting those that have loss to suicide. He acts as the military and Veteran Chair to reach out to our veteran community offering our support. Daily, 22 veterans have struggled with PTSD, mental illness, depression or ghosts of some sort that drove them to take their own life. Twenty-two a day! Floyd’s IMDB;
Tommy Anderson (Norco, CA) ~ (Producer/Screenwriter/Veteran) www.haboobwind.com, is a PTS survivor and has worked with veterans’ issues including suicide prevention for both veterans and public safety personnel. He is on the board of directors of the US For Warriors Foundation in San Diego and has been recognized by both the Los Angeles County Board and the Riverside County Board for with work with veterans.Tommy’s IMDB;
Susan J. Farese (San Diego, CA) ~ (Producer/Casting/Publicist/Veteran)is the owner of SJF Communications and is a veteran Army and Navy Nurse.Susan’s IMDB;
Shar Yonan (Bakersfield, CA) ~ (Producer/Location Scout) is a strong child advocate for abused children in foster care as well as an advocate for children who have attempted to take their own life. Shar’s IMDB.
Sue Vicory(Mound City, KS) (Producer) is a three-time Telly Award winning filmmaker. Sue has been making films since 2003. Heartland Films, Inc., her non-profit production company was established to create films that inspire and educate. Sue has spoken on and moderated panels around the world including Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and has served as an Emmy judge both regionally and nationally. Sue’s IMDB.
We have 12 veterans involved in Life After Oblivion, the film, (production team, cast and crew) along with Adam Stone, writer of the story ‘Oblivion’.
We hope to help bring awareness and remove the stigma around PTS/PTSD and suicide to provide hope and encouragement to those in need with Life After Oblivion
“The ghosts of the battlefield last longer than the war itself”
Patricia Geist-Martin, Ph.D., Bill Torres and Sarah Parsloe, Ph.D.
“WHY ME?” These were the first words that Bill Torres spoke after waking up from his stroke. Like many survivors, Bill lived his first days and weeks after stroke in a dark, heavy cloud of depression. Depression creates feelings of hopelessness, guilt, helplessness, and decreased energy—all symptoms that stand in the way of a survivor’s efforts to regain mobility and speech. Yet, rather than dwelling on asking “WHY ME?” Bill’s second words were, “WHAT NOW?” He set his mind to getting better, little by little, every day. As researcher and author, Peter Levine (2013) suggests, stroke survivors must “fall in love with the process … [and] see the process of recovery as an opportunity for growth.”
Falling in Love with the Process: Cultivating Resilience in Health Crises – A Stroke Survivor’s Storytells Bill Torres’ story of recovery and advocacy. The book is structured along two different timelines—the timeline of Bill’s early life and the timeline of his life from stroke onward. Chapters are alternated between Bill’s stories of growing up in San Diego and chapters that provide accounts of Bill’s journey of stroke recovery. These two separate storylines come together near the close of the book as we explore Bill’s approach to recovery and advocacy.
Part One:Picking Up the Pieces; Connecting the Dots explores the aftermath of Bill’s stroke and discusses the ways in which stigma, depression, and internalized ableism shaped Bill’s initially difficult emotional response to stroke. It also offers accounts of how his communication with key health care providers reinforced Bill’s drive to work on his own rehabilitation.
Part Two: Persisting Through Recovery considers both Bill’s capacity to structure his own rehabilitation routine and the ways in which his close network of friends supported him throughout his recovery process.
Part Three:Communicating as an Advocate explores how Bill transformed his survivor narrative into a tool for advocacy. It explains the strategies Bill used to successfully work with other stroke survivors and also describes the compassion fatigue that can accompany this kind of communicative labor.
Q & A with Patricia Geist-Martin, Ph.D. and Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Patricia Geist-Martin, Ph.D. & Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
SJF: Why/How did you (and Sarah) decide to write a book about Bill Torres?
PGM: After being a guest speaker in my Health Communication class at SDSU over the past 10 years, Bill suggested that I should write a book. I resisted at first with so much on my plate, but then I thought of inviting Dr. Sarah Parsloe to co-author the book. We knew the book would touch on the disabilities that come with stroke and the advocacy work that Bill engages in, and Sarah has a great deal of expertise on both of these topics.
SJF: Did you make any personal discoveries (or aha moments) while interviewing Bill for the book? If so…please explain
PGM: We made so many discoveries—too many to list here—and of course that is really what the book is all about. First, resilience isn’t something we create from scratch at the moment we need it, it is something we develop over time beginning as a young person. So cultivating resilience as a young boy served Bill well at 69 when he had his stroke. Second, resilience isn’t something we cultivate alone. People who have a network of friends and family that they can count on when they need it most can join forces with them to create resilience. It isn’t about the number of people, it is about the quality of these relationships–having people in your life that you love and they love you and will be there for you when you need them. That’s just two of the many lessons.
He used the phrase in
the beginning of his book, stating that stroke survivors must “fall in love
with the process . . . [and] see the process of recovery as an opportunity for
growth” (p. xiv).
SJF: What made you decide on increasing the distribution of the book from academia to the masses?
PGM: Sarah and I are big believers in the power of stories. While we teach this in our college classes, we knew the general public would enjoy the stories told by Bill, his providers, and his friends. We also knew that the lessons about communication and resilience would be valuable for anyone, not just stroke survivors. Anyone who is moving through the grief of losing someone they love or recovering from an accident or any illness would find lessons in Bill’s stories that are universal.
SJF: Tell us about your passion and teaching emphasis with ‘storytelling’, especially as it pertains to health communication?
PGM: Storytelling is about connecting with other people. In telling our own stories, we put into words our joys, fears, and even our secrets. In the process of telling our story and being listened to, we can actually change the chemistry in our bodies—telling stories of pain and trauma or joy and passion can have an effect on the brain where dopamine, cortisol, oxytocin, and endorphins are released. In that release and in the chemical changes, we often feel pleasure—something that happens in hearing the story, not just the facts. I teach health communication from the point of view of stories—stories told to friends, family, providers, and even in health campaigns offer an opportunity to put into words, something that we are experiencing. As we tell stories to others, we begin to make sense of our own experience and when we listen to others tell their stories we offer them the same opportunity.
SJF: If you had to write the book over again, would you change anything?
PGM: I think the only thing I would add to the book if I were still in the process of writing it would be for Sarah and I to tell more of our own stories, especially as we feel that have evolved in the process of collaborating with Bill, his providers, and his friends. Our stories are partially there, but I think the experience of collaborating with Bill was life-changing in so many ways, but specifically reflecting on my own path and the resilience I feel I have created in difficult and dark times.
SJF: A brief history of your upbringing, education, professor positions/teaching appointments and early retirement at SDSU.
