ABOUT
hooked on theatre
And somewhere around nine, I discovered another creative outlet: the theatre. I thank my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Patki, for that
a village of cousins
I was raised in Chicago’s West Town, which, at the time, was part of the Polish Downtown. My family lived on the top floor of a three-flat my grandparents, immigrants from Poland, purchased for $5,000 and a handshake. So the legend goes.
The building was filled family: fourteen children in all. My grandparents started their very own village right there on Cortez Street. From this crowded, active environment, I learned to seek out the company of books as my refuge.
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(Support the arts! Support teachers!) She took her rowdy second-grade students to a Goodman Theater Children’s matinee to see “The Snow Queen and the Goblin.” I was a goner.
​just like Shakespeare. sort of.
Writing soon became one of my trusted companions. My first play was performed in high school. It involved a king and some lions. It was a history class assignment. I still have the index cards where the script is written.
real life, or so it’s called
I majored in Advertising at the University of Illinois, Champagne/Urbana. One day after graduation, I walked from one retailer on State Street to another, hauling my portfolio. Who knew that’s not how it’s done? Marshall Field’s said, “Sure, kid, we’ll give you a try.” Thus, launched my long career in marketing to supplement my theater classes and travel.
that Chicago thing
Improv groups. Performance art. Scriptwriting. Movie extra. I did a few.
winner, winner
After moving to Wisconsin, I shared my desire to write a play with a friend, and she mentioned the Wisconsin Wrights New Play Project Contest. Challenge accepted. I spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s writing the play,
The Front Steps. It was a winner. And so it began.
A FEW AWARDS
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest, NYC
Elizabeth George Foundation Grant for Emerging Playwrights
New Works Development Residency, Madison
COMMUNITY WORK
To help an empty stage get utilized in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, I created the Staged Reading Series at Shake Rag Alley. Now, in summer, Alley Stage hosts readings of plays in progress performed with local actors for the local audience.