Once upon a time, long ago, in an old curious mansion, lived a little girl who wanted to be a fairytale princess. She was always playing 'dress up', having tea parties with her cats, building blanket empires and talking to dolls. She didn't have many friends, so she spent most of her time reading books and playing with the invisible people she imagined in the garden around her home. She believed in magic, fairies and miracles. She kissed frogs, captured fireflies and dreamed as hard as she could. That little girl was me!
Rather sickly as a kid, I suffered complications from Barlow's Syndrome, a poor immunity and severe allergies. I could never play athletic games and being an only child for nearly 16 years, I spent all my time entertaining myself. Books and 45 records were my constant companions and from them I learned the most wonderful things and escaped daily to fabulous places. I learned to write stories, sing and dance. I loved theater and by the time I was a teenager, was performing on stage in plays and singing all over my home town. My imagination was always my saving grace, for when things got complicated in my life, I found an escape route in dreams; climbing up on stage and singing always put my world right.
From the time I was 9 and saw Maurice Sendak and Carole King's Really Rosie, I made a commitment to be an actress. I was reading Shakespeare at the age of 7, swooned over old horror films with an insatiable fascination for theatrical makeup at age 8, and lived a childhood crafted by Sid & Marty Krofft's and Jim Henson's menagerie - my fate was sealed.
Nothing thrills me more than chance to put on a costume, transform myself into some divine creature and express myself in exciting and imaginative ways. Truth be told, I play dress up every day. I just call it a wardrobe but to me, all the world is a stage and my greatest ambition is to simply have the right costume on. Oh, please don't misunderstand, I am quite grounded in reality, take care of my family and work hard every day. It is just that I prefer to do it all with a little flair. Lights, camera ... action!
Playing Berthe in Edinboro University's production of Pippin
I think I remember that photo, and production. You are always fabulous! I am proud to be your sister. Beautifully well written article!
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