Theatre Girls For Life!

by Jenn Langhus, Actor

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Wonder Woman. I loved the idea of hiding in an alias and then “Pow” saving the world.  Being a goddess also was a draw if I’m honest. As I reflect back, I realize that I probably chose the profession as close to being a superhero as humanly possible.  I am an actor.  I play other people and immerse myself in the characters’ lives and quirks. And maybe, just maybe, save someone’s day with the story I’m telling.  But I don’t do it alone.

You often hear about theater as a family of friends. Does this sound familiar?  “My theater friends and I went to see Wicked” or “I did dinner and a show with my theater crowd.”  This is because doing shows together creates a tightly-knit group of like-minded individuals who literally spend years making art together.  And what could possibly be better than that?

How about adding GIRL POWER! I have done shows with so many wonderful women performers. Over the years we have shared deaths, births, personal joys and moments of crisis. I know who is gluten-free, vegetarian, trying to lose weight, who needs to thin their iris plants, who has stressful jobs.  I celebrate big and little birthdays, talk about vacations and moments when our hearts break.  I have cried in the dressing room and been supported and lifted and my life made brighter by just being around these women.  I would like to share just how much the women in We the People’s Theatre Company’s latest production of A Man of No Importance mean to me and how interconnected our lives have become.

Let’s start with Julie Frew (Mrs. Curtin).  We live in the same town, our kids went to MCS together, she sings with me in my voice studio, and we belong to the same group of Norwich moms.  She is the choreographer for A Man of No Importance and was the co-choreographer for last year’s production of Something Rotten and the co-choreographer for All Together Now.  Just add 1776, and that’s four We the People productions. We had a blast doing NCCT’s 9 to 5 a few summers ago and have done duets in Parish Players Hunger Cabaret and participated in the Parish Players Tens Festival.  Julie was in the cast of the first play I ever directed for the Tens, an experience that opened the door of directing to me. She is one of my oldest friends in the Upper Valley and is such a lovely dancer – willowy and graceful and is so encouraging to me as a performer and mom.  I know I can count on her for anything and I think that feeling is reciprocated.

Next let’s talk about Michelle Carlson (Kitty Farley/Siobhan). She was in that little play for the Tens too and we had so many laughs putting that piece together.  Watching she and Julie work together, I knew they would have many future projects together and I wasn’t wrong! Later that same year, Michelle and I did The Secret Garden together with NCCT and I saw how beautifully Michelle danced.  So expressive. It was no surprise Michelle choreographed We the People’s 1776, Working and co-choreographed for All Together Now and Something Rotten.  I directed Michelle and Jonathan (Ernie Lally) in Biscuits and Bones, another Tens festival piece and witnessed one of the funniest comic duos and pure joy on stage that I’ve ever seen.  Michelle was also in 9 to 5, which is a show all about “girl power.” And just to round out the list, we did a skit together for Hunger Cabaret. Michelle has the biggest heart of any person I know and I miss her when we close a show.  I like the everyday contact with her that you get doing a big show.

Beata Randall (Mrs Grace) and I have done every We the People production together, including the ill-fated Man of La Mancha that closed during tech week because of Covid.  Beata is a force of the community theater scene in the Upper Valley and she has, perhaps, the best on-stage timing of any actress I have ever worked with.  Thinking of whiskey-slinging McNair in 1776, the waitress singing “It’s an Art!” in Working, and of course, Nostradamus in last year’s Something Rotten!  She is also the activities director and social coordinator of the group.  Her house is always open for a drink or a meal or a nap on her couch.  She’s very direct and will always let you know if you need to fix your costume, or a moment on stage, or your face.  She is also quick with love and compliments for a job well done.

Kay Morton (Miss Crow) is a legend.  She has easily performed in more plays than anyone else in this production.  Her CV is long and impressive.  She and Mike Backman were a force in Death of a Salesman – whew!  Kay and I have done three different projects together, the first being the absolutely strange and hilarious Five Lesbians Eating Quiche at The Grange. I have never looked at quiche the same since that show.  I loved working with Kay so much that I auditioned for a play that she was directing called Spinning Into Butter.  Kay is a fabulous director and that show was a beast.  She helped the actors find the nuance needed to tell a story of intrinsic racism in Vermont.  And now we are in A Man of No Importance together and I love getting to spend time with Kay again. She is one of the most thoughtful women, remembering little details about my life, my kids.  She also is a fashionista and I wish I had her wardrobe and sense of style.

Danae Carlson (Mrs Patrick) and I have only known each other for a little over a year and we have already done three theater projects!!!  She is a gorgeous dancer and we shared the stage in the very active ensemble of Something Rotten last spring. Then last fall we were privileged to work on an original work at Pentangle called Tango Tonight! We got to share the stage with professional tango dancers from New York! I am so happy to be in A Man of No Importance with Danae.  She, like me, loves the hair and make-up aspect of theater and brings her many talents to the dressing room! And she is an actual Disney Princess who worked at Disney World for several seasons.

Jenn Argenti (Regina Flynn) and I have been on the Board of Northern Stage together several years now.  She is currently the President of our Board and has been at the helm of a very successful housing campaign that broke ground last summer. She is a wonderful leader and is quick-witted and confident.  I was thrilled when Jenn decided to audition for this show.  I knew she could sing because I have directed her son at RMS and he sings like an angel. It’s been so nice to develop a different aspect of our relationship as castmates.

Molly Shimko (Adele) is a newcomer to We the People, but not to theater in the Upper Valley.  She grew up here doing shows at Hanover High and NCCT Teens and now shares her time living in New York and the Upper Valley doing non-profit work with homelessness and affordable housing.  She was in The Prom last summer at Lost Nation Theater with one of my dear friends and colleagues who was so excited that I (we) would get to know Molly.  And indeed, her professionalism and sweetness has made sharing dressing room with her such a highlight of this show for me.

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the biggest powerhouse of them all, Perry Allison, our producer and founder of We the People Theatre Company. Perry and I met during the Tens Festival years ago and she directed me in The Secret Garden, my first play in the Upper Valley and still one of my favorite shows I’ve ever done. She started WE THE PEOPLE in 2017 shortly after Donald Trump took office.  She thought it was important to do a play that was all about compromise and dissent and communication.  She felt community discussion and an open heart is the only way through tough times. And now Donald Trump is back and more than ever we need communication and hope.  It would be so easy for me to just shut down, but Perry has offered us this beautiful play, A Man of No Importance, to tell a poignant and tender story of Alfie, a gay bus driver in 1960s Ireland.  I am so grateful to have this piece to get me out of my head and keep my heart open and warm.

So, a toast to the women in theater, the women in the cast, the women on the production team (Amanda, Sharon, Toni, Marti, Angie), all of my theater girlfriends.  I close my eyes, take in a dusty theater breath, and say a quick prayer of thanks for all of you.  And step into the lights.