Tag Archives: V-Day

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

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Jacqueline Martell

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Jacqueline Martell

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I have been involved in theatre since primary school. I was very fortunate to continue my stage training and education at The Academy of Art in San Francisco. Looking forward to doing as much of it as possible in 2015!

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

Personally, I was involved in the wonderful Home for the Holidays with Patrick Dorow Productions.
I also love performing with New Hampshire’s finest improv troupe Stranger Than Fiction.
As far as being an audience member, catching Mary Poppins at the Music Hall was an aboslute dream!

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

I did participate in a V-DAY production called Any One of Us: Words From Prison a few years ago – so it was not specifically the Vagina Monologues

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

It is a tremendously good cause! I am and will always be happy to give my time and energy to such a reputable and amazing production.

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

Hands down my mom. She is so genuinely kind, intelligent, and warm. I am so proud to call myself her daughter. Love you Mom!

Q – What or who inspires you?

Life inspires me – the beauty, the fragility. We are on a miraculous ride and I am so grateful every day to be able to pursue my dreams and see what the future holds.

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

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

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

Meet the V-Day Portsmouth 2015 Cast: Jennifer Henry

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Jennifer Henry

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

I made my stage debut when I was two, singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little STAR” (with that emphasis…I mean, that’s really the focus of the song, right?) in front of my church congregation. My first speaking role was in first grade in the original musical “Oh My Deer”, about a town overrun with an abundant deer population. I was a concerned citizen that was surprised when a deer sat down next to me at a cafe and ordered french fries.

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

I have been humbled to be a part of Back Alley’s production of Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh, as well as Billy Butler’s new musical Missing: Wynter, both at the Players’ Ring The cast and crew of both were strong, talented, and so full of life and light.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

I last performed in the Vagina Monologues in college in 2003 (I believe). We were kind of shocking for a smaller town in WV, but brought so much awareness to the aid available for domestic abuse. To speak to people after the show about their experiences, and how empowered they felt…that was an amazing experience.

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

The Vagina Monologues and my schedule have been evading each other for YEARS. When I moved to the seacoast a few years ago, I heard nothing but amazing things about Back Alley’s annual production, and the amazing positive impact they were able to endow on local advocacy programs helping those affected by domestic and sexual violence. I wanted in. This year, I made sure my schedule was clear on the chance I could be a part of this wonderful, warm, wicked little show.

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

I have many influential women in my life. The woman I’m thinking about as I type this I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing a very long time. We maybe said hello in passing a few times. But this woman was a powerhouse. A force of frankness and grace and food and lovely that trained many of the fine actors of Memphis, as well as held up a mirror to their soul, their psyche, and their spirit; forcing them to look, accept, change, and ultimately become storytellers that would help them be a communicator, an amplifier to any character they picked up. Josie Helming was a force, and such an inspiration to me just in the resonance of voice within her friends, students, and community. Accepting oneself for who they are, finding their strength through their fragility/vulnerability, and being the most honest person you could be. I hope to have an eenth of the electricity she had in her fingernail clippings. “Get out of your own way”. “You are enough”.

Q – What or who inspires you?

Warm socks inspire me. Dark brown eyes. My goddaughter Leia inspires me. Music and puppies and kittens and Bretton Reis’ light designs inspire me. Strength in humility, courage in adversity. Dancing flames in bonfires stripes on mittens emotion through eyes. Sandalwood myrrh candles and delicious red wine inspire me. You inspire me. Yes, you.

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