I really am so lucky to have THE most amazing fans in the world, I believe. Not only are they supportive of the music and the touring, they get passionate about seemingly everything I do. From music to TV to charities. They have been unbelievably supportive. I know that Python fans are EXTREMELY loyal and enthusiastic. It will be interesting to see the “Claymates” in Python-land!

Until about three months ago, I thought Monty Python was a person. No Lie. It wasn’t until I first saw Spamalot that I was even exposed to Monty Python. But, in learning more about it and being exposed to the Python humor, I can totally see why people have been captivated by it for so many years. It really is a special sort of comedy all its own, but it really has stood the test of time. I know that people who laughed at Monty Python in the seventies are still laughing at it today. And, more importantly, a whole new generation has been able to experience it through this show, and they laugh just as hard!

One of the strangest and most obvious differences is the awareness of the audience. You know, in touring and performing in concert, I don’t think you can truly be effective or entertaining unless you acknowledge and interact with the audience. On the contrary, in a musical setting, you really have to forget they are there almost. It’s been interesting to sort of come to terms with that. But, perhaps the biggest difference for me is the way that your actions on stage affect those around you. When I am on tour in my own show and I mess up or forget the words to something I have the ability to joke about it or change things up. On stage in Spamalot, if I mess something up it only makes things more difficult for those around me. If I walk the wrong way or kick the wrong direction… somebody’s gonna get hurt. Way more pressure in that regard!

Interestingly enough, I got cut from my high school musical my senior year, and wasn’t necessarily one of my 10-12^th grade choir teachers “favorites”, so my experience in my younger years was limited to local productions. The North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh is a pretty reputable regional theatre that  puts on some great shows in the area. But, it is so professional that it casts most of its performers with very experienced New York actors and musicians. They staged a production of 1776 in 1995 and put out a casting call for 21 year olds and older. I was only 17, but a good friend suggested I audition anyway to gain experience. I did and was the only person under 21 who did. Terrence Mann, the Broadway star, was directing it and chose to take a risk on a young kid, so I made it. I remember thinking I was such a star because I got to work with real professional performers. I did a few shows at North Carolina Theatre in addition to 1776 before I went off to college. I still try to catch as many of their productions as possible.

I try my best not to let anything embarrass me on stage. I find that when I mess up (and that’s plenty) or when something goes wrong, it’s far more entertaining to point it out and laugh at it myself. I don’t think any audience expects me to be perfect. And, I suppose years of being picked on as a teenager (and, heck, as an adult) taught me that you’re better off to laugh at yourself before someone else has a chance to.

I don’t know that I really have done anything intentionally. I think they laugh at me when I don’t necessarily invite it!

My mom has always been what I think is the perfect type of supporter. She always encouraged me to try new things, but never pushed. T-ball definitely didn’t work out, and I stopped! When I started getting interested in singing, she was always ready to help however she could, but never tried to get me to do anything I didn’t want to do. And, she’s often been one of the first to help me realize when I was out of my league! Of course, my younger brother supported as much as he could handle… but I imagine my loud mouth singing in the house all hours got pretty old!

There’s a very interesting answer to that question. I had always been sort of a ham; loved to sing even as a child. But, living in Raleigh didn’t really lend itself to a plethora of opportunities to be a singer. I distinctly remember seeing my first stage show when I was in seventh grade. A touring production of the musical Big River came through town. My mom, who was a big Roger Miller fan took me and a friend of mine to see it. I remember watching the guy who played Huck Finn on stage and thinking how cool it was that he got to make a living singing. I knew I couldn’t dance, and had no experience acting, so musicals weren’t necessarily something I dreamed of, but I remember realizing at that point that it might just be possible to make a living as a singer. I always have wanted to play Huck Finn in Big River after that. In what is a great full circle twist, the actor who played Huck Finn in that tour was Marty Moran. Now, fifteen years later, I think it’s really funny that I am taking over the role of Robin from the first person I ever saw perform in a musical.