Friend Friday – Meet Lisa Wolpe

(http://sherri NULL.machighway NULL.com/~heidiros/wp-content/uploads/lisa_wolpe-s NULL.jpg) (http://sherri NULL.machighway NULL.com/~heidiros/wp-content/uploads/iago_smoking NULL.jpg)Meet Lisa Wolpe.

I first ‘met’ Lisa when I sat in the audience of the Merchant of Venice in 2005 and saw her play Shylock. I remember fully the awe and total joy and respect I felt for her incredible performance. I remember shyly hoping that some day I would work with her. And that was strange, because at that time, I hadn’t acted in years. Watching Lisa, I missed acting. She was masterful and committed. I hadn’t been so inspired by a performance in years.

I heard from my friend Kellynn Meeks (http://sherri NULL.machighway NULL.com/~heidiros/2010/friend-friday-meet-kellynn-meeks/) (who was a part of the show) that not only was Lisa an exceptional actress but a brilliant director and teacher as well. Kellynn said she could listen to her speak about Shakespeare for hours.

Lisa is the Artistic Director of the L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Company (http://www NULL.lawsc NULL.net/). The Company is an award-winning all female, multi-cultural theater company that produces Shakespeare’s plays. They have been featured on CNN, PBS, CBS, ABC and NBC and London’s International News. They have won dozens of awards and were recently honored with the 2008 LA Drama Critics Circle’s “Margaret Harwood Award for Sustained Excellence.” LAWSC has produced fourteen all-female productions since 1993.

You get the picture. Lisa is doing amazing work.

I next saw Lisa perform Iago in Othello at the Boston Court Theatre (http://www NULL.bostoncourt NULL.com/) in Pasadena. Again, I was blown away and I could feel her performance awaken a yearning in my heart.

I didn’t get to meet Lisa until my husband Andrew started studying with her. Shortly after he began taking classes, we saw her perform in a three person MacBeth which she adapted and directed as well. After the show, she came out to say hello and I babbled for a LONG TIME about her gorgeous performance. Lisa was humble and kind and gracious.  Several months later when I saw Andrew perform the scenes from his class, I knew I wanted not only to study with Lisa but be her friend as well.

Now I’ve worked with her for almost a year and her mastery of Shakespeare has added such joy and revelation to my life. Lisa gives all her students the key to unlock the exquisite power and beauty of Shakespeare and in so doing unlocks new life in everyone. She is crazily articulate and intelligent and brings such a wealth of knowledge and skill to every rehearsal.

Lisa is currently directing, producing and performing in The Wicked Wilde Shakespeare Festival (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Wicked-Wilde-Shakespeare-Festival/115138048516949) at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. (Andrew and I are in it as well). She has cut A Winter’s Tale and MacBeth to one hour each and has also adapted  The Importance of Being Earnest. Somehow, she’s managing to wear about 10 different hats and do it all beautifully. It’s a huge project. And It’s going to be great. So, definitely come see the shows if you’re in the Los Angeles area. Tickets are available at Brown Paper  Tickets. I’ll include more info below.

But also consider studying with Lisa. She has classes going all the time. You don’t have to be an actor, you just have to love Shakespeare and be willing to dive in.  You will learn so much.

I couldn’t be more grateful for Lisa’s presence in my life. She is a blazing light and an inspiration.

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