PGM: I am a first-generation college student. My dad graduated from high school and ended up as a pattern maker at John Deere Tractor Works. My mom did not graduate from high school and was a stay-at-home mom to four children. Both my parents really emphasized education and especially reading. I cannot think of one time in my life where I have not had one or more books on my night stand. My family moved around a lot-five states and seven houses by the time I was in second grade. I think my own resilience was built through that experience. I started out as a dance major at the University of Iowa in Iowa City but then switched to Literature and Writing when I discovered I wasn’t as skilled at learning and remembering choreography the way others were. My minor was Communication and I was hooked. I taught high school for two years—literature, writing, drama, and filmmaking. But then my thirst for knowledge about communication led me to gain a master’s degree in Communication at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls Iowa and a Ph.D. in Communication from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. My first position as an Assistant Professor was at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT, then the Department of Speech at the University of Hawaii, Manoa in Honolulu, HI. Finally, in 1990 I was hired by the School of Communication at San Diego State University. I feel blessed to have lived and worked in all three universities and to have attended strong programs for my education. I am now in my second year of a five-year early retirement program where I teach three classes only in the fall and have the spring and summer off to do whatever I want. And my joy is writing, so I will keep doing that as long as I can!
SJF: Tell us about all of the books you’ve written:
I have also published
over 100 journal articles and book chapters.
SJF: Anything you’d like to mention about your upcoming book The Infinite Now?
PGM: I have been working on a memoir for over 15 years. The tentative title is The Infinite Now: A Mother’s Past, A Daughter’s Future. My mom died of brain cancer when I was 17, right before Christmas in my senior year in high school. The only way I could cope with this huge loss in my life was to press down any memories of my mom. This turned out to be the worst strategy, because the pain was still there under the surface. It wasn’t until our only child, Makenna moved into her teen years that suddenly the past came rushing forward with each and every interaction—so it’s my mom’s past and my future woven with my past and my daughter’s future that form a braid of our two overlapping stories. It is a labor of love that is both traumatic and joyful. I hope to publish the book by summer 2021.
SJF: Any recommendations for us to journal or document what we are going through with Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic?
PGM: Yes, this crisis calls on all of us to become resilient. Resilience requires us to be flexible and adapt to each new phase of the pandemic. Resilience also offers an opportunity to be creative and come up with new solutions to this experience of isolation. Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Zoom, and other social media offer opportunities to reach out to support one another and decrease our sense of isolation. One new solution that my husband and I have been engaging in is virtual happy hours. It is fascinating to realize that we our doing this more than we did when we had the opportunity (but supposedly not the time) to be connected with friends and family. We just don’t stay on the phone as long as we do when we are telling stories, playing games, and goofing around “face-to-face” on zoom. It’s fascinating to see some of the increased sharing and intimacy that is evolving on zoom with friends and family.
SJF: Is there anything else that you’d like to mention?
PGM: I love writing and teach it in most of my communication classes. I love helping people tap into the stories they feel they must tell—about life, love, travel, pain, trauma, joy—anything. So, in addition to the memoir, I have a few other books I plan to write, one about creative female leaders and another on the process of mentoring. I also plan to develop writing workshops in San Diego and in other cities, countries. My husband will be retiring about the same time that I am and we hope to build a business together that takes advantage of the expertise that each of us could contribute.
SJF: Thank you so much, Patricia – it was such a pleasure to learn more about you and you work!
Meet Chi Varnado – Author of ‘The Dance Centre Presents Giselle’
We had a great time last week with our client Chi Varnado, Author of the newly released middle grade novel The Dance Centre Presents Giselle. Chi gave two excellent presentations at the Pine Valley Library – one with several charter school students from Pine Valley and the other combined with members of the Pine Valley community including dance teacher, Katy Gradillas and several of her dance students performing ballet and gymnastics.
But first, a little about Chi Varnado:
Ramona resident Chi Varnado is passionate about helping children view their own creativity as valuable. As a writer, former dance studio owner/teacher, choreographer, and educator, she advocates art for the sake of art – the reward being intrinsic and untethered from extrinsic reward. Varnado saw a lack in the literary market for books about dance which did not focus on competitiveness and high drama. Children want to read about what they love, so she took on the task to help fill the void to keep the story of “dance as art” alive—so began the first novel in her new series, The Dance Centre Presents Giselle, which is now available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and can be ordered at book stores.
Chi Varnado – Photo by SJF Communications
Varnado is currently a substitute teacher, a tutor, and an Airbnb host. She offers half-hour school and library presentations for second through sixth grade (including middle school for libraries) featuring an engaging power point followed by a short creative writing workshop. Students become highly motivated to write when Chi, as an author, uses her books and impromptu “popcorn stories” to foster their own spontaneous writing. She is also available to sell her books at books fairs or dance studios as a fundraiser.
Books by Chi Varnado Photo courtesy of Chi Varnado
Miss
Chi, as the kids refer to her, holds a bachelor’s degree in dance from San Diego
State University, and both an elementary multiple subjects and secondary
credentials. Her writing has appeared in The
San Diego Reader, Patch.com and several newspapers and she’s been
interviewed on television and radio. Her memoir, A CANYON TRILOGY: Life
Before, During and After the Cedar Fire, was a finalist in the San Diego
Book Awards and has garnered many accolades. The Tale of Broken Tail, a
children’s picture book, is also available where books are sold.
Varnado knows, firsthand, that active kids need a venue to channel their energy and interests in a positive and wholesome way that they can feel good about. These issues are folded into her presentations so that everyone can feel included.
Since there was some time between Miss Chi’s presentations, we had the chance to do quick Q & A. interview:
Q & A
Author Chi Varnado & Susan J. Farese
Photos from Chi Varnado’s Presentations at the Pine Valley Library
SF: Why did you choose to write about the ballet, Giselle,
in this first book of the series The
Dance Centre Presents?
CV: Giselle is one of my favorite ballets of all time.
SJF: Tell us the purpose of why you wrote a book series
for middle graders?
CV: I didn’t think
there were enough books for kids who want to read about dance, especially a
series focusing on the art and camaraderie of dance. So, I thought – why not
write one myself, since I had a dance studio and taught for thirty-seven years.
SJF: How did you come up with the idea of
‘Dancespirations’ on Instagram and Facebook?
CV: It just hit me
one day out of the blue. I thought it would be a fun way to offer bite-sized
quips about dance.
SJF: Why did you start dancing in the first place?
CV: I had ‘ants in my pants’ so I started to dance! Well –
actually, I was in constant motion as a child and, fortunately, both my Mom and
Grandmother recognized this and enrolled me in ballet.
SJF: What’s different about your approach to dance?
CV: I like the idea of dance for the sake of art and
expression, without the need for awards from competitions.
SJF: And the book?
CV: In The Dance
Centre Presents Giselle, readers will find friends they can relate to and
feel at home with, whether or not they are dancers themselves.
SJF: So, can you give us the storyline?
CV: When the
prima ballerina at The Dance Centre mysteriously vanishes, Randi unexpectedly
lands the lead and learns that the world of ballet is not always as glamorous
as it appears onstage. She harbors severe self-doubts about her abilities to
rise to the honor of her new role. And when she begins her pas de deux training
with a boy, new and conflicting feelings and emotions surface which send her
spiraling into panic mode. All the while, Deanne seizes opportunities to
undermine her at every pirouette. Randi struggles to maintain her crucial
focus, but what will happen if she doesn’t?
SJF: Where can we find you on the web and social media?
Eight women attended our 2 hour SJF Communications Haiku workshop ‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ on January 18th, 2020 at the Poway Community Library.
