LIFE Born, Bethesda, MD (father in Naval Air Corps). Grew up in Culpeper. Moved to Charlottesville after high school graduation to be closer to Live Arts.

IN CHARLOTTESVILLE Almost two years.

NOW? Babysitter, part-time construction worker.

THEATER BEFORE LIVE ARTS High school and community theater in Culpeper.

GOT INVOLVED “My high school drama teacher took me to see a performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Since it was a Friday night, we stayed to see No Shame Theater. I just wanted to be involved, so I auditioned for Summer Theater Festival, but I didn’t get in. So Lydia Horan suggested I attend Summer Theater Institute. For the next year, I was driving here from Culpeper almost every day.”

AT LIVE ARTS Summer Theater Institute (attended three sessions). Worked back stage on LATTE productions Antigone, LATTEHouse, Ten-Minute Play Festival. Acted in "Y2K". Produced "Romeo + Juliet". Stage-managed "Summer Evening in Des Moines".

FAVORITE “Stage managing Summer Evening was definitely the most challenging and most rewarding. It definitely encompassed my life. When it was over, I was distraught. I didn’t want it to end.”

OTHER “For the last two summers, I’ve participated in a Circus tour with the anarchist publishing network CrimethInc. The tours are just goofy fun, and help to show people that if you want to make theater, you don’t need a venue. You can just break it down into little pieces and make it happen.”

SUPERHERO NAME Jane Steel. “Since I walk on stilts and breathe fire, my circus friends decided I needed a superhero nickname. My superhero persona is definitely flexed at Live Arts.”

NEXT UP “I’m going to become apprentice to a glassblower.”

WHAT PEOPLE SAY “Very few daughters of Culpeper run away with the anarchist circus and apprentice to a glassblower. Jane’s an intrepid trailblazer whose fearlessness belies her tender years. Having her big laugh and her big love in the building puts everyone in touch with their inner anarchic glass-blower clown.”
Flex (or find, for that matter) your superhero persona.

Call the Production Manager at 977-4177 x107 to volunteer at Live Arts.