Meet the Cast: Sarah Duclos

Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Photo by M. Lavigne Photography

Sarah Duclos has so many amazing talents, we don’t know where to begin! When she is not making you laugh until your sides hurt in past productions of The Vagina Monologues, or creating magic with our friends at Seven Stages Shakespeare Company she is incredibly busy with her amazing dance company,
Neoteric Dance Collaborative as both a dancer and choreographer, and with whom we are so excited to collaborate with for V-Day this year! In addition to that, you can occasionally hear her belt out a tune or two with several local musicians.

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

“I have been dancing since I was three years old and I did my first play at Gonic Elementary School when I was 7. It was a stirring adaptation of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” I caught the bug and never looked back.”

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

“My favorite recent production is most definitely Seven Stages Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, which was performed last summer at the Prescott Park Arts Festival. I had the pleasure of both choreographing and performing the show and it is one of the most artistically satisfying things I have ever done. Fabulous people, timeless material.”

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

“This will be my third year in V-Day, although my first time with a NEW monologue and DANCERS from Neoteric Dance Collaborative.”

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

“Performing in V-DAY is a tremendously rewarding experience. It is an incredible feeling to be able to pool our collective talents as a cast and make an impact in our community while doing something that we love to do anyways!”

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

“Just one? Not possible. My mother, my sister and some of my long-time dance friends who might as well be my sisters. They each move through the world in their own special way and I learn from them daily.”

Q – What or who inspires you?

“People who have the courage to follow their bliss. That is so difficult to do in the face of bills, a poor economy and “real life.” Recently, after nearly twenty years in the technology field, my sister left her job to pursue her dream of cooking. I love that. It takes serious guts to actually go after a dream and I fiercely admire people that have the tenacity to do it!”

Meet the Cast: Kiva Leatherman

Kiva Leatherman

Kiva Leatherman is an inspirational force of nature and we cannot wait for you to welcome her back to the stage and experieince her amazing performance in her first ever V-Day. You will adore her as much as we do!

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

“Pretty much from the beginning. I wouldn’t get off of the stage at my first recital when I was three. Apparently I thought it was a fun place to be. This is my first show back in about 10 years though – I’ve been busy raising kids and am finally coming up for air.”

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

“Well, as I mentioned it’s been a while, but I’ve loved playing Sophie in ‘Artist Descending a Staircase’ and Isabelle/Hypolita in Tony Kushner’s ‘The Illusion’. I’ve done so much musical theatre – I guess my favorite would be a production of ‘Pippin’ I did with a community theater in NY when I was about 16.”

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

“I was actually looking for auditions for my daughter, who announced that she was born to sing when she was 3, when I stumbled across the notice for V-Day. I got that feeling in my tummy like you get when you’re about to jump off of a bungee platform and I knew I had to do it!”

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

“My mom, of course. Unoriginal, I know – but true. My mom is brave – she upped and moved us from her lifelong home of Tucson when she was 29 to New York, just she and I. She’s smart – she’s been an editor of a major newspaper for the last 35 years, and she loves big – there’s simply nothing she wouldn’t do for me or my kids.”

Q -What or who inspires you?

“Women inspire me – especially the ones who are committed to a life of truth and non-compromise. I see so much amazing work being done in the world by inspired women, from raising kids, to building new schools to running epic businesses. Women rock.”

Kiva Leatherman

Meet the Cast: Kolby Hume

Kolby Hume

Kolby Hume is no stranger to V- Day, however this will be her first V-Day on the Seacoast, and we are thrilled to have her with us! You may have seen her brilliant performances recently in Sam Shepard’s “A Lie of the Mind” and Margaret McAleese’s original play “Black Mayo” this past fall at the Players’ Ring.

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

“I started dancing when I was three, and was recruited by my dance teacher for my first official production when I was 8. Apparently, my incessant prancing and singing made me a prime candidate for becoming an actor!”

Q – What are some of your favorite recent roles/productions?

“I recently had the opportunity to reprise my role as Beth in Sam Shepard’s ‘A Lie of the Mind’ at the Player’s Ring. This part was the last role that I had the opportunity to play in college, and it was an amazing experience to have the chance to tackle such a complex, damaged character again five years later.”

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

“I have! I participated in the Vagina Monologues through my student-run theater group in college. I was part of the quartet in ‘When I was 12, my mother slapped me’ and later had to opportunity to perform ‘The Vagina Workshop.'”

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

“I love the idea of getting to support a worthy cause while spending time with a group of talented, passionate women.”

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

“My mom. She is my best friend and greatest role model. I marvel at her strength and poise and feel so lucky to have her in my life each and every day.”

Q – What or who inspires you?

“I am constantly inspired by my home here in Portsmouth. I have lived here for a year and half, but am still blown away by the natural surroundings, the history, the arts and the people. I am so grateful to live where I do and to have met the wonderful people I have here on the seacoast.”

Kolby Hume