WHICH SCHOOL YEARS WERE THE WORST FOR YOU? ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL? WHY?
There's an awkward chunk of time that begins around 7th grade and ends about halfway through your sophomore year that is a living hell for anyone growing up. It's mental guerrilla warfare and kids can be surprisingly manipulative. There wasn't a part of me that I liked during that time, from my braces to my boobs to my brain. I thought I was all wrong because some girls I put on a pedestal told me so.
DID YOU HAVE A BULLY GROWING UP? IF SO HOW DID YOU HANDLE THEM?
Everyone has bullies growing up, and we're all still growing up until we kick it. The title of 'bully' hasn't stuck with one person my whole life, it's hopped from person to person as I've learned to live and let go. That title has passed through raccoon-eyed middle school trollops, ex-boyfriends, old roommates, teachers, cranky late night drunks and everyone in between. My current 'bully' is Randy on the other end of a TWC phone call. But that's part of the beauty of growing up; suddenly everyone we once considered a bully is now just an ass hole. Plus, we've all been the bully at one point in our lives, and if we have a well organized mind we learn that the reason we bullied someone is because we saw something in them that exposed a negative part of ourselves, and acknowledging your own shortcomings is never fun. Moral of the story: don't be an ass hole and kick someone in the ass hole if they're being an ass hole to you. (Am I allowed to say ass hole in this thing?)
DID YOU EVER TRY RESOLVING YOUR ISSUES WITH BULLYING THROUGH THE POWER OF SONG? THAT SEEMS TO WORK IN MOST MUSICALS.
I...have not. I sang a lot of karaoke in my bathroom to make myself feel better if that counts, but I have never belted into someones face to try and resolve a problem. Well, except in this show...you're welcome, Jason.
WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL YOU HAD GROWING UP?
I wanted a pony. I used to play soccer but I was the kid who would pick the dandelions on the corner of the field and give them to my parents after the game. One day my dad said he'd buy me a pony if I ever scored a goal. He was literally that confident that I would never score a goal. I never did.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE WORKING ON "FATTY FATTY NO FRIENDS?"
Totally wild. This show is taxing. The amount of energy and heart that is required to pull it off is incredible. (Also, let's not forget that Christian writes some of the most challenging music I have ever encountered). I'm so lucky to be working with some stupidly talented artists that I also have a great deal of trust and love for. Without that, this show couldn't happen.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Come see our show.
FATTY FATTY NO FRIENDS IS THE STORY OF A KID.
THE SKINNY KIDS HATED HIM, NO MATTER WHAT HE DID.
THEY TAUNTED HIM UNTIL HE TOOK REVENGE WITHOUT AMENDS.
IT WAS A TASTY LESSON FOR FATTY FATTY NO FRIENDS.
Ironically enough I did have a bully when I was about four or five. Her name was Astor and she was twice my size. She kept saying she would put me in the chokie if I didn't do things for her.