Introducing Elle Emerson, Assistant Director for DYING CITY and Stage Manager for DYING CITY and TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of DYING CITY.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing: Elle Emerson, who is our assistant director for DYING CITY and is stage managing DYING CITY and TWO ROOMS. Here is her first-hand account of her life as an actor & director, and her perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:​
Lauren Leslie Emerson

Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born in Southeast Missouri, where I lived until the age of 18. ​

Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio

Siblings:
One Brother, Brent.

Favorite food of all time:
French Fries, recent favorite food is Chicken Tikka Masala ​

Special skills:​
Playing the French Horn, and rapping.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?:
Robin Williams & Steve Martin.​

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:
I first role was in a play I did with the Girl Scouts, I played a little boy named Tommy, I was about 6 years old. I didn't act again until I was 27.

Favorite plays:
Stop Kiss, The Diary of Anne Frank, Rhinoceros.

Most embarrassing moment on stage:
I was playing a Hurricane named Daphne in a Production of The Little Mermaid, and after repeatedly whirling around I forgot a line, I covered well, but was embarrassed because I knew I had messed up.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:
It is a wonderful group of talented actors that are very dedicated to building each other as artists.

What most excites you about your involvement with DYING CITY and TWO ROOMS?:
These two shows have very important messages that can be conveyed in an entertaining yet poignant way through the depth of the characters that the playwright has created. 

***

Elle is originally from Southeast Missouri. She graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre Degree. She enjoys stage, film, and improvisational acting as well as directing. Her favorite roles include Hermia from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream & Callie from an independent film adaptation of Stop Kiss. Elle enjoys staying as busy as possible. She is the Production Manager for The Seeing Place Theater, in addition she is an intern for the Katra Film Festival, and Emerging Talent Agency. Most recently Elle played the role of Julie in an episode of Lion TV's show Deadly Devotions.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with TWO ROOMS, which runs at 9pm and 4pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Justin Hoch, appearing as "Walker" in TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of TWO ROOMS. 

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Justin Hoch, who's playing Walker in TWO ROOMS. Here is his first-hand account of his life as an actor, and his perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:  
JustinHoch.com. My parents were waaaaaay ahead of the curve on that one.

Where you were born/where you were raised:  
I was born in Wyoming and raised mostly there, with some time spent in upstate New York, as well.

Zodiac Sign: 
Jake Gyllenhaal.

What your parents did/do for a living: 
Both of them are/were educators; my mom is director of math for a school district upstate and my dad is a retired elementary school principal.

Siblings: 
Yes

Favorite food of all time:
My mom's lasagna and/or french toast.

Special skills: 
I should go pro at catching food in my mouth. Like a seal, I am.

Something you're REALLY bad at: 
Self-immolation. Seriously. I'm horrible. Haven't ever even singed myself.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?:  
I'm ashamed to say I don't really have a deep enough knowledge of theater history to answer this in any intelligent way. One of the perils of growing up in Wyoming, I reckon. (They don't say "I reckon" anywhere else but Wyoming, either.) Because he just passed, I've been thinking a lot about Philip Seymour Hoffman in Death of a Salesman, so I'll go with that.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?: 
My first inspirations were movies, and I've always just liked telling stories. The first play I remember seeing was a high school production of Flowers for Algernon, when I was in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th grade -- something like that -- and that was when I first thought, "Yeah, I want to do that!" It was the first time I realized acting as a thing you could do. There was something real and tangible about seeing actual people on a physical stage versus watching them on a screen that snapped it into focus for me.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project: 
I demanded that I be the ringmaster in my pre-school circus. So I was 4 or 5 years old. I still remember having to leave mid-speech to go pee. It's weird the things that stick in our minds, isn't it?

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:  
DYING CITY

Favorite plays: 
A favorite recent show I saw was Lickspittles, Buttonholers and Damned Pernicious Go-betweens by Johnna Adams. I loved The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, The Book of Mormon was hilarious. (Musicals count, right?)

Most embarrassing moment on stage: 
Nothing stands out as particularly embarrassing, actually. I'm sure that's more a function of repression and denial as a defense mechanism than the lack of mortifying occurrences.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?: 
Working with the people. It's a great group.

