Acting

OBIE AWARD WINNING ACTRESS       AEA    t.near@yahoo.com

 

Highlights

Ruella, Communicating Doors, by Alan Ayckbourn

Directed by John McCluggage, San Jose Rep, 2000     

Goodman Award for Best Actress

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Anna Berniers, Toys In The Attic by Lillian Hellman

Directed by Steve Albrezzi, San Jose Repertory Theatre, 1994

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Nadine, Still Life by Emily Mann, with Mary McDonnell & John Spencer.  Performed at American Place Theatre in NYC, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and Aquarius Theatre in Los Angeles, 1981-82

Obie Award for Best Actress

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Ruda Dwyer, Right of Way by Richard Lees

Directed by Steve Robman, Guthrie Theatre, 1980

 

Education:

San Francisco State.  BA Drama.

Sandy Meisner, Advanced Acting, New York City

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts

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In the early 1980’s  my directing career took off.  Here is my acting history prior to this career shift. 

 

1965-1967: Professional acting while still in college:  

Kate, Taming of the Shrew, Claremont Summer Shakespeare Festival, Ca.

Alison, Look Back in Anger, Opera Circle Theatre, San Francisco.

 

1968-1970: Member of the Circus Theatre Co. performing at The Interplayers Theatre, San Francisco.  Lead roles in Futz by Rochelle Owens, Tom Paine by Tom O’Horgan and Marat-Sade by Peter Weiss.

 

1970-1973: Film, Television.

Waitress in “Cisco Pike” with Kris Kristofferson.

“The Odd Couple” Oscar the Model episode.

A film at American Film Institute by David Lindeman

“Breakfast In Bed” directed by Jenny Sullivan, starring John Ritter

“Christian Licorice Store” directed by James Frawley, starring Beau Bridges

 

1971-1973: Theatre and other performances.

Miss Amelia, Carson McCullers’ Ballad of the Sad Café with Jack Nance in L.A.

Member of the Mark Taper Forum Improvisational Theatre Company 

Kate, Henry IV, Part 1 with William Devane (understudy and went on 5 times)

Near Sisters Trio: sang at the Ashgrove, The Ice House, Santa Monica Pier

 

1973-1975: Actress in  the National Theatre of the Deaf touring nationally and internationally.

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1975-1983:  

Hudson Guild Theatre.  With Marion Mercer and Jimmy Ray Weeks

Public Theatre:  Multiple roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Francis Fisher, David Strathairn, Jay O. Sanders

Stage West, Springfield, Ma,. Lead roles in Three Sisters, Hot’l Baltimore, When We Dead Awaken, Vanities.  

Sesame Street: For 7 years created the role of “Timi, Linda’s hearing friend who can sign.” 

Guthrie Theatre: Ruda in Right of Way by Richard Lees (WP), Mrs. Fezziwig in Christmas Carol,  Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis:  Tom Jones, the Musical by Larry Arrick and Barbara Damashek.  

 

WGBH Boston, Massachusetts, 1976

“Images on Air,” compiled and directed collection of poetry written by deaf writers and performed by Timothy and Freda Norman in American Sign Language.  Aired nationally for ABC captioned News.

 

Survival Sunday, Hollywood Bowl, 1979

Performed American Sign interpretation for Melissa Manchester, Graham Nash, Holly Near, Joan Baez,  John Denver.