We began with an interactive fun ‘ice-breaker’ – getting to know each other a bit more. Next, after introductions and a review of my work with poetry, I taught my Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared several of my nature photography and other photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. Everyone practiced writing Haiku and finally we had the opportunity to share our work. It was a delightful time with such a lovely group of creative empowered women!
Here’s a glimpse of our enlightened attendees along with photo prompts and written Haiku from that day! I also contributed a few!
Workshop leader/presenter Susan J. Farese with attendees (Back Row): Grace, Karen, Karla, Ninon, Laurie and Cheran; (Front Row): Kathy and Xochih.
1. Tahquitz Canyon Waterfall Photo by Susan J. Farese
Water tumbles down
forest leaves reach for the ground
a cool pool, respite.
-Karen
Waterfall rushing
thundering sound breaks silence
in awe of nature
-Cheran
2. Bench at Santee Lakes Photo by Susan J. Farese
A bench welcomes me-
have a seat and rest yourself
just breathe in and out
-Cheran
A bench beckons you
verdant grass and flowing
rest and contemplate
-Karen
Our summer is gone
and no one is sitting here
on the lonely bench
And in Japanese:
私たちの夏は去りました
そして誰もここに座っていません
孤独なベンチで
Watashitachi no natsu wa sarimashita soshite dare mo koko ni
suwatte imasen kodokuna benchi de
-Grace
3. Moon Rise and Yellow Traffic Light Photo by Susan J. Farese
A long day has passed
amidst the busy hustle
the bright moon greets me
-Karen
When I’m coming home
showing the same shape as moon
the yellow signal!
And in Japanese
家に帰るとき
月と同じ形を示す
黄色の信号！
Ie ni kaeru toki tsuki to onaji katachi o shimesu kiiro no
shingō!
-Grace
All of a sudden
moon rose, traffic light yellow-
serendipity!
-Susan
4. Anna’s Hummingbird Feasting Photo by Susan J. Farese
Little hummer sits
head bent prayerfully drinking-
a blessed moment!
-Cheran
5. Torrey Pines State Beach Photo by Susan J. Farese
Earth and ocean meet
waves crash and rocks tumble down
the clouds bear witness
-Karen
6. Great White Egret at Santee Lakes Photo by Susan J. Farese
The water glistened
fanned plumage captivating!
Great White Egret soared!
-Susan
Legs stretched, beak pointed
wings forming mushroom bellows
ready to take flight
-Cheran
Very beautiful
the open wings are such fun
The Great White Egret
And in Japanese:
非常に美しい
開いた翼はとても楽しい
白eg鳥
Hijō ni utsukushī aita tsubasa wa totemo tanoshī shiro eg
tori
-Grace
7. Autumn Photo Credit: Unknown
Crimson foliage
flutters from the azure sky
float on silent lakes.
-Karen
Beautiful red leaves
showing us their reflection
on an Autumn lake
And in Japanese:
美しい紅葉
彼らの反射を見せて
秋の湖で
Utsukushī kōyō karera no hansha o misete akinoumi de
-Grace
8. Two Egrets at Torrey Pines State Beach Photo by Susan J. Farese
Birds stop for a chat
beaks greeting in warm friendship
Oh glorious morn!
9. Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch, Carmel Valley, San Diego Photo by Susan J. Farese
Beginning right now
feeling earth beneath my feet
starting my journey
-Karla
10. Sunset Cliffs Photo by Susan J. Farese
Jagged rocky edge
salty waves roll in and out
cares ride on the waves
-Karla
The waves foaming white
rocks sure of their position
jutting out to sea
-Cheran
The Oceans spirit
awakens my soul and heart-
quiets my deep pain
-Laurie
Rigid and solid
stone is no match for water-
time transforms all things
-Ninon
11. Joshua Tree Flowers photo by Susan J. Farese
Purple flowers stand
along the desert valley
embracing simple
-Karla
Fields of purple blooms
swaying gently in the breeze
Mother Earth awakes!
-Ninon
12. Snow! Photo credit: Unknown
Snow, ice and water
winter chill invigorates
the body and soul
-Ninon
13. Coachella Valley Preserve – Thousand Palms Oasis McCallum Pond Photo by Susan J. Farese
Here is a 2020 NEW YEARS ‘Gift’ from SJF Communications to Celebrate San Diego Area Theater! Compiled by Susan J. Farese, President of SJF Communications and many thanks to Julien Des Pres. Julien is a senior at SDSU majoring in Public Relations. He has a passion for all things sports and is pursuing a career in sports media and is Susan’s mentee.
Shows, Shows and More Shows!!!
Whether we score comp tix, buy discount tix (Goldstar, or the San Diego Performing Arts League -ArtsTix https://www.sdartstix.com/ or purchase at full price, theatre inspires!!!
This list is our NEW YEARS present to our San Diego Community! Why? Because we wanted to know what the upcoming shows were PLUS we believe in SHARING and GETTING THE WORD OUT! So take a gander!
We have listed (alphabetically) the Theatre/Production Company, Title of Show(s), Dates of Shows and Website links. It’s quite comprehensive! Let us know if there are any additions, corrections etc. We aim to please!