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS / DYING CITY? 
The opportunity to work/play with such talented folks is the first thing. Beyond that, it's awesome to be working on such good material and to be such a critical part of the creative process. There really is a ton of room to try things, even crazy things, make mistakes, and try some more things. That's a very freeing environment. I'm very much looking forward to sharing this show with audiences.

***

This is Justin's second show with The Seeing Place. TSP: MEN IN WHITE (Dr. Levine/Mr. Rummond). NYC: BEARD ENVY (Free Willy; co-writer), A PIECE OF PROPERTY (Pete), A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF TWENTY-FIVE STRANGERS LIVING IN A CITY BY THE LAKE (Jack), LAST ENCOUNTER (William). FILM: "Saturnalia" (Jonas) (7 festival awards and counting...), "You Don't Know Jack" (Tom Youk)(HBO, Dir. Barry Levinson, starring Al Pacino). "Thanks to all involved!" www.justinhoch.com

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with DYING CITY, which runs at 7pm and 2pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Adam Reich, Director on DYING CITY

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of DYING CITY.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Adam Reich, who is our director for DYING CITY. Here is his first-hand account of his life as an actor & director, and his perspective on working with this production.

Full given name: 
Adam Reich

Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born at Cedars-Sinai and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California.

Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn

What your parents did/do for a living:
Dad - Attorney for the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for the state of California

Mom - Stenographer, currently aiding the deaf in universities, colleges, high schools and other educational institutions throughout Southern California

Siblings:
One badass younger sister, Shayna.

Favorite food of all time:
Chocolate. That's a food, right?

Special skills:
I make a hell of a bowl of steel cut oats.

Something you're REALLY bad at:
Relaxing before takeoff. Or dental work.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?:
Guess right now I’m wishin’ I could go back and see that ’12 Salesman again. Or the Delacorte Seagull I missed… I’m still mourning.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?:
Mr. Protho, my 6th grade history/science teacher, was probably my biggest inspiration when I was a kid. Standing at 6 foot 4 and addicted to V8, Mr. Protho was a passionate actor himself, and he brought a whole bunch of us youngsters under his wing, teaching us Shakespeare and Homer— I was shocked a non-animated one existed— and many others. He told me I should keep going with my acting stuff. And being young and naive, I listened. I think it changed my life.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:
It all began when I was 5. I took a cute little acting class at Pierce Community College that was being taught by a woman named Gloria Watts. She had me play the Big Bad Wolf. And I blew a few houses down.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:
Anything Rylance, of course. Saw Richard thrice. I really liked the Saint Joan over at the Redgrave.

Favorite plays:
How do you choose?! I’ll just name a few. I’m a huge admirer of Shakespeare’s work. Like, all of it. And Chekhov in general.. love Vanya. I’m always looking forward to the next McDonough. Long Day’s Journey. Beckett.. I love Krapp’s Last Tape.. Threepenny Opera. Doubt. All In the Timing. Well, that’s it for now.

Most embarrassing moment on stage:
Oh God!! Was it the night my pants dramatically and irreparably ripped open mid-scene and I did the whole 30-minute act in my boxers? Or the night I forgot my sword off stage even though I was supposed to kill someone in a duel? Or perhaps it was the night I was supposed to read a long letter out loud during an important scene only to discover on stage that the prop person had not put the letter in the envelope that night… Ugh! Not fun reliving this. :)

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:
I always value any opportunity I get to work artistically with like-minded artists, teasing and fleshing out the deeper meanings behind the words of great playwrights and attempting to bring some small truth to the stage. I am glad that I’ve had that opportunity here.

What most excites you about your involvement with DYING CITY?:
DYING CITY is a rather labyrinthian piece. It’s very tough to untangle. But of course, I love a challenge. I’ve really enjoyed working with the actors, like we’re a team of investigators on the hunt for a murderer, scrutinizing each little clue that Shinn provides to get at the heart of who these tortured people are and what they are truly seeking.

