Event Article

From chorus girl to ingenue, Darri Kristin has made the theater her home for ten years.

The 24 year old veteran of the stage has been seen in productions written by Sophocles to those by Tennessee Williams.

This November, she will tack.le the role of Juliet in Shakespeare's, · ''Romeo and Juliet" held at FCs campus theater.

Kristin has risen through the ranks of the theatre.

From a chorus member in a high . school production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," at the age of fourteen to winning the Best Actress award in high school for the part of Miss Furnival in "The Black Comedy."

Kristin has played parts such as Laura in "The Glass Menagerie", Rosasharon in "The Grapes of Wrath," had a scene in a futuristic version of Antigone," staged in the year 3000 and played April Talk Show in ''The Heidi Chronicles."

Acting, and theatre itself, might have saved her sanity last year.

She got a part in the musical "Hair," where she had to perform a vocal solo, although she did not have much faith in her singing ability

Kristin's mother was there for her, pushing her along in her first real lead role.

Then during rehearsals, she died, devastating Kristin.

If it had not been for the "Hair" rehearsal schedule, she would never have been able to over come it.

Kristin's mother was her best friend and number one fan.

She said that though her mother never got to see her sing, "when I closed my eyes, I could see her smiling at me."

For the past four years, Kristin has been attending FC off and on, working towards obtaining her AA degree in Theatre.

Using the FC program as stepping stones, her dream is to move on to bigger theaters.

Kristin says FC's theatre program has "definitely" helped her grow as an actress.

Her most inspirational mentor has been Bob Jensen, an FC instructor.

She is not only an accomplished actress but has experience in costume making.

She also designed all the costumes for a production at the Tribune Theatre around the corner from FC.

If it was not for the theatre program at FC, which requires drama students to take a technical theater class, she might never have learned about and aspect of theatre "that people often do not think about.

Kristin says that "Romeo and Juliet" is progressing wonderfully.

' She · is very proud of the whole cast.

Kristin feels the fighting and dancing scenes come together smoothy.

Nathan Baesel, who plays the role of Romeo, and she have had some very productive conversations about how to play "two teenagers in love".

When asked what she likes most about acting, she replied, "It's the only time in life when I know what I'm supposed to say and when to say. it." She was partly jesting.

Kristin said that acting is about "connecting with other people."

She also said acting creates a "high" when the energy of the cast and audience is circulating.

A former Yosemite resident, Kristin is an ardent nature lover. "I like trees for the hugging."

Her hobbies include belly dancing.

Although cooking is not one of her hobbies, she considers her cookies to be very delicious.