#asyoulikeitosf

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Reunited with my first LA roomie & grad school bestie @jdlomeli11, who also drove from SF to see my closing performance of #AsYouLikeItOSF back in October, took cast photos for me & of us post-show, then had to drive right back that night. I’m lucky to have him in my life. ❤️ #BrownTrinityMFA #family (at Studio City, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pfaZCp-Sr/?igshid=8337g0r3xann

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Since my #topnine2019 was mostly #AsYouLikeItOSF posts, I thought I’d make my own #TopTen2010to2019. This past decade was when I finally took charge of my own life & my wildest childhood dreams started coming true— & then some. From studying Shakespeare in London to starting my own theatre company in NYC to getting my MFA in Providence to moving to LA— which remarkably resulted in reconnecting with family that had been estranged from me for 15 years— to being given the most amazing opportunities to shine at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival the last 3 years. And all along the way, meeting exceptional humans & making the most cherished friendships, while deepening others from previous chapters. I’m just realizing that my decade began and ended with Shakespeare— who knew a dead old white guy could give me so much? It’s fitting I begin the next decade in my hometown. Here’s to #2020! #trulythankful #gratitude #RoyalAcademyofDramaticArts #RandomAccessTheatre #BrownTrinityRep #family가족 @osfashland (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wVYNAp0k9/?igshid=jqoxpty6c14c

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What an awesome way to kick off my marathon of NYC shows this weekend, which ended up being a mini-OSF reunion & worlds colliding: FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at TFANA, directed by the brilliant Lileana Blain-Cruz (who we ran into at dinner & who directed #HenryIVOSF), sound design by @palmzhefferan who got me the tix (& who I worked with for #HenryVOSF & #AsYouLikeItOSF), lighting design by Jane Cox (who I also worked with on #SnowInMidsummerOSF & who we also ran into at the theatre). It also turned out that @yenagraphy’s 1st architectural project in NYC was designing TFANA’s whole lighting system 10 years ago & this was the 1st time she got to see her work in person! So of course we had to take a photo with the 2 lighting designers. And then we ran into @mgrahamsmith!!! (@thewilldao where were you???) ❤️ To top it all off, this was a brilliant piece of theatre written by the late great María Irene Fornés, which hadn’t been produced since its premiere in 1977. NYC, go see this now! (at Theatre for a New Audience) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5NjGwwJXTV/?igshid=27sw5gx910vu

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“I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it.” After 104 performances of #AsYouLikeItOSF, we’ve left the Forest of Arden. As it’s been painfully obvious, I have loved this role, this show, & this company so much. I will forever cherish the lessons I’ve learned, the growth I’ve had as an actor & person, the strength & stamina I’ve developed, and the precious time I’ve willingly wasted with this incredible group of humans. (Side note from this nostalgia: I’m pretty proud of my skills in photoshopping @shauntc37 into our closing night group pic. 😆) As Rosa said last night at our post-show toast, that’s not the case everywhere. But it’s a testament to this place & exceptional repertory company when I can truly say that every role, show, & cast/crew I’ve had here just kept getting more & more special, burrowing deeper into my heart & soul with each surpassing year. 3 seasons, 30 months, 6 shows, all 3 stages, 424 total performances— it’s hard to believe that I got lightning in a bottle that often, but my bursting heart is the evidence & I will never take my time here for granted. I am forever changed. @osfashland: Thank you for being my #ArtisticHomeForLife. ❤️ #OSF2019 #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JDy5WJhH8/?igshid=1uxl6qi58rrsd

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::1 SHOW LEFT:: CLOSING NIGHT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF 1) The final Final Kiss I can’t quite process yet that we’ve come to a close on this season & esp on my 3 years at @osfashland. But I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the ones who made this incredible journey possible: 2) ROSA JOSHI— Rosa is a literal dream of a director. W/ unmatchable grace, humor, fierce intelligence, & boundless energy, she sets a joyful & easy-going tone in every room— to play and also be serious about playing. Bc she leads w/ such clarity of vision & steady calm, she can also foster an open environment where everyone feels they have agency and authority to add to the work. She saw something in me, all the way back when I auditioned for her as Princess Katherine in #HenryVOSF in #OSF2017—which wouldn’t have happened in the 1st place if it weren’t for (3)JOY DICKSON calling me in. Before coming to OSF, I never expected to be cast as a young leading lady by a major theatre, much less a romantic leading lady & def not ingénues, even when I was in my 20s. I didn’t think I fit the mold. But thankfully she, Joy, & (4)BILL RAUCH had more imagination & confidence in me than I did. No matter what I had been told in the past by lesser people, no matter my age or race, I’m worthy of being seen & heard, of my existence taking center stage & not on the periphery, of having my point of view represented in all stories—not just the “ethnic” ones. & it gives others who look like me permission to make themselves known too. W/ each year at OSF, I was able to grow into my power, own my uniqueness, & without apology inhabit the stage & the world as fully myself. 5) Rosa’s opening night speech. I was documenting as usual & then she caught me off guard when she thanked me 6) The one of only 2 times the automation ever actually worked for the dramatic transition from Court to Arden. What we ended up w/ was actually perfect & more “us”, but... oh, what coulda been. 😆 7) all of us crammed in the studio w/ @palmzhefferan, recording “Come Hither" 8) Rosalinds of #OSF2007, #OSF2012, #OSF2019 9) Rosalinds & Orlando’s of @osfashland 10) The Final Scene w/ my beautiful cast #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4F9cW2JOnJ/?igshid=19h1jjvo1aciv

