Post #1- Jenny

In response to Stacey's intro questions:

1. Hi everyone - I'm Jenny Avery - I've been an ensemble member at Strawdog since 1998 (which makes me one of the "lifers" in the crowd). I currently hold a lot of titles at Strawdog, which may sound important, but really means I'm really busy and a wee bit overcommitted. Along with Michael Dailey, I am one of the Associate Artistic Directors, which means that I help Nic in selecting the season and managing the company. I am also the Director of Development, which means that I try to raise money for the Company through government and foundation grants and individual donations. Lastly, I am acting as the interim literary manager, finding scripts and arranging readings (told ya I was busy). When I am not at Strawdog, I act at other theaters around town and teach drama at a variety of elementary and high schools around Chicago.

2. I am playing Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. Elizabeth is married to King Edward, who is in the midst of dying at the beginning of the play and the mother of the young boys who are killed in the tower by Richard. I am really excited about playing her, as I think she is an incredibly smart, saavy and powerful woman - she is one of the only characters in the play who really takes Richard on, head to head. Still working on what her journey is throughout the play and I'll keep you posted.

3. How am I like her? hmmmm.....well, I like to think I'm smart - I am occasionally saavy and powerful. She definitely has a sense of her own importance, and depending on the situation, I can certainly display that quality as well.

4. I love working on Shakespeare and don't get to do it all that often - in fact, the last time was about 5 years ago - the language is so beautiful and packed with amazingly active images. I am particularly excited to delve into the Richard/Elizabeth scene as there are so many amazingly fun things for me to say!

I think the same reasons that I am excited about the play are the reasons that I am concerned/freaked out - the language is so beautiful, how do I live up to them? The situations are so large - there is so much at stake, how do I buy into it fully?