Backyard Renaissance (P); The Dazzle May 7th – 30th; The 4th Annual LIVE LIP SYNC FACE OFF! May 18th; Steel Magnolias June 11th – 28th http://backyardrenaissance.com/tickets/
Broadway San Diego (P); The Simon and Garfunkel Story Feb 18th – 19th; Frozen March 26th – April 12th; The Office! A Musical Parody April 8th – 9th; RENT 20th Anniversary TourMay 8th – 10th; Mean Girls June 9th – 14th; Come From Away June 23rd – 28thhttp://www.broadwaysd.com/
Broadway Vista (P); At Wits End Jan 23rd – Feb 9th; The Glass Menagerie March 5th – 22nd; Beau Gest April 9th – 26th; Brighton Beach Memoirs May 14th – 31sthttp://www.broadwayvista.biz/adult-shows.html
Community Actors Theatre (C); Bojo’s Place: A Musical Revue Jan 31st – March 1st; No Turning Back March 13 – 20; A Place in Time April 10-26; RANTS May 1st – 3rd http://www.communityactorstheatre.com/
Coronado Playhouse (C); Matilda Jan 17th – Feb 23rd; Moon Over Buffalo March 20th – April 19th; Closer than Ever Song by Song April 23 – 26; Anything Goes May 22nd – June 28thhttp://coronadoplayhouse.com/
Cygnet Theatre (P); The Great Leap Jan 22nd – Feb 16th; La Cage Aux Folles March 11th – May 2nd; Two Trains Running May 20th – June 14thhttp://www.cygnettheatre.com/
Diversionary Theatre (P): A Kind of Weather Feb 6th – March 8th; Plot Points in our Sexual Development March 26th – April 26th; Head Over Heels May 21st – June 21sthttp://diversionary.org/season32/
Lamb’s Players (P); Babettes Feast Jan 10th – Feb 16th; Alice Feb 29th – April 12th; The Belle of Amherst April 25th – June 7th https://www.lambsplayers.org/2020-shows
Lamplighters Community Theatre (C); God of Carnage Jan 10th – Feb 9th; The Hollow Feb 28th – March 29th; Company April 17th – May 17thhttps://www.lamplighterslamesa.com/
Moonlight Stage Productions (P); An American in Paris May 13th – May 30th; Something Rotten June 10th – 27thhttp://www.moonlightstage.com/
New Village Arts (P); Murder for Two Jan 24th – March 1st; Little Women: A Concert Reading Feb 16th – 17th http://www.newvillagearts.org/
North Coast Rep (P); Bloomsday Jan 8th – Feb 2nd; The Outsider Feb 19th – March 15th; The Homecoming April 8th – May 3rd; Human Error May 27th – June 21sthttps://northcoastrep.org/
Ocean Beach Playhouse (C); The Rocky Horror Show Jan 17th – March 1st; Into the Woods March 13th – April 5thhttp://www.obtheatrecompany.com/
Onstage Playhouse(C); Going to a Place Where You Already Are Jan 17th – Feb 16th; Real Women Have Curves March 20th – April 12th; Always… Patsy Cline May 8th – June 7th https://www.onstageplayhouse.org/
Patio Playhouse (C); Fun Home Jan 17th – Feb 9th; When We Were Young and Unafraid May 1st – 24thhttp://patioplayhouse.com/
PowPac Theatre (C); Nuts Jan 24th-Feb 23rd; Murder on the Nile March 20th – April 19th; Arsenic and Old Lace May 15th – June 14th http://www.powpac.org/
San Diego Musical Theatre (P); She Loves Me Feb 7th – March 8th; Rent April 17th – May 3rd; Catch Me If You Can May 29th – June 28thsdmt.org
San Diego Repertory Theatre (P); The Humans Jan 9th – Feb 2nd; House of Joy March 5th – 29th; Hershey Felder: A Paris Love Story May 7th – 31st http://www.sdrep.org/
Scripps Ranch Theatre (C); Italian American Reconciliation Jan 17th – Feb 16th; Love Song March 27th – April 26th; I Hate Hamlet May 29th – June 28th http://www.scrippsranchtheatre.org/
The Old Globe (P); August Wilson’s Jitney Jan 18th – Feb 23rd; Hurricane Diane Feb 8th – March 8th; Little Women March 14th – April 19th; Faceless March 28th – April 26th; The Gardens of Anuncia May 8th – June 14th; What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank May 28th – June 28th https://www.theoldglobe.org/
The Roustabouts Theatre Company (P); gUnTOPIA March 8th – 29th; Senorita JuliaMarch 16th; Twelve Angry Men April 6th http://www.theroustabouts.org/onstage
Trinity Theatre Company (C); Seussical Jr. Jan 30th – Feb 1st; Clybourne Park Feb 14 – March 8;https://www.trinityttc.org/
Welk Resort Theatre (P); A Chorus Line Jan 10th – March 22nd; Nunsense April 3rd – June 14th; Elvis – The Early Years April 8th – May 27th; https://welkresorts.com/san-diego/theatre/
Center Stage Children’s Theatre Aladdin Jr. March 6, 7, 8, 13. 14, 15; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee April 17-19; TBA May 29 – 31, June 5 – 7. https://www.centerstagechildrenstheater.org/
Christian Youth Theatre (CYT) Tuck Everlasting (South County) Feb. 21-23, Feb. 28-29 March 1; Matilda (East County) Feb. 21-23, Feb. 28-29 March 1; Mary Poppins (Central/Clairemont) Feb. 21-23, Feb. 28-29 March 1; Seussical (North County Inland/Escondido) TBA; Tri-City (Oceanside) Camp Rock The Musical Feb. 29, March 1, 7, 8. Spring, 2020 – TBA https://www.cytsandiego.org/
Community Players Theatre The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Jan. 17-19, 24 – 26. Shrek The Musical April 24 – 26, May 1 – 3. http://www.clcfamily.org/theatre/
J Company Mamma MiaJan. 10 – 26; Shabbat Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Feb 7-8; Matilda March 6 – 22; Fireflies The Story of the Artists of Terezin Featuring The Original Children’s Opera Brundibar May 8 – 17; https://www.sdcjc.org/jc/
San Diego Junior Theatre Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience Feb. 28 – March 8; Wake Up, Brother Bear March 14 -15; Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical April 24 – May 10; https://juniortheatre.com/seasons/
China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd. (CAEG) presented the U.S. premiere of an opera and dance theatrical musical production Lady Zhaojun Starring Chinese multi-award Singer Li Yugang and fellow performers from the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, December 2, 2019 at the San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave, San Diego, CA 92101.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Renowned Chinese Performer Li Yugang and several cast members of Lady Zhaojun from the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater and China Arts & Entertainment Group Ltd. visited and performed at e3 Civic High School in San Diego. Dr. Cheryl Ward, CEO and Chief Engagement Officer of e3 Civic High School and staff hosted the event. According to the e3 website, “the three “e’s” in e3 represent and drive our mission to Engage, Educate and Empower”.
Special Guest was Mrs. Jin Wang, Cultural Consul of Chinese Consulate General and her aide.
San Diego State University Professor Emeritus Li-Rong Lilly Cheng (Lilly Cheng) translated for the performers.
Debra Wanger – The Resilient Actor – Photo Credit – Ken Jacques
(SAN DIEGO, September 23, 2019) – Actor, Author, Coach and Public Speaker, Debra Wanger is an often-sought-after professional actor, well known in the San Diego region. She published her debut book The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass In the Business Without It Kicking Your Ass in 2017 and is thrilled to announce the upcoming The Resilient Actor Audiobook and The Resilient Actor Workbook & Planner: How to Kick Ass in the Business Without It Kicking Your Ass.
“I’ve worked with Hollywood stars and actors currently working on Broadway. I have been able to utilize the secrets of their behind-the-scenes success along with my skills as a wellness coach and my own personal experience. I’ve worked mostly in live regional theatre, but also some television, film, and radio. When I left my BFA program and started working professionally, I had to learn the hard way all the life and balance skills they didn’t teach at the conservatory. There was a lot of focus on being a triple threat, on performance skills, but nothing about how to survive the challenging life of being an actor. I fought depression, loneliness, weight gain, difficulty navigating periods of unemployment, all of it. Like most actors, I had to learn how to get the rest & recovery I needed, how to master my mindset to work with me – not against me, and how to take care of myself like a performing athlete. I had to learn all these life skills beyond my BFA.” – Debra Wanger
Acting can be a crazy
profession, full of uncertainty, insecurity, and unpredictability. While there
are many books about technique, little has been written about how to pursue the
dream without compromising your health and sanity. Pulling from her decades of
experience as an actor, talent manager, and lifestyle coach, Debra Wanger
filled this void in 2016 with a must-read survival guide for the acting
professional.
Debra offers a positive, practical, playful, holistic approach to the art and business of acting that marries mind, body, spirit, and craft. In this essential handbook, which serves as a personal coach in a book, she covers all the bases–from exercise and nutrition to time management and setting goals to staying motivated from audition through performance. Her valuable, tried-and-true insights, gained from client successes, will enable the performing artist to balance and bolster a challenging creative career with a healthy, productive personal life.
