Author Archives: backalleynh

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Bretton Reis

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a weird picture of brett

Bretton Reis

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

12 years. I played Benvolio in Romeo in Juliet in 2003, my junior year of high school.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

Eurydice, DARWiNS WAiTiNG ROOM, Dead Man’s Cell Phone (all at the Players’ Ring) and In the Heights to name a few!

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

Nope! Can’t wait!

Q – What made you want to be involved in V-Day this year?

I lit the show last year and had a ball. I wanted to become more involved this year!

Q – Who is the most influential woman in your life?

My mom. She’s a trooper.

Q – What or who inspires you?

Effort. I love seeing passionate people working as hard as they can.

Get your Tickets For V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues at The Music Hall now!

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Whitney Smith

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Photo by Jasmin Hunter Photography

Photo by Jasmin Hunter Photography

Whitney Smith

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I have been involved in theatre since I was 12 years old when a teacher of mine, Mr. MacFarland, introduced me to it by way of speech and debate competitions. I went on to major in acting at Plymouth State College (now University) and have performed here on the seacoast for the past eleven years.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

I particularly enjoy playing female characters that are complex in their mix of strength and vulnerability, as well as showing the world a character for the first time. The last four shows I have done have given me the opportunity to do both. “Rush”, “Invasion from Mars” and “Black Mayo” at the Players’ Ring and “Cape May” with Kent Stephens’ Stage Force were all seen for the first time here in Portsmouth NH and Kittery, ME.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

Yes I have, quite a few times. Each time has taught me something new about myself and has informed the way I live my life. This show and the movement behind it has even influenced the way I am raising my daughter, especially when it comes to the language and attitude we use when discussing these delicate issues in the hopes of keeping her safe, healthy, and proud.

Q – What made you want to be involved in V-Day this year?

I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Q – Who is the most influential woman in your life?

My mother. She has always shown me that beauty, strength, and love can and should be demonstrated in everything we do no matter how large or small the task. And that although no one is perfect we are not defined be our circumstances, but by how we handle them.

Get your Tickets For V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues at The Music Hall now!

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Debra Altschiller

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Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Debra Altschiller

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I have begun to wade back into the theatre waters in the past couple years after having been a back stage mom for twenty years. I have been in and around performance venues for more than years than would seem mathematically possible.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

I am as enthusiastic audience member as I am performer, musical theatre is my favorite, I’ll never turn down a chance to see RENT, Avenue Q or Fiddler On The Roof…ever.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

Hell to the Yeah! I jumped back on stage and WAY out of my comfort zone by being part of the sextet last year. What started as a mildly uncomfortable experience evolved into one of the coolest happenings of the year for me. Being a part of the show I had been attending as an audience member for six years was so incredibly cool.

Q – What made you want to be involved in V-Day this year?

Being a cast member for V-Day is a humbling responsibility that I take very seriously in the most fun way possible. There are so many survivors of sexual violence who have not yet found their voice, some never will. If we can speak and tell these stories, we must, it’s our moral obligation as humans to bear witness and speak out.
Also, Joi is very persuasive, she makes you think you just had the greatest idea and that you are the only one who could possibly execute it….meanwhile it was always part of her master plan….

Q – Who is the most influential woman in your life?

Marina Altschiller is the most influential woman in my life and she’s practically brand new at the being a woman thing. Marina is brave, not fearless but brave, there is a difference. Brave requires courage. She is a super talented singer and director. She founded Dive In Productions while rocking the Emerson College Deans list and working two jobs. She has a genuinely optimistic outlook on life which is hard to maintain, the world really NEEDS people like her. If you’ve met her you feel good knowing her and that is a gift.

Q – What or who inspires you?

For me, inspiration mostly comes from people. Howard Altschiller inspires me to try harder and be better at what I do. Marina inspires me to keep a positive outlook, Connell inspires my humor, Brady inspires me to slow my roll and enjoy more. Betsy inspires my compassion and Joi inspires my sense of adventure. Bacon can be pretty inspirational though…bacon and cheese, THAT is an inspirational combination.

Get your Tickets For V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues at The Music Hall now!

Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Matthew Schofield

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V-Day Portsmouth 2011 Any One of Us: Words From Prison Test Shot Photo by Mat Kingsbury/2046

V-Day Portsmouth 2011 Any One of Us: Words From Prison Test Shot
Photo by Mat Kingsbury/2046

Matthew Schofield

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I have been involved in theater on the seacoast for the past eight years.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

Some of my favorite recent productions include MacBeth, The Odd Couple, and Stop/Kiss, all at the Players’ Ring.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

I performed in it last year at the Seacoast Rep and Rochester Opera House.

Q – What made you want to be involved in V-Day this year?

The opportunity to be a part of something that is socially conscious, to work with a talented ensemble in a great venue, and to be able to potentially broaden expectations of what types of pieces you can see in this show.

Q – Who is the most influential woman in your life?

My late grandmother, Elizabeth, who passed away in August.

Q – What or who inspires you?

Creative people.

Get your Tickets For V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues at The Music Hall now!

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Lesley Hamblin

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Lesley Hamblin

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I have been involved in theater since I was a child. I used to dance and then became involved with a theater group and as they say, the rest is history.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

Some of my recent favorite productions include Dead Man’s Cell Phone at the Players’ Ring, Harvey and An Evening on the Homefront.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

Yes, I had the pleasure and the privilege of performing in V-Day last year for the first time. I am so happy to be performing this year with such a talented and marvelous group of people.

Q – What made you want to be involved in V-Day this year?

I really enjoyed being in V-Day last year and making a difference.

Q – Who is the most influential woman in your life?

Janet, my friend in the U.K., well actually in the whole world.

Q – What or who inspires you?

Life.

Get your Tickets For V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues at The Music Hall now!

Lesley Hamblin