Top 5: Five Things You Don't Know About Actor Meredith Richard

Actors spend so much time learning the interior lives of the characters they play that it's only natural that we're all a little curious about the actors playing these parts. So here are The Top 5 Things about Washington, DC-based actor Meredith Richard that you didn't know, and if you'd like to see her onstage, check out the NextStop Theatre Company production of "The Secret Garden" in Spring 2015!

Meredith's Top 5 Things:

1. I got my B.A. at LAMDA in London and I lived there for four years.
2. BBQ ribs are my favorite food - both to cook and to eat!
3. My favorite color is green.
4. I enjoy writing poems, especially comedic/story type poems, but I rarely read them aloud.
5. My favorite animals are house cats and bats.

And to see my Top 5 portraits of Meredith, click here to visit my Shannon Finney Photography Facebook page!

theatreWashington's Summer Hummer Raises Money with a Bump and Grind!

Summer Hummer 3: How the Washington, DC Theatre Scene Takes Care of Its Own

Life often brings unexpected circumstances, and for theatre professionals, who often work without the benefit of health insurance, those circumstances can jeopardize their physical and financial health. Enter: theatreWashington and their Taking Care of Our Own (TCOOO) initiative, a fund financed by the generous donations of theatre patrons and the theatre community at large. Donations to TCOOO are made throughout the year, but the signature event that raises the most donations to the fund in a single evening is The Summer Hummer, a DC version of Broadway Bares, with local DC theatre scenesters bumping and grinding for a great cause. This year's Summer Hummer, held at Signature Theatre, was the bawdiest ever with crazy costumes, great singing, and cheesecake and beefcake to spare. Here is the PG-13 highlights reel!

Patrick J. Hurston and Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer at Summer Hummer

theatreWashington President and CEO Linda Levy with Helen Hayes Award winning actor, Matthew DeLorenzo at Summer Hummer

Members of the cast of Studio Theatre's "Rocky Horror" pose with orange-boaed conductor/songwriter Christopher Youstra

Victor Shargai is all smiles at Summer Hummer 3

Joshua Morgan of No Rules Theatre Company and Luigi Filiputti

Those gams belong to none other than actor Ryan Patrick Welsh

Actors Bobby Smith and Erin Gardiner join conductor/composer Christopher Youstra in a squeeze and a giggle at Summer Hummer

Actor Michael Litchfield crowdsurfs for donations at the Summer Hummer

Portrait of An Artist: Actor Frank Britton, Strength in Black and White

When actor Frank Britton was brutally attacked and robbed Memorial Day, the #DCtheatre community came together in a wave of financial and emotional support. Frank continues to prove, through his miraculous recovery, that love will always win.

Portrait of an Artist: Molly Smith

Photo by Shannon Finney, October 2012, Washington, DC

When Molly Smith was named artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, DC, people wondered how a risk-taking champion of new plays, and old plays in new ways, would do in this buttoned-down town. Now, the question is what would this buttoned-down town have done without her. And while there have been countless articles written about her, seeking to describe and dissect her approach to theatre, the photograph above shows the simple of truth behind her dedication to this art form, and that is love - a pure love of theatre's ability to communicate directly to an audience. I took this photo as Ms. Smith was being serenaded by Nicholas Rodriguez, star of Arena Stage's current production of "My Fair Lady", singing "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."

A Love Letter in Photos to Jaylee Mead

 

This week, all of Washington, DC and the theatre world beyond the Beltway celebrated the life of Jaylee Mead. Her passing this week brought forth tributes from several generations of actors, actresses, directors, and writers. We have all been touched, in some way, by Mrs. Mead's passion for performance and her generosity. I first met Mrs. Mead, along with her late husband, Gilbert, at a charity event about fifteen years ago. I was working at a radio station and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and there were the Meads, talking excitedly with the young artists we were there to fete. Over the years, I would see the Meads, and later, just Mrs. Mead, at other arts and charity events, always excitedly talking to the performers and encouraging them to live out their creative dreams. When I made the decision to pursue photography full time, there was Mrs. Mead, talking excitedly to me. I spent one of the best afternoons at Mrs. Mead's home. With the sparkling Potomac River glistening just beyond her balcony, Mrs. Mead shared with me a bit of her story, including old scrapbooks and photos. She taught me that generosity isn't just about writing a big check - no, it's simpler than that. It's about giving your whole heart enthusiastically and unreservedly. She will be missed.