***

Adam Reich most recently produced OTHELLO for the Kinetic Theater Ensemble, of which he is a founding member. At the age of 10, he started directing short films after finding the perfect lead actress, his badass 3-year-old sister Shayna. Since then he has worked behind the camera for the DGA, the USC SHOAH Foundation and the Academy of Television. An NYU Tisch drama grad, Adam has performed in theaters all over New York City, including BAM, The Public, The Cherry Lane, and New World Stages, and has acted with The Seeing Place on two previous occasions. www.adamreich.com

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

It runs in repertory with TWO ROOMS, which runs at 9pm and 4pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Erin Cronican, who plays "Kelly" in DYING CITY

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of DYING CITY.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Erin Cronican, who is appearing as Kelly in DYING CITY. Here is her first-hand account of her life as an actor & director, and her perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:​
Erin Quinn Cronican

Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born in at a military hospital in Virginia, and lived in Virginia, Oklahoma, and Alabama all before the age of 4. We moved to Brussels, Belgium where I spent kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade (in an American school), then moved to Colorado, and finally settled in what I call my childhood hometown, Escondido, CA (north county San Diego) at the tender age of 8.

Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio

What your parents did/do for a living:
My father was in the Air Force for 25.5 years. He worked at NATO (in Belgium) and at NORAD in Colorado Springs, CO. He became a civilian and continued to work in information security, helping pretty large companies make sure that they systems and data were secure. He died in 2006 - the grief for his loss is palpable daily. My mother was a wonderful stay-at-home mom up until the point when I was in high school, when she started coaching tennis. She has also been an award winning real estate agent. She is now retired and lives in a little house near the ocean in Florida, which has been a dream of hers since childhood.

Siblings:3 half siblings and 1 full sibling. Both parents had children before they married one another, and I was the first child of their union. So, in weird ways I'm a middle child AND the oldest child.

Favorite food of all time:
Eggs. Oh man, I would eat eggs 3 times a day if I could. I also love fresh, whole wheat pasta with some type of fancy, tomato-y sauce (extra spicy, of course.) Finally, if a restaurant has cheese dip on the menu, I will always order it.

Special skills:​ 

Singing, building and running companies, coaching actors on how to lead the lives they want to lead, and drinking copious amounts of tequila without getting sick.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?:
My English teacher from high school ended up directing our high school musical, South Pacific. I was initially cast as the understudy, but the director, Mz Whitten (yes, Mz) made it clear to me just how much she believed in me as an actor. Fast forward 2 months - our leading lady got cast in a professional production which pulled her out of our show, and POOF! I was now playing Nellie Forbush. Mz Whitten was supportive, nurturing, tough, exacting, and creative - and for many years after that I expected all directors to be the same. They are not. It is a rare person who can demand an artist to be better than they ever imagined while also inspiring the actor and making them feel valued. Mz Laura Whitten inspires me not only as an actor, but as an educator, as a director, and as a human being.

I also want to acknowledge my parents. It's much easier to be an artist when your family is supportive of that dream, and in the loss of my father I've lost one of the biggest champions of my work as an artist.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:
My first acting gig was as the Gander (uh huh) in a Patio Playhouse youth theater production of Charlotte's Web when I was in 5th Grade. I thought it was SO AWESOME that I could stand up in front of a group of people and recite a movie that I adored, and get applause for it! Follow that up with a stint as Grumpy in a musical version of Snow White, and I was hooked... (on playing male characters, apparently.)

Favorite plays: 

Dying City, Closer, A Lie of the Mind, Rabbit Hole, Next To Normal, The Last Five Years. I include the last 2, even though they're musicals, because I want to tell those stories.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:
I love the fact that my hard work is in direct correlation with the roles I get to play. I've spent so much of my life working tirelessly for my acting career (paying my dues so to speak) and it's so wonderful to be able to have more control over the work I do. This is what self producing provides for me. In addition, it is so amazing to be given the responsibility of controlling my artistic output as well. So many times, actors go into rehearsal and are treated as puppets - stand here, breathe there, smile on this line only... and you feel like your own artistic voice is quieted by the "vision" of the director or producer. With The Seeing Place, the actors bring their ideas to rehearsals and the director's job is to shape those ideas so that a unified story is told. It turns the rehearsal process inside out and makes me feel like I actually get to express myself as an artist. It really is amazing.

