Leigha Horton :: Greenroom
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I was delighted to join Steeltoe Stiletto Films for their entry into this year’s Minneapolis 48-hour Film Project.

And for the team’s efforts, Girls in Lane 4 garnered a Best Film nomination, which is no small beans – out of 68 entries, we were one of just 10 nominations. Ultimately, we walked away from the Best of Show screening with a coveted “Audience Favorite” award.

This is my second time participating in the Minneapolis 48-hour Film Project, and second time on an award-winning team – my first go-round was in 2006 with Climaxx Pictures’ Burnout Trail, awarded “Best Acting (Ensemble).”

Makes me curious about the kind of charm a third time would be.

In early April I was contacted by the ever-delightful Jay Gabler about a little article he had successfully pitched to his editor at Vita.mn – a weekly arts and culture rag published by the Star Tribune. He was looking to feature my work as a voice-over artist and part-time pirate at the Science Museum of Minnesota in Vita.mn’s weekly Work: column.

We chatted casually on the phone shortly thereafter, followed by a lovely photo shoot at Babble-On Recording Studios with photographer Bre McGee. The following, published May 24, 2012, is the final result.

Read the full article here.  Or, if the article has gone missing, as online articles are wont to do, check out the PDF here:  Work_ Improvising a career _ StarTribune

I will admit that it’s somewhat surreal to be mentioned in print sans critique on the quality of my work as an artist. I’ve become so accustomed to being reviewed that this makes me feel rather adrift. Flattered, certainly; yet adrift. Even so, thanks, Jay. It’s pretty killer that you found my work interesting enough to give it ink. So far, this is the most fun making a living that I’ve ever had.

Our critically acclaimed run of Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries closed last night after eight-performances over two weeks.  I honestly can’t remember the last time, if ever, I was this entwined with a character, this invested in a role, this in love with the immediate creative team.  And so to be done feels like someone has ripped my heart out of my chest and left a gaping wound in its stead.  A tad dramatic?  Perhaps.  And yet, here I sit, marveling at the way the night air churns with this springtime thunderstorm, with an ache that has burrowed in and is taking no pains to ease.

Upon the start of rehearsal we created a little family – Director Natalie, Stage Manager Tamara, Adam, and I – to figure out the story of Doug and Kayleen. The intimacies we shared, the insecurities, the acceptance, the hilarity, the breaks spent piled on the sofa with each other – just a comfortable mess of limbs and laughter – all in service of figuring out the puzzle of these wounded people; it was exactly what I needed in my personal life exactly when I needed it.

To spend so much time together, to work so intensely for six weeks on creating a reality together, and to then just be done…it’s heartbreaking, really.  Being done – not spending my evenings with these lovely people – it just hurts.

And so tonight, I will let it be what it is.  And tomorrow… well, if this storm has any significance, tomorrow will dawn washed and more verdant.

Photos courtesy Justin D. Gallo Photography

In my last greenroom entry, I mentioned a little show I was rehearsing called Gruesome Playground Injuries. In it, I said about rehearsals, “…it already feels like the most important stagework I’ve ever done so far. And to stumble and search and love and thrill and ache alongside the most talented Adam Whisner is a gift.”

It has indeed been a profoundly moving process, and one that I am thrilled to finally get to share with you. We open this Friday and run for just eight performances over two short weeks. I can say this in all earnestness: this one is not to be missed. The script is brilliant, and I would recommend you see it no matter who was in it. I just get to be the lucky girl this time around.

What’s it about?
Gruesome Playground Injuries is the story of Doug and Kayleen, told over the course of 30 years between the ages of eight and 38. At times funny and sweet, at others heartbreaking, it’s an exploration of two lives and the pulsing connection between them, even when they’re apart.

Or, as the show’s official promo materials more succinctly state:

Gruesome Playground Injuries is a modern-day love story by Rajiv Joseph, United States Artists Rockefeller Fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist (how does this guy not have a website?!), about the near-misses that pull us apart and the pain that keeps us together.

