It seems to always happen right about October 1: Bright lights, Tchaikovsky, toe shoes and the sound of applause fill my waking moments. It might be intimidating to some, but something about the theater just calls to my soul!
It all started with my mom. For as long as I can remember, mom loved the theater. In fact, she was what you might call a “professional usher.” As a very young girl, I would be her theater side-kick, fondly known as the Program Girl. Every weekend, we would see a new show at a different theater. Seriously, as far as BART would take us from San Francisco to Berkeley to Oakland, we would go! The list is so long. It includes these theaters (and a handful of beautiful cathedrals) for sure: Orpheum, Masonic, War Memorial Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall, Fort Mason, Stern Grove, Lamplighters Music Theater, Berkeley Rep, UCB Theater, Kaiser Auditorium and my all-time favorite, Paramount Theater.
When I was just four, mom ushered a performance of Oakland Ballet’s Nutcracker at Paramount Theater. I handed out the programs. I remember sitting on the velvet carpeted stairway on the mezzanine level absolutely mesmerized. With the first pluck of the strings, the magic spell was cast. At the end of that show, I asked mom if I could “do that?”.
And, off to ballet class I went.
Those first couple of years, I took classes with Miss Louise Jorgensen through the Oakland Parks and Rec. Miss Jorgensen, fondly known as the “Spirit of Christmas”, was the heartbeat of Oakland’s Christmas Pageant.
For almost 70 years, Miss Jorgensen traveled to more than 70 schools, every week from October to December, rehearsing with almost 2,000 students. I became a member of her “workshop” where I learned all of the parts and was an assistant teacher. I was so blessed to perform with Miss Jorgensen in the Pageant for 14 years.
About two years into private lessons with Miss Jorgensen, she kicked me out. Well, she encouraged me to “go to Ronn at Oakland Ballet because there’s nothing more here for you.” So, off I went to study with Ronn Guidi at the Oakland Ballet Academy. Nutcracker was the busiest season of course, along with student recitals in the summer. Recently, a modest calculation of Nutcracker performances reached 130 over a 12-year span. And, yes, this was in tandem with Miss Jorgensen’s Christmas Pageant rehearsals and performances every year!
I’m not exactly sure how it all got done. Seriously. It’s all one big happy memory! Thank you, mom, for picking me up after every class and rehearsal when it was too dark for me to get a ride with Aunt Clara (AC Transit).
Of course, the theatre bug bit pretty hard. Not only was I dancing (ballet/modern/jazz/tap), I also took up a bit of acting. Memorizing and reciting lines is challenging, yet very fulfilling. I find that “doing it scared” really is the only way! I also have some great memories with being an “extra” for some big Hollywood productions. Those included hanging out with Robin Williams (Doubtfire) and Sandra Bullock (The Net). Oh, and then there’s Miss Teenage Chinatown with the S.F. Chinatown Lion’s Club.
At some point, adulting happened.
And, what I discovered was that I was pretty comfortable in front of a crowd with a mic. I’m sure all of that on stage time helped, plus I think I got a generous portion of my dad’s chatty and funny genes. In fact, I inherited the bug for writing from him, too.
Mic time also included a nine year stint as a vocalist with our church’s worship team. Then, my son’s cancer journey as an infant has led to many speaking engagements where I share our Faith walk and how God’s grace saved my son. Today, you might find me with a mic in hand emceeing at church and other big events.
Let’s be extroverted together! You don’t need a lifetime of stage presence. You’ve got something important to share? Be brave, find your voice and make a difference! I’m cheering you on!
Joyful Storyteller 
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