There have been many hobbies and interests that have come and gone in my life, but the one constant has always been music. Some of my earliest memories involve kindly asking my mother “Tape Please” in her green Subaru on the way to and from school, the public pool, the grocery store…etc. This meant, “please place my newest cassette tape in to the car” and let me sing every word, and every part of whatever Broadway show or Disney movie I happened to be into that month. The love of singing and performing could not be satisfied in the car, and led to me starting to take piano lessons in first grade so I could eventually learn to play my favorite songs whenever I wanted to. And that naturally led to a deep love for performing, and so I took every opportunity to audition and book as many Southwestern PA musicals I could possibly squeeze into my schedule.
I had other interests though. I was a pretty accomplished swimmer, and I was just starting a promising basketball career at 4’10 and 90lbs (this is obviously a joke). Then life took a left turn and I was diagnosed with bone cancer in my left tibia at age 13. After major surgery to remove the tumor and 8 months of chemotherapy, I decided to pursue my dreams of becoming a Broadway star, because life is short and why do something one doesn’t love. I got into my favorite school for Musical Theater and started my life as a working actor and Musical Director at my local theater. I also started writing musicals of my own and found a true passion for it. I could finally write shows just like the ones I listened to in my mom’s Subaru so many years ago. I took my need to always get better to NYU and got my masters in Musical Theatre Composition and have been writing ever since. However, my itch for performing needed scratched, (and a way to pay the bills) so I came across the Dueling Pianos at Howl at the Moon in NYC and that seemed to satisfy my need for applause. I eventually found my way to the Hollywood branch before the pandemic tossed me into the arms of Felix and Fingers. It was a match made in heaven.
I love working for this company. I love using songs everyone knows as a way to bring people together. It’s one of the oldest form of entertainment. Every show is different, even if the same songs are played. It’s spontaneous and effervescent, and nothing on this planet is like it. I count myself incredibly lucky to share in making unforgettable memories for the clients I have the privilege to sing along with, and I always hope that someone requests a Disney song. It reminds me of where I came from, and where it all began.
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