At last there’s a clear
path through the madness. The Resilient Actor will lead you to the top
of your game, increase your professional staying power, and help you achieve
equilibrium in all aspects of your life.
ABOUT THE RESILIENT ACTOR’S WORKBOOK AND PLANNER:
Discover some of the secrets from Broadway & Hollywood to supercharge your career and balance your life. Debra Wanger knows how difficult it can be to pursue your dream of acting without compromising your health or your sanity. She drew wisdom from decades of working as an actor, talent manager, and wellness coach to write The Resilient Actor and give emerging and experienced actors a holistic approach to their profession that marries mind, body, spirit, and craft. Sustaining a healthy and satisfying career requires more than just talent- go beyond the skills you learned in your BFA program.
The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner is filled with quick & easy exercises designed to help you plot the direction for your career from the start and avoid the pitfalls that many actors face. You’ll walk through the steps to figure out what kind of actor you want to be and the lifestyle you want to have. You’ll set goals and develop habits for your career and use the specially-designed included actors’ planner to create a step-by-step action and accountability plan for achieving them. The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner will unlock longevity in your career by showing you how to find happiness and health in an industry that challenges both.
Debra Wanger – Photo Credit – Ken Jacques
BIO – DEBRA WANGER
Debra studied acting at
the nationally acclaimed Piven Theatre Workshop with such talents as John
Cusack, Joan Cusack, and Jeremy Piven. Her vocal training began at the
Northwestern University vocal department while still attending high school. She
declined an opera scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory in order to study musical
theatre at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM.) She
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tufts University and received a Master of Fine
Arts in musical theatre from San Diego State University, where she graduated
Phi Kappa Phi as a Marion Ross Scholar.
Debra is currently in rehearsals as “Liz”- the younger version of Queen Elizabeth in Handbagged at Moxie Theatre which runs October 19th through November 17th. She has performed in regional theatres and cabaret clubs across the country, most frequently in Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, and South Florida. In Professionally Speaking at the Off-Broadway, The Miami Herald hailed her “a comic spark plug.” Her role in Triumph of Love won a KPBS-TV Patté award. Her one-woman show My Nights With George, Kurt & Cole, (co-written and directed by comic genius, Phil Johnson) was featured at various venues throughout Southern California and won Best New Play and Best Actress at the 2003 San Diego Actors Festival, and the San Diego Playbill Billie Award for Best Actress in a musical.
She was just featured as
The Angel in Cygnet Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Angels in America, as well as A
Little Night Music, On the 20th Century, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady, Evita,
Sweeney Todd and Dogfight on
the Cygnet stage. At San Diego Musical Theatre has been featured in Hairspray,Billy Elliot, Footloose, Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles, and White
Christmas. Other San
Diego theatre highlights include: God of
Vengeance at La Jolla Playhouse, Hamlet (Gertrude)
at Intrepid; Titanic & Sunset Blvd. at Moonlight; Permanent Collection at Mo’olelo; Full Monty (Vicki) at New Village Arts; Sleeping Beauty at North Coast Rep; Anything Goes! (Reno), Oliver! (Nancy) at Lyric Opera San Diego; Carousel and Sound
of Music at Lawrence Welk.
Her CD, Driving My Own Heart is
also available on Amazon and iTunes.
BOOK REVIEWS:
“This book is fantastic.
I’m a professional actor and also teach acting, and will recommend it to all my
students. It’s a topic not discussed enough! Resilience is one of the most
important qualities for any working actor–if not THE most important quality.
Highly recommended!”
-Amy Griffin
“The Resilient Actor by Debra Wanger is a valuable and refreshing resource for anyone in the acting profession who wants to elevate their career while attaining balance in their life. Wanger delivers a motivating, witty, and practical workbook that is bound to bring about positive and healthy change on the road to success.”
-C.K.
“I found The Resilient Actor to be very helpful to me as a musician even though the book was written for actors. It was a great reminder of how to be proactive instead of waiting for the phone to ring and how to keep active always working on your craft. It was a good reminder that even successful creative people never let up on getting their name and face out there and true artists know that their profession is always a work in progress. The book really gave me good solid tips on how to stay healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually; especially when you are in between work projects. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in the business or that is thinking about getting in the business to get a reality check for the persistence needed as well as the care and feeding of the artist in you. Loved it and will continue to use it as a reference!”
We are thrilled to introduce our new SJF Communications client – San Diego Actor, Author and Coach – Debra Wanger. Debra’s book The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass in the Business (Without it Kicking Your Ass) brings the behind the scenes secrets of Hollywood & Broadway to supercharge one’s career and balance one’s life. An upcoming Audiobook as well as Workbook/Planner will be available soon.
SJF: In a nutshell…tell us about your life as an actor/performer – highs, lows, ‘aha’ moments- stressors…etc.
DW: I’ve worked mostly in live regional theatre, but also some television, film, and radio. When I left my BFA program and started working professionally, I had to learn the hard way all the life and balance skills they didn’t teach at the conservatory. There was a lot of focus on being a triple threat, on performance skills, but nothing about how to survive the challenging life of being an actor. I fought depression, loneliness, weight gain, difficulty navigating periods of unemployment, all of it. Like most actors, I had to learn how to get the rest & recovery I needed, how to master my mindset to work with me – not against me, and how to take care of myself like a performing athlete. I had to learn all these life skills beyond my BFA.
SJF: What experiences and/or people (parents, role models, etc.) in your life influenced you the most and why?
DW: My
brother used to attend an acting school in Chicago with some young actors – John
Cusack, Joan Cusack and Jeremy Piven among them. They were all clearly phenomenally
talented back then. I tagged along and was impressed. I caught the bug then
& there. My brother gave it up, but I didn’t.
I also had a boss at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) who was somehow able to be an agent, a wife, a mother and a happy human all at the same time. She was able to cut through all the B.S. and find a balance that worked for her. She was an inspiration for me.
DW: Many of my private coaching clients are actors who stumble upon the same road blocks, and that is how The Resilient Actor was born. The Resilient Actor combines my experience as an actor, coach, and Hollywood talent manager. It is part cautionary tale, letting readers know my story and all the ways I did it wrong. It is the actors’ handbook I wish someone had handed me when I left my BFA program. It is the course that was missing from my acting school curriculum.
Debra Wanger – Photo Credit: Ken Jacques
SJF: Describe your work as a health and wellness coach
DW: As a coach, I help my clients discover what their goals are: whether it be to lose 20 pounds, gain energy, make more money, improve relationships, whatever it is they want or need. Then I help them come up with an action plan to achieve those goals, identify and remove any obstacles they have to this action plan and help them with accountability. Every client is different, so I customize it to their needs. Many of my clients are actors who stumble upon the same roadblocks, and that is how The Resilient Actor was born. The Resilient Actor combines my experience as an actor, coach, and Hollywood talent manager.
SJF: Your
time working at CAA and with the Talent Manager? Stresses? Patterns seen? High
points?
