Who am I?

Miranda - The Tempest', 1916 * Oil on canvas, 38 x 53 in Private Collection by John William Waterhouse 1849-1917

If I only knew . . .

Your host for this evening's web page is Heather Lynn Shaw. I was born Janurary 23, 1973 in Chicago, IL. My family moved to Indianapolis, IN when I was 4, and I basically spent the next 20 years in that house.

Mom gave Holly and I dance lessons as we were growing up. That gave both of us the love for theatre, for being center stage and smiling. I love to entertain. If I know my part, I'll happily sing, dance and perform full-out for you. Improv is a little shakier, as the uncertainty of it makes me shy.

Let's see . . . well, I wrote my first play in 7th grade, er . . . Our Sweet Earth I believe I titled it. It was a time-travel piece, attempting to illustrate how we're killing the earth. Yes, I chose that topic just because I knew it would impress the teacher. It was the one chosen from my class for production, which was quite a coup for an unpopular kid like me (didn't you hate Middle School? *shudder*). I didn't actually *do* live theatre (now, this doesn't count dancing, which is different from acting, we understand this, yes?) until my freshman year of high school, where I landed the big ol' role of Flower Vendor/Dancer in Cindrella, the high school musical for that year. I spent the first two years working tech (and dancing around the stage until Mr. Thompson, our stagecraft advisor, gave me my first-ever nickname, "Grace"). I think I finally got a lead role (not supporting lead) my senior year, as "Sally" in Dumb Luck. Then I went off to Franklin College where I played "Emily" in Blue Window and "Fastrada" in Pippin. Mom wants me to mention my role as "Emma Goldman" in the musical Tintypes, which I did some choreography for as well. My favorite production at FC was probably Dark Ride which was a collaboration of student's artistic efforts: Colin designed the costume, Craig did the sets, Kris wrote the soundtrack and I choreographed the dance. I also acted in this show as "Deep Sea Edna". Very cool show.

I moved to the Bay Area (Berkeley, CA) on June 5, 1997. I had to get out of Indiana, even though I probably had the best overlapping circle(s) of friends in my life back there. The Bay has offered me so much, it's worth it. I don't like city-life though. Give me trees!!!

I don't know what made me go into theatre on this page. Possibly because I didn't make a separate page for it. I'm sure this page will change and become nice and sleek later, but for now, this will do.

Read my poetry
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