You clearly love flamingoes. What is the back story? ~~ Beagle On Stage Well, my first and maiden name were both bird names (Robin and Martin), which caused a lot of interesting nicknames as a kid. As I got older, I started collecting bird Beanies, just the birds. In my first teaching job, someone gave me an inflatable flamingo which I dubbed the WatchFlamingo and hung from the ceiling of my classroom. That was really the start. Pink and Purple have always been my favorite colors…and it just blossomed from there. I think they are cool, and always did even when they weren’t. I’m tackyretro that way
I know that theatre people tend to put a lot of stock in theatre -- it can become the major focus of an actor's life. How has having cancer affected your views on theatre and its importance to your life? ~~ curlyhairedsoprano91 Wow, great question. I’ve always said that educational theatre is the great leveler of all cliques and groups because you can find a niche somewhere – tech, house, onstage, in the pit – somewhere!!! I’m having to listen to my own advice because of the fatigue factor - I miss being able to full out direct/musical direct/choreograph a show because of the fatigue, but theatre kids are loyal, and even if I’m only doing publicity or photography or costumes, they still eat lunch in my room every day!
We all love your hat collection. Which hat is your favorite out of all of them? ~~ Beagle On Stage There’s one cream straw bowler which is very flattering, and can be dressed up with one of the gazillion scarves I also have. That’s probably my favorite. My favorite goofy one is the flamingo whose wings flap.
What is your favorite memory from working at your high school? ~~ Disney-Bway27 Oh my, there are so many. Probably the production of GODSPELL that I directed right before I was diagnosed with cancer. I knew something was terribly wrong, but I was bound and determined not to let it affect the show – and it’s the best thing that we’ve ever done. I went to the doctor the day after it closed, by the way.
I know as one of the younger forum members here, I look up to you (as do many others). Does this kind of thing make you hesitant or 'weary' about what you may say in your posts? ~~ Adie Usually not. I’m pretty much a WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get. I’m like this in real life and online – somewhat conservative in my speech, a bit of a wild past, which I share when appropriate, but pretty consistently faithful to my beliefs.
Which performer would you drop everything to go and see? ~~ PeggySeldon Nathan Lane. I’ve never seen him live. Colm Wilkinson, I’ve been blessed to see twice – so Nathan Lane.
What's your middle name? ~~ Katie-chan Elizabeth. I think it's prettier than Robin.
What is your favorite smiley emotion thingy? ~~ What you own I love the big grin
We've heard that you met your husband through theatre, have you ever played opposite him? ~~ jackissensational We’ve worked together backstage, but he’s more of a techie. His only two acting roles onstage were in high school where they were short of guys, and the nun in charge forced him to do it. LOL!!
Robin, you are such a strong, inspirational person. What is it you do that helps you keep a positive mind and what is your philosophy in life? ~~ Actor The positive mind is the way I’ve always been. I am the original Annie in that sense. I’m blessed to have been brought up in a wonderful home with two wonderful parents and a pain in the butt younger brother who would go to the ends of the earth for me
. And then I got my Mike 28 years ago to carry on that blessing. But my philosophy in life is basically this: If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it. I have a very strong faith life. I believe that the hundreds and hundreds of people all over the world who pray for me have a very strong effect. Of course, I also believe that what you do to and for others affects the way you live your life, so a life of service and hope will make anyone happy. Do what you love, and your life will work out somehow.
Describe your life in 3 words? ~~ PeggySeldon Crazy, challenging and joyful.
What was your first role ever? ~~ Beagle On Stage If we don’t count Sunday School plays and school pageants, then it was Melinda in “Inherit the Wind” – I understudied Rachel, but played Melinda. I think I was 12.
What's one CD that you can't live without? ~~ PeggySeldon My Les Mis Anniversary. Ah, Colm.
The best medicine is ___________? ~~ What you own Laughter. Bar none!!!
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? ~~ PeggySeldon Being in my 50s, I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of great performers, but I would LOVE to have seen “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” onstage with Uta Hagen. I also would have adored seeing Robert Preston onstage as Harold Hill in “The Music Man.”
If you could be any part again, who would you be? ~~ kozafluitmusique I loved playing Aldonza, but my heart belongs to Sonia/TurnBack in Godspell.
What show currently on Broadway do you most want to see right now? ~~ brock07 In the Heights. I know I just made Amber very happy.
Which is your favourite piece of literature to teach and why? ~~ Brackynn I LOVE to teach Macbeth – because of LADY Macbeth. But I also love the richness of the Canterbury Tales prologue and taking students through the microcosmic tapestry of characters woven from the entire English society of the 14th century.
What's the first Broadway show you ever saw? ~~ PeggySeldon I’m not going to count all the hundreds of shows I’ve seen at the Nederlander theatres in Detroit – Detroit used to be a stop on the out of town runs pre Broadway, so I grew up seeing amazing things. Instead, I’ll use actual Broadway. The Fantasticks. I know, it’s not officially ON Broadway, and it only beat out Les Mis (Ah, Colm) by one day…there you go.
What is your motto? ~~ What you own "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Of all the roles you’ve played which has been the most: Fun? Rewarding? Challenging?? ~~ TylerMcMahonThe most fun, bar none, was Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn, from the Music Man (followed very closely by Mama in Bye Bye Birdie). It was such a blast because she’s SOOOOO not me, and they gave me, you guessed it, terrific hats!!! The most rewarding has been every high school show I’ve ever directed: that’s truly my love now. The most challenging as a performer was playing Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. I was cast instead of the local favorite who everyone thought was a shoo-in. I was treated pretty poorly by many of the older members of the group until I won them over. I was only 22, and no one expected me to be any good. I was.