 

 

 

 

Shannon the Photo Gal's 2011 Year in Review

It's been an amazing year of incredible stories, from earthquakes to epic winter storms, and stories closer to home. I've taken thousands of photographs in 2011 and here is a brief highlights reel of the year in review as captured through my camera lens. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

JANUARY- In January 2011, we were singing "Ice, Ice Baby" with
brutally cold temperatures and treacherous ice storms that left
thousands stranded on Washington, DC area highways for hours.


FEBRUARY - While most east coasters dream of sunny skies and warmer

climates during February, Washingtonians who are more

theatrically inclined look forward to the announcement of nominees

for theatreWashington's annual Helen Hayes Awards. Below, Rick

Hammerly of Factory 449 and theatreWashington's Linda Levy

Grossman share a dramatic moment for the camera.



MARCH - While the New York City St. Patrick's Day parade is legendary

and larger than life, I'm a fan of Old Town Alexandria's celebration. Below,

two dancers take a well-deserved break in the courtyard of the

historic Christ Church.

APRIL - Who is that high-flying young girl? Why it's Margot, enjoying

a fantastic Easter Sunday moment with her dad, Chris.

MAY - It's a great thing when two friends come together and make a family.

For John and Tiffany that dream came true and the joy on their wedding

day was palpable.

JUNE - Homecomings come in all different varieties, and when David returned

to U.S. soil after serving his country in far-off hot spots, all he needed was a

comfortable tile floor at Dulles Airport and his daughter.

JULY - Summertime and the living in Washington, DC was anything but easy.

It's during times like these that a park bench and a shave-ice are your

only chances for relief, until your little brother attempts to pick off

of your cold treat!

AUGUST - Washington, DC's National Mall is a rarefied parcel of land that

has managed to avoid the slapdash architectural sprawl that can ruin a city.

So it was with great anticipation that Washingtonians awaited the

construction and dedication of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national

memorial. When the memorial opened in August, neither DC's

outrageous humidity nor the swarms of mosquitoes dogging our every

step could keep tourists and locals away.

SEPTEMBER - In late August 2011, Washingtonians were shaken, not stirred, by

an earthquake and a series of aftershocks that made us all think we'd been

transported from the banks of the Potomac to the Pacific coast! All of that

rocking and rolling put some of the landmarks of the Nation's Capitol

at risk, chief among them being the Washington Monument. By September,

a high-flying team of inspectors repelled down the side of the monument,

a stunt you'd more likely see in a Nick Cage movie, and not in real life.

OCTOBER - For those of you who want to step up your Halloween game,

the annual High Heels Race in DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood is the

scene. The 2011 race marked the gathering's 25th anniversary and the

two divas below showed us why this ain't no simple game of dress-up!

NOVEMBER - For 2011, we kept the turkey, ditched the football, and picked

up the Jackman, actually, actor Hugh Jackman at his one-man Broadway show. After

nearly 40 rain-soaked minutes outside of the Broadhurst Theatre, my patience

was rewarded when the Jackman appeared!

DECEMBER - If you think there are angels hovering around, well then December

is the month for you! These little cherubim put on their best halos for an annual

Christmas pageant.



The Stars Come Out: theatreWashington's 2011 Star Gala and Benefit Auction

theatreWashington celebrated it's official launch this week with a gala and auction benefiting their ongoing efforts for the Washington, DC theatre community. Jaylee Mead, benefactor extraordinaire of Washington theatre, was presented with the "Helen's Star" Award and Eleasha Gamble, actress and star of Arena Stage's production of "Oklahoma!", gave Star Gala guests a marvelous musical send-off.

Molly Smith of Arena Stage and Linda Levy Grossman

Ari Roth of Theatre J

Helen's Star award recipient Jaylee Mead along with Victor Shargai

Jaycee Haywood with Victor Shargai

The Picnic Theatre Company

Michael Bobbitt of Adventure Theatre with Dorothy McSweeney

Eric Schaeffer of Signature Theatre

Felicia Curry and Eleasha Gamble

Victor Shargai