What most excites you about your involvement with DYING CITY?:
When I first read DYING CITY it was with Brandon in our apartment , sitting side by side reading the play aloud from one copy of the script. As the play progressed, I was taken on this incredible journey of hope and loss and was wrecked for days. I knew I had to find a way to do the play.

I think that DYING CITY is a story about the fine line between grief and healing. How can you best serve the memory of someone lost? When is it too soon to heal? How can you stop the haunting of unwanted memories? And how can you forgive yourself for not saving someone? It explores guilt, shame, anger, love, lust, fantasies, loneliness, stillness, emptiness, and a yearning for hope. I am so excited to try to bring all of these things to life on a nightly basis with our audience - if anyone had dealt with a death in their life, they should see his/herself in at least one of the characters of the play. The fact that we might be able to make a special connection with our audience members is what excites me most about doing this play. I hope to share it with as many people as possible.

***

Erin Cronican's previous shows with The Seeing Place: MEN IN WHITE (Laura Hudson/Director); HAMLET (Ophelia/Co-Director), A LIE OF THE MIND (Beth), MISS JULIE (Director), LOVE SONG (Molly / Director), DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (Roberta), THE LOVER (Sarah), CLOSER (Anna), THREE SISTERS (Masha), LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Helena) and TWELFTH NIGHT (Maria.) Regional favorites: THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ANGELS IN AMERICA, WIT, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, and EVITA. She has appeared on “Veronica Mars,” and “One Life to Live,” and can be seen in Paul Giamatti’s film, “Cold Souls” (among others.) Special thanks to this amazing ensemble and especially to Brandon Walker who will always be her favorite leading man. Proud member of AEA & SAG-AFTRA. Learn more at www.erincronican.com.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

It runs in repertory with TWO ROOMS, which runs at 9pm and 4pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Brandon Walker, appearing as "Peter"/"Craig" in DYING CITY and directing TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of DYING CITY.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Brandon Walker, who is playing Peter/Craig in DYING CITY and is directing TWO ROOMS. Here is his first-hand account of his life as an actor & director, and his perspective on working with this production.

Full Given Name:
Brandon Kristopher Walker (spelled with a 'K' to avoid the nickname "Before Christ" in elementary school - Thanks, Dad!)

Where you were born/where you were raised: 

San Diego, CA

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer. Because I've always needed another mother.

What your parents did/do for a living:

My Dad is an entrepreneur in marketing. My Mom is a Postal Clerk.

Siblings:

My Sister is manager at Subway.

Favorite food of all time: 

"Mike's Mess" at Zachary's Restaurant in Santa Cruz. Or a Wild Boar Benedict at the Hash House in San Diego.

Special skills: 

That's private.

Something you're REALLY bad at:

Organizing.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?:

THE GLASS MENAGERIE with Laurette Taylor - just to see what all of the fuss was about.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?: 

Blair Hambuechen, Richard Baird, Jonathan Sachs, Francis Gercke, and Matt Scott.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:

Abraham Lincoln in a class presentation in 4th grade. It wasn't pretty.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:

WAITING FOR GODOT. I wish I could afford it.

Favorite plays:

So many. But right now, I'm mostly in love with TWO ROOMS, DYING CITY, and LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (because of its importance in DYING CITY)

Most embarrassing moment on stage:

Probably when I knocked down a wall during an in-house preview of ANDROCLES AND THE LION for all of the head honchos at The Old Globe. Either that or when I almost killed myself, diving into a bush to retrieve a box of TicTacs during a benefit performance of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:

I love being able to live through my work in rehearsals and onstage - which is always a fight elsewhere.

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS / DYING CITY?:

I'm really getting a very big artistic workout, playing two characters in DYING CITY and directing TWO ROOMS. Even playing and co-directing HAMLET felt a bit less exhausting - at least in rehearsals. I'm definitely looking forward to an easier workload once we open. But I'll probably miss it, too. I'm one of those people that seems to really love to suffer for my art. God only knows why - if there is a God. If not, I guess we'll all be at quite a loss. Or not. Either way, it doesn't really matter. And even if it did, what can we do about it? Does that answer your question? Are there ever any answers? This message has been brought to you by 4am, ladies and gentlemen. Goodnight.

