Christmas Rappings!

My first off-broadway New York show! Hip Hip hooray : )

it's official . . . just call me swami claire

Hehe. I just completed my 200-hr. yoga certification and am officially a yoga teacher! yippee! This is a picture of my new business card (designed by me)

My certification program at YogaWorks, manhattan, was probably one of the best things I've ever done. Sure it sounds cliche and trite, but it truly and significantly changed my life. I love yoga and my practice has been and will be forever an integral part of my daily life. I am so impassioned and eager to share this love and wealth of information with as many students as I am able! Bring it on!

Mikado Schmikado . . . hmm

Well, I just completed my first stage-managing gig. I guess there has to be a first time for everything. And truth be known, I have NEVER stage managed ANYTHING. My vocal mentor just called one day and at the end of our conversation said, "oh by the way do you want to stage manage for me next week?" My response was, naturally, an unhesitating "sure!" As soon as I hung up the phone I knew I was in for it.

I'm not exactly the stage-manager type, and Mr. Tibbs (my mentor) hired me to be the bitch, so to speak. You see, he has to deal with these kids tomorrow, the next day, and perhaps for the next few years. They need to like him. Me, on the other hand, they may never see again. . . thus, I was paid to be a big ole bitch.

I wasn't too bad at it. I confess that it certainly doesn't come naturally. First of all, I don't particularly enjoy giving orders. Then there's the whole "linear thinking" issue (i don't really do that) I prefer leaving most things up to artistic interpretation! (and that isn't generally suited to stage managers!)

I didn't enjoy it.

BUT, I made more money, for doing considerably less work, than I ever have acting. That's certainly something to consider.

BUT THEN AGAIN, I think there comes a time, and I think the sooner the better, when loving life and loving what you do is to be valued far and above the number(s) on your paycheck.

So here I sit, ready to starve again : )

Mega-Madness

Well, we did it. We're doing it. We will be doing it for one more month! MegaHeros opened today at the Birmingham Childrens' Theatre. The piece was written by Raphael Crystal, an amazing composer, lyriscist, and playwright. I feel honored to help make his creation come to life! I play "Stephanie," who transforms into a "MegaHero" after solving the "Ancient Chinese Infinity Puzzle". I LOVE my character. She's so free. My costars (the other two megaheros) are Stephen Tyler Davis and David Page (who was also Prince Charming) We have so much fun together. They're like brothers, and we laugh hard and long and yell at each other and fight and play and dance and then laugh some more. Life as a MagaHero is pretty neat.

For Wendell.

Hello, friend. This post is dedicated to you. Because I forgot that I had a blog. But you reminded me! And now I have exciting things to share. Much love to wk, my inspirator, conspirator . . . i like to make words. and put pizza in my wallet. And i read magazines from back to front.

If the shoe fits . . .

So I have been working . . . and actually quite hard! Cinderella returned from a month of regional tour and we've been doing 2 (and sometimes 3) shows per day in house since March. In the midst of said perfomance schedule, I've also managed to appear as "Betty" in Guys and Dolls, and am about to open another show on Thursday!! Hooray!

Anyway, back to the issue at hand . . . Cinderella. Let me say, that I have LOVED being Cinderella. I mean, isn't it every little girl's dream to actually be THE Cinderella??

That said, I'm SO over it.

I'm tired of being so damn nice!

It's time to get my wacky bitch on again. I can't wait for you to see my MegaHeros pictures. (They should be out soon!!) I get to play this crazy, out-there, wacky, nerdy, obnoxious teenager with a penchant for math problems and saving the world. . . not to mention a spandex unitard (think 1940s supergirl). Flippin sweet.

Steel Magnolias

Oh, the legendary cast of Steel Magnolias (Jukebox Theatre, Wheaton, IL). Here's me playing Shelby, surrounded by my lovely costars.

LoTF

These are shots from last year's production of Lord of the Flies. (Wheaton College) My friend Todd wrote the script, co-directed, and starred in the show. I just felt lucky to be a part of it! The show was awesome: So raw and earthy. By the end of the show we were all covered in red and green paint (blood and mud). I got to play Neric. (one of the twins: Sam and Eric, who turn into Samneric- part of Golding's dehumanization theme) My twin was played by my good friend, Tim (we developed this weird/ awesome twin bond, and I seriously miss him.)

Is that me?? In a . . . wedding dress??

I got my feet wet in the world of bridal modeling! The photo shoot was back in October, I think. It was so much fun, too. I got to try on all of these gorgeous dresses, have my hair and makeup done by pros, and spend the day at the Tutweiler Hotel downtown. Neat-O. Check out the January issue of Portico. . . the new joke in my family is "Well, everybody get a copy now because this may be the only time we'll ever see MC in a wedding dress!"

We've been Scrooged.

Here's a of my last show . . . Scrooge, the Musical! These are two of my costars: Jane and Caroline : )

the first page of a brand new notebook . . .

I've always loved new notebooks. There's something about the unblemished pages, lack of dog-eared corners, stray pencil smudges or coffee stains that thrills my soul and frankly, makes me a little goofy. I love writing and doodling and dreaming . . . At the same time, though, there's always something intimidating about that first blank page. In fact, I consider the first page of a brand new notebook to be one of the most daunting things in life. There's something unsettling about marring that first pristine sheet.

I'm Mary-Claire. If I could change my name, I would change it to either "Merry-Claire" . . . or Stella.

I refuse to grow up.

Welcome to Neverland.

My dad always told me that his greatest wish for me was that I would love my work. And I can say, without batting an eyelash, that I positively do. I love love love my work. I am an actor, and I am blessed enough to get paid to do what I love more than anything. I wouldn't really even call it "work," because for me it's really more like play. . . all day, every day. Sure it's hard sometimes, and sometimes I have trouble making ends meet (I've been known to scrounge around for dimes under random coke machines) . . . but I LOVE what I do. I still can't believe I get paid for this!

This blog will chronicle my life as an actor, as an artist, as a daydream believer.
I just actually pawned off my digital camera to pay my bills . . . So I'll try to include as many pictures as possible, relying on the goodness of others. Geez my life is funny. Hold onto your hats!