Sometimes it’s cold. I miss a warm dressing room. Sometimes is
sweltering in layers of heavy costumes. I miss an air-conditioned building. Sometimes it’s wet. I miss a roof. But all of that is worth it for the unique joys and fun challenges of producing shows outdoors at KFT. When nature obliges right on cue with a gentle breeze, birdsong, sunburst, or shower, it is truly magical. The challenges we face together as cast and crew create unity and connection. We all need that now. I have been blessed to experience an entire performance in a soaking drizzle-the audience right there with us-sticking it out through thick or thin, ever appreciative of our valiant efforts, and we of them. But most days are perfect: a little sun, a little cloud cover, a lovely summer breeze, abundant fresh air, and limitless creativity.
Playing Marmee in Little Women is a real joy, especially with so many actual family members and very talented cast members to play alongside. I love being part of an ensemble cast. Everyone encourages and challenges each other to bring the best of what we have to every rehearsal and performance. The music in Little Women is fantastic, and Marmee gets to sing two beautiful and poignant songs. I can’t wait to share them with you.
I love Kitsap Forest Theater because it truly feels like home. I remember vividly the first time I walked down the trail to the theater
when I was 15, and I knew then my heart had been captured forever. The cedar and the rhododendrons, the ferns and the huckleberrys, and the moss and fir growing alongside the trail to the theater makes the experience like nothing else. I've always been a nature-vibing outdoorsy person, so a place where I can combine my love of theater with my love of our PNW ecosystem is incredible. I've performed now on many stages across the country, sometimes for crowds of thousands, but none have captivated me as much as Kitsap Forest Theater. Now that I live on the Kitsap Peninsula, I plan on performing on my favorite dirt stage with my family as many times as I am able, and hope to pass on the love of this theater to future generations.
high school. I'd heard about the theater from a friend, and was lucky enough to land a role the first time I auditioned! I kept performing at KFT through high school, in Robin Hood: The Legend Continues and in Beauty and the Beast, and then was in Sound of Music and Into the Woods while I was in college at the University of Washington. I was planning on returning to the theater last spring in Beauty and the Beast once again, and while I'm sad that show has once again been postponed, I'm so happy that the incredible production team, KFT committee, and the cast members were able to pull off such a fun production of Little Women, despite the wild year everyone has had. 
Jo March is an incredible character, and I am so honored to be able to tell her story. I remember reading Little Women when I was 9 or 10 years old, and I, as so many young tomboyish outdoorsy girls do, saw myself in her immediately. Jo is a great example of how the dreams of our childhoods can keep burning through a whole lifetime, even if they change shape as we grow older. She has a fire in her, and has inspired girls to fight for their dreams for over 150 years. The songs she sings in this show are beautiful, difficult, and poignant, and I love performing them each time I get the opportunity. It's wonderful working with this team and with both casts, as we learn from each other and flesh out these characters. 
After battling cancer two years ago, I am so grateful to be cancer-free and healthy enough to be performing Jo in a way that I hope honors her character: full of exuberance and an abundant passion for life.