We opened Summer of ’42 (book by Hunter Foster, music & lyrics by David Kirshenbaum) at Stage 1 Theatre Company about two weeks ago.  It’s my first show for Stage 1 and I’m really excited to take part in the theatre company’s premier season.  I’ve known Artistic Director Chase Kniffen  since he was ten years old, and I always expected he would do great things in the theatre.  At 24 years old, he’s off to an amazing start, and I’m so proud of him!

I do have to admit though, that when Chase asked me to play the part of Dorothy,  I had one very serious reservation, which my friend Dave Timberline nailed in his blog.

“You could certainly make a case for Robyn being too old for this role. “

Oh God!

However, he went on and totally made my day:

“But even if Dorothy is a character I would have pegged at being in her mid-to-late 20s, I think it works with Ms. O’Neill because she has always had the energy and a glow about her of someone many years younger. The key question for the show is: can you believe her being the object of a teenage boy’s crush? And the answer for me is unquestionably yes.”

Thanks, Dave!  You made this old broad really happy!

(Photo by Chase Kniffen)