***

Brandon Walker is an NYIT nominated actor for his work in The Seeing Place's DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Other previous shows with The Seeing Place: MEN IN WHITE (Dr. Ferguson); HAMLET (Hamlet); ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Hamlet); A LIE OF THE MIND (Jake), LOVE SONG (Beane), THE CREDEAUX CANVAS (Winston), WHEN WE HAVE GONE ASTRAY (Ira), WAITING FOR LEFTY (Sid), LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Jimmy), TWELFTH NIGHT (Malvolio), CLOSER (Dan), THREE SISTERS (Andrey), and THE LOVER (Richard). He has worked with The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Poor Players, New Village Arts, Moxie Theatre, ion Theater, North Coast Rep, Sierra Rep, and Barnstormers Theater. Member AEA. Training: David Gideon. Such a joy to share the stage with this glorious ensemble – special thanks to Erin Cronican for keeping me from going mad.

DYING CITY opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 7pm and Sat-Sun at 2pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

It runs in repertory with TWO ROOMS, which runs at 9pm and 4pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Meg Grujon, Assistant Director on TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of TWO ROOMS. 

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Meg Grujon, who is our assistant director for TWO ROOMS. Here is her first-hand account of her life as an actor & director, and her perspective on working with this production.

Full Name: 
Megan Arielle Grujon

Zodiac Sign:
Gemini.

What your parents did/do for a living:
My dad is a product manager for TenaSys Corportion in Oregon. My mom is a bit of a dabbler and has run businesses in tile murals, wedding planning, photography and props.

Siblings:
My sister is a teacher in Washington State.

Favorite food of all time:  
Ribs. With mashed potatoes.

Special skills:
My friend likes to tell people I can do a really great cat impression. So there's that.

Something you're REALLY bad at:
Pop culture. Sports. Waiting for things, I'm terribly impatient.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?:  
I directed a scene from Lee Blessing's Down the Road back in college. I had so much fun with it, I would've liked to have gone back and seen how the first director approached it. I also think there was something about the 80s and 90s where people had a particular obsession with learning about serial killers, and media was widely involved in perpetuating people's curiosity. Ted Bundy was a perfect example of turning a killer into a celebrity and since the play opened the same year as his execution, the moral questions Lee Blessing brought up would've been quite relevant and I wonder how people must've responded to it.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?:  
It's the people in my life that I get most of my inspiration from. Every day I'm learning how I see and experience the world differently from my friends and my family, and theatre is a lesson in empathy and understanding so you can tell someone else's story. I've had a lot of really great teachers in the past, and the ones who have most inspired me are the ones who are passionate about theatre because they are passionate about people.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:
The first play I was ever in was in the 2nd grade, it was a class play for Thanksgiving. Someone got sick and another kid didn't want to be in it, so I took both their lines. I got to have 3 lines.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:
The shows I've seen recently have already closed - but I will always recommend anything at Playwrights Horizons because I've never seen something there I didn't like.

Favorite plays:
Angels in America. Whenever I have a bad day I'll carry a copy of both parts in my bag and find something in there that rings true for the moment and reminds me why I do theatre.

Most embarrassing moment on stage:
Nothing too traumatizing. In high school, I played the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. Our director had the actor playing the Prince and I roll on stage together after an implied sex scene. On the first day of rehearsing that scene, my mom (who was doing costumes) made sure to be sitting in the audience. My 17-year-old self was mortified and I texted her offstage to leave.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:
Our ensemble is made up of a group of wonderfully supportive people. I love the collaboration but also the willingness everyone has to put themselves out there and take a risk, even if it doesn't work right away.

