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Catching up with Livia Genise Livia Genise. Photo courtesy of Oregon Cabaret Theatre Thursday Feb 2, 2017 at 6:51 PM Feb 2, 2017 at 6:51 PM By Jeffrey Gillespie For the Tidings Catching up with Livia Genise after nearly a year away from her former home at Camelot Theatre proved to be harder than expected. With the Rogue Valley public still much enamored of one of their first ladies of theater (currently in rehearsal as Dottie in “Noises Off!” which opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre on Feb. 9), Genise’s life is as hectic as ever. I caught up with her to chat about her current projects. JG: You've been very visible since your departure from Camelot less than a year ago. Tell us about some of your projects. LG: Of course! I taught an acting class and then directed "Macbeth" for the Oregon Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Jeannine Grizzard of Ashland Contemporary Theatre and my new theater company, Livia Genise Productions, co-produced "Chess: The Musical." It was a labor of love for the cast and myself and we ran the show for two weekends and it sold out, which was very gratifying! Then I went up to Portland to direct "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" for Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy and Community Theatre. It played the Brunish Theatre, part of the Portland 5 Complex, and got great reviews. Then I was hired to sing jazzy Christmas music at Hearsay Restaurant for the month of December. So I’ve kept pretty busy. JG : Has the transition away from Camelot been successful for you in terms of community support? LG: I have received incredible support from the community, both personally and professionally. I am on the chamber board and everyone at the chamber and the greeters were incredibly supportive of me. When I decided to start my own company, a good friend of mine who was a lawyer helped me with the articles of incorporation. Then three other wonderful friends donated over $5,000 in sponsorship monies. With their help, I was able to co-produce "Chess: The Musical." And the success of that show has given me the seed money to produce "God’s Country" by Steven Dietz locally from April 28 through May 14 and the "A Tribute to the Life and Music of Ella Fitzgerald" starring Sue Carney June 9-18. All of this support has convinced me not to leave the area and relocate to Portland but to stay here. Ashland is my home. JG: Tell us about the experience of being in rehearsal and working with Oregon Cabaret Theatre on "Noises Off"? LG: It is so much fun! We started laughing at the read-through and haven’t stopped since! I don’t know how the set designer, Craig Hudson, was able to get a revolving set up on the stage of the Cabaret, but we’ve been rehearsing on it since day one and it is amazing! My character is so much fun to play! Dottie is a cross between Emma Thompson and Maggie Smith and the Cabaret is such a wonderful and professional theater company. Valerie Rachelle is a great director and the cast consists of brilliant comedians who can all do physical farce. You know, Frank Rich described Noises Off as the funniest play written in his lifetime and I have to say, it’s the funniest show I have ever been a part of! JG: Can you give some input to young actors in the Valley as to what it takes to work in this field? LG: Before moving to Ashland, I ran conservatories for years in the Bay Area. During my 14 years at Camelot, I made sure our Conservatory program was not only challenging, but a safe space for students to come and begin to shape their instruments: mind, body and heart! With the support of my Conservatory Director, Rebecca Campbell, and our wonderful faculty, we trained some of the finest young performers in the Valley. The program was so successful that we were asked to be the theatrical summer camp at SOU for over seven years. So my advice is: Get training, learn vocal and acting techniques. Work with as many teachers and directors as you can. And never give up! While there may be many actors out there, if you keep improving your craft and are always be part of the solution and never part of the problem, directors will always want to work with you! G: Thanks, Liv! — Ashland resident Jeffrey Gillespie is a Daily Tidings columnist, arts reviewer and freelance writer. Email him at [email protected].