While relatively tedious to compile, I’ve come to love these year-end reviews. They remind me that I actually make a living at my craft, no matter how insecure I get during the course of the year about my abilities or accomplishments (or seeming lack thereof). Lists like these remind me that I am doing what I love, and am being rewarded for it. Lists like these remind me that my career choice bought me passage into my very first house, all on my own, and keeps me there.
Because let’s be honest - there is always a point (or five) in the year when I panic. I think, ohmygod, they’ve finally realized that I’m a total fraud and NOW I WILL NEVER WORK AGAIN. EVER. This happens regularly. Without fail. And then I end up inexplicably landing another incredible gig and think, oh, well, okay – maybe I’m not that bad. It is a joy and an honor to be so lucky.
Without further ado, my performance highlights of 2011:
January
Continued part-time work at the Science Museum of Minnesota on the Science Live team – performing live science demonstrations and science-related short plays for museum audiences.
Marketplace Events spots - third year running. Ty Pennington and me on national TV and radio urging you to attend home shows across the U.S. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
VOs for General Mills, but I took very poor notes about this, and have no recollection of what it was for. My guess is that it was, perhaps, some pickups for the 42 spots I did back in December for Progresso Light Soups, Yoplait and Yoplait Light Yogurts, and Big G Cereals national TV spots. Note to self in 2012: take better notes. Recorded at Babble-On for Shout! Creative.
February
Script workshop and stage-direction reading for public presentation of Carson Kreitzer’s new play, Behind the Eye, as part of The Playwrights’ Center’s Ruth Easton series. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and commissioned by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for a world premiere in April.
Not much else to report other than travel to Florida. It was warm. I remember needing that. Oh yes, and travel to Madison, WI, to teach museum-theater techniques to institutions across the U.S.
March
VO for the trailer of TRIUMPH67, an independent feature-length film that went on to become the official selection of the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival.
Spent the day in studio at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), recording the voice for a sultry character in The Winner, a pilot for Minnesota Stories – a new program dedicated to showcasing Minnesota writers.
VO for Target - a short film about inclusiveness called You Make Us. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
- Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio at Minnesota Public Radio
April
Table-read of a new script by Patrick Coyle at The Jungle Theater.
The Winner, recorded in March, airs twice on Minnesota Public Radio.
May
VO for Cadillac. With Laurence Fishburne. I played his talking GPS. Recorded at Babble-On for Fallon.
I bought my very first house, all by myself. I think this is what officially makes me an adult, but I’m still not quite sold on that idea. The only reason I’m including this here, amongst my gigs, is because those VO gigs are what made this possible.
- Home, in as many words.
June
Script workshop and stage-direction reading for public presentation at the Playwrights’ Center of Scratch, a new play by Shira Naharit.
Started rehearsals for Minnesota Middle Finger, Ben San Del’s Minnesota Fringe Festival entry. Yes, Fringe is in August. We started way, way early because of everyone’s insane schedules. I think when all was said and done we only had 12 rehearsals.
July
VO demos for Hormel, recorded at Modern Music/Fischer Edit for BBDO.
Co-wrote and produced a short satirical 1950’s-style educational film, The Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnologyon behalf of the Science Museum of Minnesota for The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Film + Production by Teddy Media.
August
2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival, and my performance in Ben San Del’s Minnesota Middle Finger with the incomparable John Middleton and Tim Hellendrung.
VO spots (more, again) for Marketplace Events home shows with Ty Pennington – TV and Radio. Continued airings on HGTV and ABC. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
Three-day script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center of Outcasts of Eden, a new play by Andie Arthur.
Served as host/barker for the AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair, on behalf of AFTRA.
Cast in kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots! to be presented at Intermedia Arts in October 2011.
- Script workshop at The Playwrights' Center
September
Cast as both Anne Bonny and Mary Read in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s next major exhibition, Real Pirates, as well as cast in the publicity crew for advance event appearances. Exhibition opens mid-February 2012.
Attended the 7th annual Ivey Awards – Minneapolis/St. Paul’s version of the Tonys. Very, very swank. Very, very inspiring. I know I said that last year, but I still mean it.
VO spot for General Mills – radio spot for Yoplait Yogurt in the NYC market. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Shout! Creative.
- Real Pirates coming soon to the Science Museum of Minnesota
October
Cast in The Peanut Butter Factory’s next production, Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries – a two-person show with Adam Whisner to be presented late winter/early spring 2012.
Went on a three-day writing retreat to northern Minnesota with the company of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots! to create character and storyline.
VO narration for short documentary Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?, a look at the effect of nanosilver on the environment, created by the Museum of Life + Science in Durham, North Carolina, on behalf of the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Recorded at Babble-On.
VO for the National Marrow Donor Program’s annual council awards ceremony recognition film segments. Recorded at Aaron/Stokes for Blue 60 Pictures.
Script workshop and stage-direction reading at the evening performance of Sarah Gubbins’ new work, The Water Play at The Playwrights’ Center.
Performances of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots!at Intermedia Arts.
November
Performances continue of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots!at Intermedia Arts.
Got my eyes did. Yep. Lasik. No more contacts or glasses. This changes everything on stage and in the recording booth, for the better.
Spent the day at the Hennepin County Courthouse, serving as a key witness in Faegre & Benson’s mock trial program.
- Spices in the Viva Las Roots! kitchen.
December
VOs for Marketplace Events Home Shows with Ty Pennington – fourth year running! Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
Appeared on Kare 11 News morning program as Anne Bonny, marketing for the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Real Pirates exhibition opening February 2012.
Script workshop and stage-direction reading at the evening performance of Kira Obolensky’s new play, Vasa Lisa at The Playwrights’ Center, co-presented by Ten Thousand Things. Workshop in preparation for a late-spring full production by Ten Thousand Things.
- Real Pirates get sassy with the news crew at KARE 11.
Epilogue
2011, you treated my career well, and for that I thank you. 2012, we’re going to roll up our shirtsleeves and till this soil for continued growth. My last major career goal was to make my living as an artist, which I have been doing for the last few years; it’s time to dream bigger dreams. And then run to catch them.