DW: Creative Artists Agency in the 90’s was so exciting and crazy. I was there when super-agent Michael Ovitz still ran the place and all of Hollywood. It was like working in an emergency room, everything was high stakes and urgent and high stress, and then Tom Hanks would walk by. It was incredibly stressful, but such a fertile learning ground for how the business of the business worked. It probably took a few years off my life, but the experience was invaluable for learning how film and television work. Managing was some babysitting, some creativity and lot of phone calls, horrible scripts and hours in my car traversing LA for lunch meetings. Taking clients to Sundance or the Golden Globes was as cool as it sounds, but the grind really got to me. Ultimately, I enjoy being on the creative end more than the business side of things.
SJF: Tell us about your past year or so of musicals/shows- Describe your roles and accolades! Angels in America, etc.
DW: This year has been a breakout year for me in San Diego theatre. I was the female authority figure in Hairspray at San Diego Musical Theatre, a collection of John Waters dark-humor characters in a cracker jack cast of a huge musical comedy. I played The Angel (& several other roles) in the acclaimed production of Angels in America at Cygnet Theatre (all 7 hours of it.) It was the most challenging, most exhilarating show I have ever done. Every single element of that show came together, every single person from the director, cast, designers all brought their A game. Next, I play the Queen of England in the West Coast Premiere of the British comedy hit Handbagged at Moxie Theatre. It’s funny – I followed my own advice and had one of the best years of my career.
SJF: Tell us
about the cast of Handbagged and when is the theatrical run at
Moxie?
DW: The Handbagged cast is a ‘who’s who’ of San Diego theatre: Sandy Campbell, Linda Libby, Lisel Gorell-Getz and myself, with Durwood Murray and Max Macke directed by Kim Strassburger. Many of us are often up for the same roles and don’t get to all work together. It will be a diva-fest in the best way possible. So much talent. We play Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth running October 19-November 17. I can’t wait.
SJF: What
do you dream about?
DW: I dream
about making a difference. I dream about balance. I dream about sunny weather,
hugs from my children and using my all the wisdom I have acquired to help
others. And chocolate.
SJF: What
are your top 3 values in life?
DW: Authenticity,
love and playfulness.
Debra Wanger – Photo Credit: Ken Jacques
SJF: What
are you most proud of?
DW: I am really proud of The Resilient Actor, and upcoming The Resilient Actor Audio Book and The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner, my creative babies, but I’d have to say I am really proud of my 3 kids, my human babies. They are phenomenal, loving, decent human beings.
SJF: Describe
your feelings about balancing motherhood and work
DW: Balancing
motherhood & work is a challenge. Acting tends to be feast or
famine. I don’t take every show I am offered. I have to weigh it against
tucking my kids in for those 3 months. I am pickier about what projects I
do. That is one of the reasons I love writing, coaching, and public
speaking – it allows me to work with actors and be creative without negatively affecting
my kids. They know I love being onstage and want me happy, I just attempt
to balance it as best I can.
SJF: Female
issues with males (harassment) in entertainment?
DW: Ugh.
This is a real thing. It is time that people shed light on bad behavior
in the arts and in business. There have been some individuals abusing and
taking advantage for years, many of whom were common knowledge and no one did
anything. I applaud the brave souls who are willing to speak up for themselves.
Of course, I hope that individuals who are breaking the law are brought to
justice and that attitudes change. The whole system needs to change and
awareness is the first step.
SJF: Any fears? Doubts? ever?
DW: Of
Course! I’m human. Like all actors – I doubt myself. I have
several exercises in the book to help with negativity and doubt so they don’t
get the best of you. I get insecure and doubtful like anyone, but I have
learned how to tame that beast most of the time.
Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications recently interviewed our client, JoAnn Petrie Carr, Author of the fiction novel, “Keeper of the Flame”. JoAnn is a former Astronaut wife and retired Attorney in the Houston area. Her answers were astute, honest and thought provoking.
Q & A with JoAnn Petrie Carr, Author, “Keeper of the Flame”
Courtesy Photo – JoAnn Petrie Carr
The Carr Family Courtesy Photo Top Row – left to right: Jennifer, Jerry, JoAnn and Jamee; Bottom Row – left to right: Jeff, Jessica, Joshua, John
SJF: In a nutshell…tell us about your life as a former Astronauts’ wife – a few tidbits…
JPC: My life as a former astronaut wife was in many respects business as usual with a houseful of six children. The monotony of mopping the floor was broken up with invitations to some of the River Oaks swankiendas (“swanky haciendas”) as well as invitations to the Indy 500, a week at Las Brisas in Acapulco, a week at a fabulous dude ranch in the Rocky Mountains, a trip to Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral) and back in our host’s private 747 – among other less elaborate places.
This
Cinderella always knew that the kitchen floor was waiting along with the other
menial tasks that go with being the mother of six. We went to a lot of fabulous parties
locally. Lucky for me I was an expert
seamstress, so all the fancy outfits I needed were made on my handy dandy
sewing machine. A simple Vogue pattern
with a smashing fabric of some sort and I had a new outfit for every party! It was like being Cinderella, but one who was
only too well aware that the coach was going to turn into a pumpkin sooner or
later. Only the gown stayed the same.
SJF: What
experiences and/or people (parents, role models etc) in your life influenced
you the most and why?
JPC: My
maiden aunt gave me piano lessons and saw that I was involved with the local
church. I was also influenced by the fact that my mother’s cousin was a
designer for Twentieth Century Fox and I always went to the movies where her
wares were displayed. I think I tried to
emulate her. I never got to meet her
though. But she continued to be an
influence on my life. My skills also
came in handy when Halloween came around and my kids always had elaborate
Halloween costumes.
SJF: Describe your work as an Attorney – any fascinating cases? Do you miss it?
Courtesy Photo – JoAnn Petrie Carr
JPC: The
first case I ever worked on was one of the biggest cases Texas had seen for a
while. It involved a Supreme Court
Justice who had gotten elected because he had the same name as a well-known
political family in the State. I didn’t
have my license yet but worked as the lead attorney’s “gofer”. He had been the Attorney General when Kennedy
was killed. After that I had a general
practice and did a lot of family law and managed to have some interesting
divorces along the way. And no, I don’t
miss it.
SJF: Describe
your book “Keeper of the Flame” -why? Any backlash?
JPC: I
decided to write a memoir about my life as an astronaut wife for my kids but it
turned out to be so boring that I decided that I could tell more truth with
fiction. As I was watching my youngest
son play a role in Hello Dolly it just came to me that I would write a
novel and call it Keeper of the Flame.
I think they were singing “Before the Parade Passes By” and I was facing
retirement age. I am unaware of any
backlash. A few of the wives have asked me if certain incidents in the book
really happened. My reply is always
“It’s fiction”. I sent every wife a copy
of the book when it first came out and I got several very nice notes and a few
positive phone calls. Now that I think
of it there were a lot, I didn’t hear from at all. I got a very nice call from Al Bean. He was
quite complimentary. He was the only man
who had the guts to call. And I’m sure
that at least several of the men read it too.
SJF: What do you dream about?
JPC: I dream about this book becoming a movie.
SJF: What
are your top 3 values in life?