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS?:
I was excited about Two Rooms from the moment I read it. I've always loved Lee Blessing's plays, he has this way of putting on stage not only what's really happening, but crossing the line of reality to see what's going on in each character's mind. We see how Lainie and Michael create conversations with each other to cope with their loss. My favorite playwright, Tony Kushner, has said that life is about losing, and the most we can do is to struggle to face loss with grace. That's exactly what Lainie is trying to do in this play, and we see her trying so hard to keep him with her, until eventually she has to let go and face the reality of what is happening. I'm excited to tell this story because I think anyone who has experience a deep loss of any kind will be able to connect to it and perhaps find some peace in it.

***

Meg Grujon is excited to be working on her first production with The Seeing Place Theater! Past directing credits: FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS (TRG Productions), MISSPELLED and THESEUS 2.0 (Coffee Black Productions). Her acting credits include: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (Playlab NYC/Coffee Black Productions) and SNAPSHOT: A DRAMATIC ANTHOLOGY (AlphaNYC Theatre Company). She has done several student films, as well as her first feature film, "Downcast" filmed in Portland, OR. She is a proud graduate of Marymount Manhattan College.

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with DYING CITY, which runs at 7pm and 2pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Alexandra Hellquist, appearing as "Lainie" in TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of TWO ROOMS. 

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Alexandra Hellquist, who's playing Lainie in TWO ROOMS. Here is her first-hand account of her life as an actor, and her perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:  
Alexandra Karin Jacqueline Therese Lee Kejser Hellqvist. But professionally, I just use Alexandra Hellquist. I'm the only person I know with "Hell" in their name. Rock on :)

Where you were born/where you were raised: 
I was born in Manila, in the Philippines, but was spirited away after two weeks. Since then, I've lived in Japan, England, Australia, France and Italy, before coming to America. I've now been here longer than I've been in any other country, which blows my mind.

Zodiac Sign: 
Aquarius! And even though I don't believe in astrology per-se, I fear I'm very, very Aquarian.

Siblings: 
One brother, in Australia, who's a musician/rockstar and who's getting married soon to his gorgeous Maltese bandmate. He looks more Asian than I do, and has an Ozzie accent, and their electronic duo is called Curious Creatures. Click to listen to their first single So Tall!

Favorite food of all time:  
Salmon roe. And foie gras (sorry!!!!). And oysters. And very rare, very tender steak. But NOT all at the same time! Though possibly in the same meal... Yes, I'm a carnivore.

Special skills:  
I'm a self-taught pole-dancer (my legacy at my college is a all-gender-all-body-type-all-sexual-identity inclusive pole-dancing troupe. Go figure). I can blow smoke-rings even though I've never smoked a real cigarette. And I dig accents. Which was strangely useful during our rehearsal process.

Something you're REALLY bad at: 
Staying in touch with people. Let's just say I'm still learning to communicate virtually in general. Social media kind of terrifies me. But so does the phone. I'm a guilt-ridden, elusive luddite, I suppose...

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?:  
I don't know if this is cheating, to go to London's West End, but I'd love to sit beside George Bernard Shaw as he watched Eleanor Duse blush in Heimat. In far more modern times, Mark Rylance in Jerusalem.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?: 
My grandmother always called me a "teater abe", or theater monkey (imagine that said with a Danish accent), so she was my first unabashed supporter. When I first started acting in earnest, a wonderful being named John Emigh first trusted me, despite my utter green-ness, in his production of The Greeks and has been beloved ever since. And here in New York, I adore and am indebted to my teacher Peter Jensen at the *wonderful* T. Schreiber Studio. I miss you, Peter!!!

What age did you start acting, and what was the project: 
I was the littlest weasel in the Wind in the Willows at my primary school in England. I wore a belt as my tail, and I had one line.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: 
Anything by the glorious Exquisite Corpse Company. They're a fiercely ambitious, sexy, dynamic crucible of multidisciplinary artists and performers who create immersive new works and actively nurture new artists. I freakin' love them. They do a regular black box program where all proceeds go to the featured artists, and they're doing a subversive, collaborative, crazy-twisted-cool WareArt Festival called SubTerra in May of this year. Go see it!

Favorite plays: 
So many, but - Off the top of my head, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl, The Seagull, Closer, The Goat or who is Sylvia, The Importance of Being Earnest, A whooooole slew of classics like Medea and Shakespeare glories... And from new playwrights, the collaboratively-written Odd.A.See which has some of the most beautiful, vivid imagery I've ever encountered, and The Why Overhead and Clown Bar by Adam Szymkowicz who has a gorgeous absurd-touching-tender-painful-poetic-comedy thing going on in his work.

