About Me!
I am a stay-at-home mom of twins with a truly Renaissance background!
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin at Madison graduated 1997
BA in Theater and Drama: Acting Specialist (this is a program you must audition for to get into)
BA in English (I studied English Literature from Chaucer to Tolkien!)
Moorpark College Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) program 2008
AS in Exotic Animal Care and Management
AS in Animal Behavior (that’s animal training!)
AS in Wildife Education
Ongoing acting, voice, dialect, and improv education at Voice One in San Francisco, VoiceTrax West in Los Angeles, Berkeley Repertory School of Acting, Studio A.C.T. In San Francisco, and Mocap Vaults in Los Angeles (so far!).
VOLUNTEER WORK
Conservation Associate at the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium (over 200 hours!)
Docent at CuriOdyssey
Animal Rehabilitation at Wildife Center of Silicon Valley
I am the Voice of the Bluefins! That’s my kids’ swim team. I am an announcer for the swim meets.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Kalaripayattu — studied at UW-Madison and at CVN Kalari in India with Professor Phillip Zarrilli. Also resumed study in Fremont, CA with guru Anil Natyaveda, who also studied at CVN Kalari, as well as elsewhere in India.
Stage Combat with Fight Director Dave Maier, and also some training with Louis Lotorto.
Currently hold a 1.2 certification in rapier and dagger
Currently working towards a level 1 certification quarterstaff
Taking beginning broadsword for certification this summer
Have completed three unarmed combat workshops, and one intimacy workshop
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
I currently own one dog, named Skywalker.
I love to play video games. My favorite styles are RPG and RTS, especially if they have good stories. My current favorite game is Baldur’s Gate 3, naturally, and Astarion is my favorite companion, with Karlach a close second. A vintage game I really loved was Black Crypt in the Amiga, to give you an idea of how long I’ve been a gamer. Although … I also played the heck out of the old Infocom text adventures!
I also play tabletop RPG’s. Like Wil Wheaton, I’m an ur-gamer from the Old Times. I have experience with lots of different systems, like GURPS, Savage Worlds, D&D (naturally), Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun (my favorite to play and least favorite to run), and even the more streamlined modern ones like Brindlewood Bay and Tales from the Loop. I’m currently playing 2 D&D campaigns, and running one as a GM.
Oh, and let’s not forget board games! I will play pretty much anything, and you should see our gaming shelves (maybe I’ll post a picture!), but my all-time favorites are Robo Rally, Betrayal at House on the Hill, and Burgle Bros. I’m also really into the Legacy games, especially the Pandemic series.
My favorite book, film, and TV genres are Science Fiction and Fantasy. Fun fact: my quarterstaff test scene includes some slightly modified lines from “The Princess Bride.” I’ll be playing Fezzik, against the Man in Black.