Who’s in it?
Featuring Leigha Horton and Adam Whisner
Written by Rajiv Joseph
Directed by Natalie Novacek
Presented by The Peanut Butter Factory

When is it?
Friday, March 23 – Monday, March 26
Thursday, March 29 – Sunday, April 1
All performances at 8 pm

Where is it?
Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408

How much?
All tickets $10, cash or check, available at the door

Photos courtesy Richard Fleischmann Photography

If it looks like I was rehearsing Gruesome Playground Injuries last evening without pants – yes, pantsless –  it’s because it was indeed a real possibility.  Last night remained fully clothed, but tonight – tonight is a different story.  As is tomorrow night.  And all rehearsal nights hereafter.

If I recall correctly, the least-clothed I’ve ever been on stage was in a slip.  So now, publicly dropping trou?  Practically begging the audience to examine my upper thighs under the glare of thousands of lumens?  This…this….hooooo boy…this is going to be painful.  But it’s supposed to be, and therefore so profoundly worth it.

We’ve only just begun rehearsals, and it already feels like the most important stagework I’ve ever done so far. And to stumble and search and love and thrill and ache alongside the most talented Adam Whisner is a gift.

…

A rising tide lifts all boats, no?  Let’s do this.

Any questions?

National Geographic’s Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship opened last weekend at the Science Museum of Minnesota to huge fanfare, and I’m thrilled to give you a sneak-peek. The exhibit boasts artifacts from the only authenticated pirate shipwreck found in U.S. waters – the former slave ship Whydah, captained by Black Sam Bellamy.

There are 17 actors portraying a slew of real pirates from 1717 (although the fearsome Anne Bonny and Mary Read are triple-cast; and I’m the only bird to play both women). The pirates represented served aboard the Whydah, save for Blackbeard and the “ladies” who were contemporaries of Bellamy and his crew.

This galley, and the scurvy knaves aboard it, are not to be missed. Dead serious.

And without further ado – a tease of the treasures that await you: 

 
Opening weekend lines to enter the Real Pirates exhibition. But in true piratical fashion, you’ll be passing up these lines because you’ll have plundered the tickets online first.

  
Captain Blackfrog’s Tavern.

Anne Bonny challenging you to a game of sheep’s knuckles, Passage, or Ship, Captain, Crew. She fully intends to win all your rum. And if she doesn’t – well – she’s armed.

Recovered flintlock pistols.

Grenades. And the precursor to the modern stinkbomb. No lie.

The Whydah at port, waiting for you to sign the Articles and step aboard.

Anne Bonny, public menace.

The Whydah’s hold.

Thomas Davis and Hendrick Quintor at work below decks.

Pieces of Eight. Many, many Pieces of Eight. Yes, it’s all real.

Sufficiently enticed, mateys?  As ye should be.

A couple weeks ago I voiced my first, truly national television commercial.  As opposed to what – an only-partially national television commercial?  Yeah, yeah, I’m kind of arguing semantics here: I’m making a distinction between a single spot that will play all over the U.S. (as this one is) as opposed to a slew of commercials that will play in specific markets all over the U.S. (as the Marketplace Events Home Shows spots with Ty Pennington are).

So, behold – my first national television commercial.  For Land O’ Lakes butter:

I was surprised to learn from a few friends that it’s already airing – at least in Minneapolis and northern California, anyway.

You ever have one of those career-defining moments where you think, wow – I’m really doing this – this is, somehow, actually real – I’m making a living doing what I love?  Standing in the editing suite, post-recording, watching my VO dropped over the final picture and music for this spot was that moment for me. There are no words to adequately express the feelings of joy and satisfaction and peace and comfort and gratitude and place that accompany a moment like that. And so I’ll just sit back and let it be.

I love mail.  Love it.  And surprises such as this make me love it even more;  behold:

If it looks like a brand-new copy of The Help, mailed courtesy of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, it’s because it is.

One of the many benefits of SAG membership include an onslaught of free movies ‘round this time of year, all in hope of earning my vote.  Makes a girl feel special.