Most embarrassing moment on stage: 
Doing That Scene from the end of The Seagull as Nina, totally falling apart, and having the only line that meant something to me be "You have no idea how awful it is, when you know you're acting badly". But I would LOVE to do this show one day.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?: 
The mission of organic, unblocked, living, breathing theater. Such a rarity, and so precious.

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS?: 
It's honestly been the hardest rehearsal process I've ever been through, ever, with anything. We've all worked very hard on it, and we still are. It's about the work, after all. And I'm excited to see what alchemy happens now... Aaaaah!

***

Alexandra is a multi-ethnic mutt who loves the stage, screen and everywhere in-between. Favourite NYC stage collaborations include The ECC's ODD.A.SEE, Zootopia's THE WHY OVERHEAD, The Ume Group's BUTOH ELECTRA, Depth Charge's BUTTERFLY, BUTTERFLY, KILL-KILL-KILL!, and Extant Arts' CORNER POCKET. Film leads include the Netflix ninja episodic "Shinobi Girl", Rohit Gupta's "Midnight Delight" and Sean Manzione's "Seed Sprang!....". To Michael, whom she loves. See more at www.alexandrahellquist.com and imdb.me/alexandrahellquist!

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with DYING CITY, which runs at 7pm and 2pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Logan Keeler, appearing as "Michael" in TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of TWO ROOMS. 

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Logan Keeler, who's playing Michael in TWO ROOMS. Here is his first-hand account of his life as an actor, and his perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:  
Logan James Johnson Keeler

Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born and raised in Maine.

Zodiac Sign:
Libra, I think.

What your parents did/do for a living:
My father is a real estate lawyer. My mother is in a anarchist cheer leading troop. Ok, just kidding, but I was fortunate enough to have her home to raise me and my siblings throughout our childhood.

Siblings:
I have three. One brother and two sisters.

Favorite food of all time:
A nice Reuben sandwich. extra pickle on the side.

Special skills:
I'm a mean juggler.

Something you're REALLY bad at:
I've never been good at the harpsichord.

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?
Call me crazy, but I'd go way back in to see James O'Niell in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. I have a sweet spot for aging actors in sword-fights.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?
Gene Wilder, mostly.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project:
I was cute enough to play Louis in THE KING AND I when I was 10ish. That hooked me.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:
Anyone got a spare ticket to GLASS MENAGERIE? I love that show.

Favorite plays:
PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonugh, THE CARETAKER by Harold Pinter, LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT by Eugene O'Neill, PRIVATE LIVES by Neil Simon.

Most embarrassing moment on stage:
Oh, boy. As Billy Crocker in CRAZY FOR YOU in high school I was supposed to secretly remove my enamored's mother's fox throw and wear it as a beard and spend the rest of the scene pretending to be George Bernard Shaw. When she came on without the throw I was forced to take her hat instead. Upon being asked later who I was, I exclaimed, "Can't you tell?  I'm Portuguese". Fumble recovered, kinda.

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?:
We could easily put up any of our shows in four weeks and it would be good, and I could throw it on my resume and continue on my merry way. But there is something to be said about the the respect for the craft and respect for the playwright to give time in the rehearsal process to grow into the piece and fully flesh it out into a living, breathing, organic thing. At The Seeing Place, we spend about four weeks on dramaturgy and another four in rehearsals. The end result, however it turns out on a nightly basis, is something I can be proud of knowing I have invested myself in the craft of acting and the legacy that all those great actors and teachers built before me.  

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS?:
Let's be honest. The character of Michael and the predicament he finds himself in is way outside my comfort zone. I have spent the last month or so with him, so to speak, and I'm excited about living through something so alien to me on a nightly basis and coming out unscathed (hopefully) on the other side.

