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Blog Party for Artsy Moms - Join the Fun!
By Deb Gallardo
Today I’m participating in a “blog party,” hosted, as you can see from the graphic above, by Moms’ Talk Network. The topic of the day is Artsy Moms. While I’ve done my share of hand crafts, from quilting to beading, to crocheting and tole painting, my first love has always been singing and acting, especially in musical theatre.
I’ve been performing on stage since I was 14. As a military wife, I didn’t have many opportunities to perform overseas, so that part of my life went away, and so did a huge part of my soul. When my daughter and I moved back to Ohio in late 2000, after I got tired of licking my wounds in the “cave” of my mother’s home, the first thing I did to get myself out of the house was to audition for a Neil Simon serio-comedy called “Proposals.” That was early 2001. My daughter was 13 and happy to see me starting to have a life again.
Since then I have reprised that same role (Clemma) with another theatre troupe, directed and starred as Florence in Old Couple - Female Version, “channeled” Mother Superior in Nunsense II and Nuncrackers, played Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music, was featured in Baby the Musical in a 5-part women’s ensemble, and portrayed Mrs. Potts, the teapot, in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in two different cities.
The last 4 years I’ve done strictly semi-professional productions, working with phenomenal actors, directors, and musicians. The two weeks prior to production are always the most stressful, and invariably we look at each other and ask, “Are we having fun yet?”
And then it somehow comes together just when it should. And suddenly we’re striking the set and heading out to the cast party and then moving on with our lives, no longer with those people who have been like family for 5 or 6 weeks.
Getting back into theatre helped to get me through the last vestiges of over two decades of clinical depression (a direct result of having denied my artistic gifts during that time). Even though I can’t make a living at acting, just having it as a creative outlet is enough to feed the part of my being that eats, drinks and sleeps musical theatre.
I’ve come a long way from the 16-year old girl who starred as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific in 1966, but my love of performing hasn’t diminished. I am most at home when I’m on stage, making people laugh and cry and be transported for a time from their own cares, to a place of enjoyment. To me, that’s a win-win combination.
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
How very cool! I’ve always loved musicals. And so what if you can’t make a living….it’s FUN right?
July 15th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Absolutely, it’s fun, Christine. But I’m in need of making money at something. LOL And since singing and acting are my strengths, it’s a source of frustration for me that they remain a “hobby.”
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Deb
July 15th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Hi,
Just stopping by from the artsy mama carnival. That’s great to have a gift for singing and acting. I’m sure there must be somewhere and some way to make your hobby/passion a dream. Maybe you can be the next American Idol ?
Pattys last blog post..Moms Talk Network is Having a Blog Party…
July 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Thanks for the comment, Patty. Unfortunately for me, I am too old to enter the American Idol competition. I’m just content to do my thing on stage when I can. Until I can’t get up the steps anymore. Then they’ll need to lift me up with a crane. LOL
Thank you for stopping by.
Deb
July 17th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I’m an actor too! I feel very strongly that a part of my soul is not living when I am not on that stage. And I’ve not been on the stage in a while. I may not make it back onto the stage until I’m 40. But I will do it again, some day!
July 17th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Mandy,
It’s always good to meet a fellow Thespian! Thanks for commenting and come back often.
Deb
July 21st, 2008 at 4:14 am
Getting back into theatre helped to get me through the last vestiges of over two decades of clinical depression (a direct result of having denied my artistic gifts during that time). Even though I can’t make a living at acting, just having it as a creative outlet is enough to feed the part of my being that eats, drinks and sleeps musical theatre.