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::2 SHOW LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF The last birthdays to celebrate for #OSF2019 that are really in 2020! Also, as the last one, our 1st attempt at the song was an abysmal way to end our birthday celebrations, so I obviously made us do it again & do it RIGHT. 😆 JAN. 7, Show #102: @sonofagregor — Silvius is the first non-court Arden-ite the audience meets & MacGregor makes a lasting impression as he portrays Silvius’ deep love of love, running off stage crying out Phoebe’s name repeatedly— a moment that tickles the audience every time bc of the complete abandon & passion MacGregor commits to onstage. As an actor who also likes to throws herself literally & figuratively into a role, it’s been fun to watch him calmly walking around backstage, then see him burst into our scenes, leaving it all on the floor— literally, he collapses very dexterously in a heap at one point in anguish. I’m excited to see what new heights MacGregor’s zeal & focus will take him. JAN. 11, Show #102: Erica Sullivan— the unique aspect of being at @osfashland is the built-in history & legacy of past generations you step into, especially when cast in a Shakespeare play. This season, we have 4 Rosalinds in the company at the same time— Linda Alper, @miriamalaube, Erica, & me— a lineage spanning over 3 decades. Playing Rosalind in the same show as the actor who played her here last was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but Erica quickly dispelled any misgivings with her gentle heart, kindness, warmth, & nurturing soul. She had absolutely no ego about that & in general about anything, which was so refreshing. Her easygoing nature & genuine care enveloped me like a warm cocoon. I love the scene we share as Jacques & Rosalind— it’s a moment when the two characters connect on a real level as people &, in our show, as women. & Erica makes it easy to do so bc she is so emotionally available & simply authentic. All I have to do is take her in & my eyes can’t help but well up in tears. I cherish & respect her so much as a giving scene partner, gracious cast mate, & fellow Rosalind, but also as a deeply loving friend I know I’ll have for life. #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4BNmGYD0pl/?igshid=uxi0dw3p2g92

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::3 SHOWS LEFT:: #AsYouLikeItOSF As we roll into our final week, we now celebrate people’s bdays who are in the off-season. NOV. 8, Show #99: Kevin Kenerly— we all know the man, the myth, the legend. I’ve had the privilege of being in 2 Shakespeare plays w/ him all year, where he naturally plays royalty in both— & does he wear that crown w/ ease! Who else could make a paranoid tyrant like Duke Frederick who only appears in Act 1 so compelling that his presence reverberates for the rest of the show? It’s a master class to witness 1st hand his sharp intellect & precision w/ language at work, bolstered by his booming yet velvety voice. What an honor to learn from one of the greats all season long, but even more, to have gotten to know his big softy heart & sweet generosity of spirit. I also consider it my crowning achievement to date that I made Kevin Kenerly break onstage in #AllsWellOSF closing night. DEC. 31, Show #101: @bellefuille_boi & Josh Heuertz— we celebrated Griffin & Josh’s bdays together so they’re now known as “Joffin”. 😆 As New Year’s Eve babies & artisans working behind the scenes, they’re not used to the spotlight. Actually Griffin’s the one who puts the spotlight on everybody else. Another special person that I’ve worked w/ on both #HenryVOSF & As You, Griffin is vital as our lighting technician. They’re damn good at what they do & truly have the keen eye & soul of an artist. Just check out their insanely beautiful sketches for #inktober2019. But I’ll most appreciate our laid-back hangouts in the green room during intermission & their cheerful willingness to pause their post-show checks to take a photo for me when I bring visitors on the stage! I said it before & I’ll say it again, there is no show w/out the backstage crew & Josh rounds out our trio. He has the tricky duty of doing lightning-quick prop hand-offs to me, literally in the span of 3 seconds. Yet he does it so calmly & methodically, it’s like he’s an extension of myself. I never see him stopping during the show— he’s in constant fluid motion, ensuring everything’s in place & making it all look as easy as his friendly gait & smile. #OSF2019 #ArtisticHomeForLife #theatrefamily (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B37cbm3pHvn/?igshid=1ssni1rnpkyqy

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My favorite Aunt/Sookmo/숙모 finally came to visit me from Houston in the nick of time, not being able to the last 2 years. She got to see me act in my dream role, fell in love with this small town life & the Oregon fall weather & foliage, & was even able to tinker on the ivories at HPRC & what she called “doodle” a bit on a rare track organ at the Trinity Episcopal Church. Having this special one-on-one time made me truly appreciate in a deeper way how rare & precious she is to me, that she actually was the 1st family member I know to have seriously pursued a life in the arts, completing her PhD in organ performance & having a past life as a child piano prodigy in Korea. I’m grateful that as a musician, she understands what I do & even the intricacies of how I do it, like breath support, the physical stamina needed to perform, & the artist’s brain. Her visit was just the boost I needed to finish this last week of #OSF2019 well. ❤️ #family가족 meets #theatrefamily #AsYouLikeItOSF #ArtisticHomeForLife (at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B33LZAOpf1f/?igshid=pn1hebjofu7e