***

Logan Keeler joined The Seeing Place Theater in August. This is his second show with the group following the opening of their 5th season with MEN IN WHITE as Dr. Pete Bradley in November. Recent productions include THREEPENNY OPERA (The lost Theater, London) as Mr. Peachum, NEXT TO NORMAL (Stranger Productions, Boston) as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine, HARVEY (Connecitcut College Theater Department) as Elwood P. Dowd, and his Off-Broadway debut as Bernie Bartok in the first revival of MONEY: THE MUSICAL. Logan is a graduate of Connecticut College and The William Esper Studio in New York City and studied at The British American Drama Academy in London. He enjoys playing accoustic guitar, sketching and is slowly teaching himself mandolin. He lives in Brooklyn.

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with DYING CITY, which runs at 7pm and 2pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.

Introducing Lila Smith, appearing as "Ellen" in TWO ROOMS

As a special feature on opening week, we're excited to introduce you to our cast and creative team, who talked with us about their life as actors and their experience of creating the world of TWO ROOMS. 

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Introducing: Lila Smith, who's playing Ellen in TWO ROOMS. Here is her first-hand account of her life as an actor, and her perspective on working with this production.

Full given name:
Lila Smith

Where you were born/where you were raised:
Born on the Upper West Side, raised mostly in Brooklyn.

Zodiac Sign: 
Cancer

What your parents did/do for a living: 
Both of my parents work in education and continue to be full-time parents to me and my brother, as well; it's not an easy job and they're both great at it.

Siblings: 
One awesome younger brother, Jacob, who lives in Philadelphia and is taking me on a sibling vacation shortly after the run of TWO ROOMS closes.

Favorite food of all time: 
Lobster, closely followed by all foods ever (except eggplant).

Special skills: 
Knowing when an avocado is at peak ripeness, fostering an atmosphere of inclusiveness, asking the right questions.

Something you're REALLY bad at: 
Taking time for myself

If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway or Off Broadway show, what would it be?: 
I'd have to go back and re-watch a Broadway show I've already seen: Janet McTeer in A DOLL'S HOUSE. I went with my mother, and it's the performance that made me want to be an actress. Fortunately, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center has a lot of archival footage we can view for research purposes. I highly recommend taking advantage of it if you can!

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?: 
I went to Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, and I had the benefit of working on shows with the Players' Circle, with teachers/directors such as Rory L. Schwartz, Robert Ellman, Scott Martin, Daria McCloskey, and Roberta Raymond. There are no words for the gratitude I feel for having the education they gave me. It is thanks to them that I know the importance of work ethic, ensemble work, and deeply respecting all the dedication that goes into a production, from cast to crew to volunteers, and of course, the audience.

What age did you start acting, and what was the project: 
When I was 5, I played Widow Corney in OLIVER! with my kindergarten class, directed by Mrs. Devinoff.

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: 
TWELFTH NIGHT on Broadway.

Favorite plays: 
The Complete Works of Shakespeare, and various plays written by Tennessee Williams, Annie Baker, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Theresa Rebeck and Tom Rowan.

Most embarrassing moment on stage: 
Final dress for KISS ME KATE and I drew a total blank after "I hate men! I can't abide them... da da da da da..."

What's your favorite part about being a part of The Seeing Place?: 
The growth in my work that has been possible by a fiercely supportive team and a creatively challenging process.

What most excites you about your involvement with TWO ROOMS?: 
I am excited to play Ellen in TWO ROOMS, a human being walking a fine line between her official duties and her personal feelings. Working within her story, I'm hoping just to be able to live in the moment on stage, and hopefully have some great conversations with audience members after the play. Also particularly exciting: this marks my debut with The Seeing Place!

***

Lila Smith is so proud to be making her debut with The Seeing Place. She is a born and raised New York City girl, whose professional performing experience in the last five years has mostly been in other states, so it’s great to be performing this close-to-home material on a home-city-stage with this incredible cast and crew. Lila is also Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shakespeare Anywhere, an event services company with a focus on classical performance talent. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

TWO ROOMS opens February 21 and runs through March 9 - Wed-Sat at 9pm and Sat-Sun at 4pm. For tickets and information, click here.

It runs in repertory with DYING CITY, which runs at 7pm and 2pm on the same dates. For tickets and information, click here.