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

Meet the Cast: Constance Witman

Photo by Mat Kingsbury/2046

V-Day 2011 Any One of us: Words from Prison
Photo by Mat Kingsbury/2046

Constance Witman has a long standing history as a V-Day actress and activist. V-Day just wouldn’t be the same without her! Constance not only brings her impeccable talent, grace and emotional depth to The Vagina Monologues each year, but she also brings so much of her heart, empathy and passion to help raise awareness and end the violence. We love her activist spirit as well as her amazing performance!

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

“Since the age of 5. I played a tree in Sleeping Beauty and I was covered head to toe in green felt.”

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

“Blanche in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Vivian in ‘Wit’, Jane in G.Matthew Gaskell’s original play ‘Lawyers, Guns & Money’ and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ all in the last few years at the Players’ Ring.

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

“This will be my 6th year!”

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

“To continue to make people aware that we are still battling violence and it needs to stop.”

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

“My Mum. She’s an amazing kind-hearted woman. She has taught me so many things.”

Q – What or who inspires you?

“My Daughter [Genevieve Witman]. She is such an amazing free spirit. I Love the way she looks at things and how wonderful and smart she is.”

20140118-095240.jpg Constance Witman as Vivian in Wit
Photo by Mat Kingsbury/2046

Meet the Cast: Amanda Giles

Amanda Giles

Amanda Giles has been a longtime Yoni Activist and a wonderful supporter of V-Day. Her earthy Goddess energy, open heart and passion for womankind bring such a rich dynamic to V-Day 2014. We are so very happy to finally have her as part of our cast this year!

Q – How long have you been involved in theater?

“I’ve been involved in theater since high school when I was a killer stage manager. My back stage work continued into college when I did college shows at BU, and also worked with community theater groups such as Nashua Theater Guild and ActorSingers. I then went on a long hiatus and my only recent involvement has been as an audience member.”

Q – What are some of your favorite recent productions?

“My favorite shows ever to work on were when I stage managed Shakespeare in the Park in Nashua. The first time we went traditional and did Midsummer Night’s Dream (it was also the city’s first time). But the second year we did “Taming of the Shrew” in a western setting with some slight script modifications. I will always think of Baptista as “Big Daddy Baptista” and remember fondly the twangy pronunciation of “guitar” and how it was broken over Hortensio’s head.”

Q – Have you performed in the Vagina Monologues before?

“I have never performed in Vagina Monologues before, but I’ve been blessed to see at least 3 different productions of the show.”

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

“The message of V-Day has always resonated with me as very important as well as its community aspect. And I’ve loved the monologues ever since I saw the movie they made of Eve’s performance. I’ve often thought it would be great to perform in and I’m excited to be in this year’s production. I’ve also just always had a fondness for open talk about sexuality and I think this show helps promote that, especially for girls and women who have been afraid to talk of such things.”

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

“Definitely my mother Kim – she was a pull yourself up by the bootstraps kind of woman. She was the first person in her family to go to college and she got 3 degrees via night school (1 Bachelor’s and 2 Master’s) while working full time and raising me. She taught me that I had to be my own white knight and that life has to be fun. She passed away very young (50), but she touched and inspired myself and many others with her adventures, wit and antics.”

Q – What or who inspires you?

“I adore Ada Lovelace for not only being the first computer programmer, but for viewing it as a “poetical science”. I wrote code myself for a living and there is a poetry and elegance to code which I strive for myself. Two modern women who inspire me are Ani DiFranco and Amanda Palmer. Ani DiFranco proved you didn’t have to work within a system that didn’t support you, and that you could control the terms of your work and how it was released into the world. And Amanda Palmer took that to the next level by showing you could give away your music and just ask fans to contribute what they felt it was worth. Both woman unabashedly speak their mind and I love that about them.”