JPC: First and foremost is family. They all have each other’s back and are ready to circle the wagons at the first hint of trouble. Another is helping other less fortunate people. Christianity – but not necessarily in that order. But family is always first.
The Carr Family Courtesy Photo Top Row – left to right: Jennifer, JoAnn and Jamee; Bottom Row – left to right: Jeff, Jessica, Joshua, John
SJF: Did you enjoy the celebrity status? Describe…
JPC: I did enjoy the celebrity status. It was sporadic so we didn’t have the kind of attention that the first few groups had. It was just as well. I had too much else to do.
Courtesy Photo – JoAnn Petrie Carr
SJF: What
are you most proud of?
JPC: I’m
most proud that all my kids are good people.
We escaped the teen years with no drugs and no scrapes with the
law. They were active in their church
fellowship groups and I helped lead them.
It was a blast hanging around with those teenagers. They had a musical group and we played and
sang for other churches.
SJF: Describe your feelings about balancing motherhood and work
Courtesy Photo – JoAnn Petrie Carr
JPC: Balancing
motherhood and work is a team effort. My
kids had chores on a rotating basis.
They did their own laundry. They
helped me cook meals.
SJF: Female
issues with males (harassment) in law practice, etc.?
JPC: I
didn’t encounter much in the way of harassment.
The Texas male attorneys separated females into two categories — – lady
lawyers and women lawyers. I never did
figure out what was what but I guess I was whichever one was better because
they all seemed to like me and didn’t harass me at all.
SJF: Any
insight on the process of aging? Has it been a challenge?
JPC: Aging
is a bitch. I can’t play tennis. I can’t hike.
I can’t garden. My eyesight is declining. I can’t sew or do jigsaw puzzles. And if I don’t hurry up and get this book out
there, I am going to lose my short term memory and giving speeches will be a
challenge.
SJF: Any fears?
Doubts? ever?
JPC: The
only fears I had were that my ex-husband Jerry wasn’t going to get a
flight. He was assigned to Apollo 19 but
the last three flights (18, 19, 20) were cancelled. He was named Commander of the third and last
Skylab flight – an 84-day mission in the Skylab workshop. But we sweated it out for several weeks
before we knew about the Skylab flight.
It was a heart-breaking time for both of us. I was just as anxious for
him to get a flight as he was. So I
don’t think I ever had any doubt that he was made for the exploration of
space. It was something that was meant
to happen. And it almost didn’t.
JoAnn Petrie Carr was born and raised in Orange County, California. She graduated from The California State University at Long Beach with a degree in elementary education. She married her high school sweetheart who was later to be named as an Apollo astronaut in the ‘60s. During her life as the wife of a marine fighter pilot, she organized and taught a private kindergarten in North Carolina. She moved to Houston where she raised her six children against the backdrop of Gemini, Apollo and Skylab. She later completed her Doctor of Jurisprudence at the Bates College of Law at the University of Houston with all six children still at home. She divorced and practiced law for 30 years. During this time, she was a sole practitioner, general counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and counsel for Star Station One, a 501c-3 dedicated to space education for children. She designed a distance-learning program for primary grades.
To book JoAnn Petrie Carr for media interviews
or speaking engagements please contact her publicist:
I also was thrilled to be an integral part of the talented team* that coordinated and interviewed many of the authors involved that day ~ and definitely learned so much from and about each author! Here’s the link to the BLOG with author Q & A’s as well as the San Diego Writers Festival website.
An Anna’s Hummingbird building and guarding her Nest – This was exciting to see! Thanks to the fellow bird watcher who told us about it!A pair of American Wigeons exploring in the lagoon
The beauty of the trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
A lone pine cone in the torrey pine tree
Gadwalls at the lagoon
Sweet female MallardThings happen in threes, even Mallards!More of the lovely trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
Mallard pair staring!
Visitors at the San Elijo Lagoon – including Curlew, Godwit, Willet shorebirds
This was a wonderful sold-out event at a beautiful theatre (one of my personal favorite places to see films) with nearly 30 projects (some of my colleagues also presented) shown on the big screen that evening!
So…sit back, relax and enjoy this clip of some of my photography!
Devon Hadsell as Caitlyn Caussin in ‘Mean Girls’ Photo Courtesy of Devon Hadsell
We are thrilled to share this interview with equity Broadway performer Devon Hadsell, who plays Caitlyn Caussin in the ensemble of the Broadway mega hit – “Mean Girls“! Devon is also a principal role understudy (Gretchen, Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George). She made her principal debut as Gretchen on July 24th.
I have known Devon since 2015 when she performed as Velma (and I was Director of PR/Marketing) in the regional professional production of West Side Story with San Diego Musical Theatre .
The Broadway production of Mean Girls was created by the team of Tina Fey (Book), Jeff Richmond (Music) and Nell Benjamin, (Lyrics), based on the 2004 Mean Girls film, starring Lindsay Lohan.
SJF: Thanks so much for this interview Devon! I know how busy you’ve been with the ‘Mean Girls‘ whirlwind of multiple nominations, awards, enduring the hectic schedule of eight performances a week, and then some! Let’s begin with you telling us about where you’re from, etc.
DH: I was born in Santa Barbara and moved to Napa when I was 5. I’m the oldest of 3 and have a younger sister and brother.
SJF: When did you first get interested in performing?
DH: My mom said I was singing before I could talk and dancing before I could walk. She put me in my first musical when I was 5 years old. I played Gretel in The Sound of Music at our community kids theatre which was called Broadway Bound Kids!
SJF: Why did you choose performing as a career?
DH: Since I was a kid, I’ve loved being on stage. There’s nothing quite like performing in front of an audience. My mom put me in dancing, singing, and acting lessons starting when I was 5 years old and I never wanted to stop. Nowadays, I do it because I love inspiring people.
SJF: Anything to mention about your college program at Cal State Fullerton ? Positives, challenges?
Devon Hadsell as Kira in ‘Xanadu’ at CSU Fullerton
Devon Hadsell as Tribe Member in ‘Hair’ at CSU Fullerton
Devon Hadsell as Understudy/Ensemble in ‘Marilyn : A New Musical’ at CSU Fullerton
DH: I’m so glad I went to college for performing and that I found Cal State Fullerton. I grew in ways I never would have been able to if it wasn’t for their Musical Theatre BFA program. Because of the showcase that the seniors got to do in New York, I found my amazing bi-coastal agent and got a taste of the city before actually moving here! The biggest challenge was managing classes, shows, rehearsals, AND homework all at once, but because I had to do all that at CSUF, I can manage any schedule thrown my way now!
SJF: What do you think your strengths are as a performer? What are you developing/strengthening?
DH: I think my biggest strengths as a performer are that I’m versatile, I’m great to work with, and I’m a fast learner. I’m constantly improving my technique and ability in all fields of performing as well as building up the proper stamina for getting through 8 shows a week for at least the next year!
SJF: Would you like to obtain Master’s degree in the future?
DH: I think a Master’s degree is something I would definitely be open to because I see myself teaching at the college level one day.
SF: Besides your Broadway debut in Mean Girls, Any National Tours? Highs and Lows of touring?
