So many of our artists have been keeping busy during this strange and difficult time, and we have been astounded at the creativity and spirit that they have exhibited while quarantined at home. We got in touch with our friend Leah to talk to her about how she has been spending her time over the last six months. Read on to see what she’s been up to!
What have you been up to since the pandemic occurred? Any interesting home projects to share?
Oh goodness. Well. I’ve definitely learned a lot about allowing myself to slow down since the pandemic, and decreasing the pressure I put on myself to be constantly productive. But I’ve still been writing quite a bit, and my writer’s group (which has a biweekly virtual meeting where we read each other’s work and give feedback) has grown a lot, which is exciting! Some of my freelance work from The Before Times has gone virtual now, so since the fall I’ve been teaching ballroom dance with Dancing With the Students, and working as a standardized patient. I’ve also started remotely teaching English as a Second Language to children in China. Aaron Roberge (my husband and co-creator of Wandering Theatre) and I have been brainstorming our next new puppet show: a sort of “fractured fairy tale” that tells the “true story” of Captain Hook. Hopefully the time will come that we will be able to perform live again! (Also, my latest fun activity is that Aaron has been teaching me to nunchuk. I’m getting pretty good, if I do say so myself!)
What do you miss most about being onstage in front of live audiences?
Just the energy in the room. The way that you feel connected with everyone, both cast and audience, as you all experience a story together. It’s great that so many performers and theatre companies are finding creative ways to adapt to a virtual medium. But there is nothing like live performance when it comes to sharing the feeling of being alive.
What do you look forward to the most about getting back to work with ETC?
It’s kind of impossible to pick what I’d be most excited about if live performance with ETC could come back. The casts! The audiences! Actually, I guess I found my answer there: the people!
Any fun stories to share?
Aaron and I love to go camping (and we’ve been doing it quite a bit). In June, we visited my parents in CT, and we stayed in their backyard in our tent to ensure that we could keep socially distant the whole time. Come to find out, a day or two after we went back to Philly, a bear was prowling my parents’ neighborhood, finding its meals right in the woods around their yard! My parents heard some pretty unpleasant noises out there. Close call for us, apparently!
Any big updates to share? Moved? New pet? New favorite pastime?
We moved! Still living in West Philly, but Aaron and I have moved in with fellow Enchantment veterans Aaron Lathrop and Phoenix Gina Leigh, and another puppeteer, Bohrs Hoff! Puppet House! And we also live with the most amazing and perfect cats: Harvey, Aggie, and Dot.
Thanks so much to Leah for sharing all of her adventures! Check back for other interviews with our fantastic collaborators, and more information about our upcoming virtual projects!
