Frankenstein, MPR, What Fuels Development?, Last Call and Inspiration

Recently, I had the honor of joining a Friday Roundtable discussion on MPR with the topic “After 200 years, why does "Frankenstein" still resonate?” Friday Roundtable discussions are in-depth conversations on news and culture, with host Kerri Miller. This honor was born out of the production of Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus by Green T Productions in which I played the Doctor last fall, and is especially meaningful to me because I am such a big fan of the book as well as Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollstonecraft. The other guests were Jennifer Alexander, Director of Graduate Studies in the History of Science, Technology & Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Juliet Burba, Director of Exhibits and Collections at the Bakken Museum - so, I was in REALLY good company. I was so nervous the day of that I left far too early and had plenty of time in the waiting room to wonder about the other women on the panel. Would we agree? Would we have enough to say? Jennifer arrived next and as we chatted I began to relax, when Juliet joined it seemed clear we were in no danger of uninteresting conversation. Unfortunately, as our time in the waiting area grew longer I realized I would need to move my car. I’d arrived so early I was in danger of getting a ticket. As I put my coat on to run and feed the meter, I learned that they would validate parking in a nearby ramp. Sheepishly I ran to move my vehicle, arriving back at a jog just in time to walk in to the studio. Which is kind of a record for me - ridiculously early and nearly late for the same event. What happened when we got into the studio you can listen to here.
Please help me keep the conversation going, share your thoughts in a comment.

Photo: Scene from Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus - Screen Shot Greg Bauhof

Next up for me on stage, is a collaboration between Pangea World Theater and Los Angeles Poverty Department called, “What Fuels Development?” Perfomances are 2/23-2/24 at Old Arizona Studio, 2821 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408 We have just begun the process, but I am already so excited. It is a story of a community coming together to do the right thing for some of the most vulnerable amongst us.

Also, I’ll be finishing up filming on Last Call and working on a few other films in the next few weeks, all while Super Bowl Madness takes over Minneapolis! Who knows what shenanigans will ensue from there?!

Selfie from the set of Last Call

Finally, I have the absolute joy of celebrating the successes of two dear friends. Laurine Price's stunning turn in Episode 1 of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and Gregory Dean Tompkins who turns in, in what is a surprise to no one, a smart performance in Episode 15 of Homicide Hunter’s 7th Season. For every step we seemingly walk alone in this industry, it is good to remember those who walk with us and give us reason to celebrate! So PROUD of them. Inspirations, both!

Screen shots