DH: Highs and Lows: I was in the national tour of The Little Mermaid a couple years ago and I absolutely LOVED it! It’s actually what got me my Equity card and gave me enough money to move to New York! What was hard was always packing and unpacking your suitcase after a week or two, but I really enjoyed visiting so many different cities around the U.S.
SJF: Explain the ‘Mean Girls’ Story in a Nutshell…
DH: Cady Heron is a homeschooled student who moves from Africa with her parents (who are biologists) to a public high school in Chicago, Illinois. She befriends the “Plastics”, the three popular, “mean girls” of the school, and quickly finds herself becoming one of them. In the end, she realizes that it’s okay not to like someone, but that we should always be kind and treat people with dignity.
SJF: Tell us about your interview process- when/where, how competitive it was, how many callbacks? Was Tina Fey present?
Devon Hadsell Recording for “Mean Girls’
Devon Hadsell Backstage at ‘Mean Girls’
Devon Hadsell as Caitlyn Caussin in ‘Mean Girls’
DH: I went to 5 callbacks for this role. At the first audition, there were over 400 girls who attended. For the callbacks, we did a dance combination and eventually had to sing. At the fifth and final callback, they had narrowed it down to 20 girls, and Tina Fey was present. We had to do the dance combo three at a time and then come in and sing and read sides for all the creatives by ourselves. It was the craziest and most amazing experience!
SJF: I can just imagine the stress and tension with the audition and then those multiple callbacks! Wow!
SJF: Tell us about your ‘Mean Girls’ role(s), Understudying? Etc.
DH: I play Caitlyn Caussin, a high school girl in the ensemble. I also get to understudy Gretchen AND all of the roles played by the Broadway star, Kerry Butler, which are Cady’s mom, Regina’s mom, and Ms. Norbury! I actually made my Broadway principal debut as Gretchen on July 24th of this year and it was AMAZING!!! It was so incredible to get to perform in a lead role on a Broadway stage and to know that the producers and members of the company believed in me too. My family also happened to be in town so they got to see me perform in the role as well! It was one of the best experiences of my life!
Devon Hadsell as Caitlyn Caussin in ‘Mean Girls’
SJF: That is so amazing! So thrilled that you made your Broadway principal role debut!
SJF: Any advice for BA, BFA, etc. students and others?
DH: Broadway is hard and the work doesn’t stop once you get there. You have to realize that there will be pros and cons just like any other job. You also have to figure out ways to nurture your passion of performing because there are a lot of hard things you have to deal with in this business. Never give up, always push forward with your goals in mind, and never stop training.
SJF: How has it been adjusting to living in NY- roommate(s)? Safety, etc.
DH: Oh my goodness. I am NOT a fan of New York! Haha. Even with a Broadway contract, I miss California every day… It’s a VERY different way of living and it was a hard adjustment at first. When I first moved to NY, I was living deep in Brooklyn and it took me at least an hour to get into Manhattan for auditions, but it was cheap and I had my own room and a lovely roommate. Now that I’m on Broadway, I was able to move to a studio just outside the city along the water that’s only a 20 minute commute. When you move to New York, you have to get used to a different way of living. You have to deal with public transportation, insanely high prices for everything, people being stressed and in a rush most of the time, everything being dirty, and being cramped in small spaces for a lot of your day. This city is not very glamorous unless you have a lot of money haha.
SJF: Ah! But I love going to NY to see shows when I visit my family in NJ! Despite the humidity, crowds etc.!
SJF: Any pre-show rituals? Post show events?
DH: I always have a pre-show Starbucks next to me as I do my makeup. I also have a little space backstage where I always do my warm-ups. After the show, a lot of us go to a restaurant/bar across the street that just opened up called Haswell Green!
SJF: Do you have (or have you had) fears? Doubts?
DH: Yes! Even once you get to Broadway, you have fears and doubts. EVERYONE is talented so you have to continue to believe that you ALSO have something special to bring to the table with your talent.
SJF: Well said Devon! What Motivates you?
Devon Hadsell
DH: I am very motivated by the fact that my performance has the ability to inspire others. Whether it makes people think about their lives, inspires them to live out their own dream, motivates them to want to change the world, or encourages them to connect with people, I think it’s a gift to have that ability.
SJF: That’s so astute! Hopefully I’ll get to see you perform on Broadway. I’m definitely inspired by your recent success!
SJF: Do you have any spare time hobbies, interests?
DH: I do! I love walks along the water, finding a new coffee shop, seeing other Broadway shows, and playing with puppies and kittens!
SJF: Cool! The last part about the puppies and kittens really brought the ‘AW” out in me!
SJF: Any particular role models in your life?
DH: I have many teachers who have been role models throughout my entire life. They have inspired me with their passion for performing and their love of their art whether it was acting, dancing, or singing. I am fortunate enough to still be in contact with most of them through Facebook and still ask for their advice when I need some guidance.
SJF: What was it like the first time with an audience for ‘Mean Girls’?
DH: It was UNREAL! My adrenaline was so high and everyone in the show was so excited! Our energy was unmatched! It was maybe even a little too heightened haha. It was a blast though. This show is so fun to share with family and friends.
SJF: Spill the beans about Tina!
DH: She’s extremely sweet! And surprisingly, she’s very quiet and reserved unlike her TV personalities. She’s so smart and kind and has such a wonderful and loving dynamic with her family.
DH: It’s all updated with current photos and my resume as well as a couple of videos of me singing and dancing!
SJF: Who are your Idols?
DH: Some of my idols are Michelle Obama, Rachel McAdams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jimmy Fallon, and definitely Tina Fey!
SJF: Top values in life?
DH: My top value in life is kindness. It always makes the world a better place when you can act out of love and kindness than out of fear, hate, or jealousy. It takes a strong person to be kind, but I’ve found it’s always worth the effort.
SJF: Dream Role (besides the one you have now)!
DH: I’d actually love to play the lead in Mean Girls, Cady Heron, one day. I’d also love to play Christine in Phantom of the Opera and Clara in Light in the Piazza.
Devon Hadsell
SJF: If you had to do it all over again…
DH: I honestly wouldn’t do anything different except to make sure I made a little more effort to stay in contact with friends and family. It’s so easy to get caught up in career stuff and forget about the things that really matter.
SJF: What 3 things don’t we know about you?
DH: 1) I am a cancer survivor! When I was 3 1/2 I was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor which is a child’s form of kidney cancer. They removed the tumor along with my right kidney and now I am deemed cancer free! 2) I am extremely organized and tidy and I weirdly think cleaning is fun. 3) I’d love to get into TV/film one day!
SJF: I am glad I asked that question. I would have never known about your surviving cancer at such a young age. Thanks for sharing that. As for the tidyness…interesting tidbit! Regarding TV/film, I have no doubt that you will pursue and be offered those creative endeavors!
SJF: Any difficult decisions throughout your life?
DH: The most difficult decision I ever made was to move to New York. I had no idea what I was doing, but just that I felt like I needed to do it. Needless to say, I am VERY glad I made that leap.
SJF: Thank you so very much Devon, it was such a pleasure to be back in touch and am so excited to hear all about Mean Girls and what’s in store for you in your future!
