Rebecca is a recent graduate of Northwestern University and was drawn to Lifeline because of her keen interest in adaptation. Though she entered NU as an actor, Rebecca soon discovered that her real passion lay behind the scenes — and noted that a director gets to be involved with every part and person in the process. Rebecca adapted and directed a “heavily” staged reading of The Picture of Dorian Gray at NU and, shortly after graduation, came to Lifeline to assistant direct Elise Kauzlaric‘s fall production of The Woman in White.
Rebecca was first bitten by the theatre bug when she saw a production of Hansel and Gretel as a child. She couldn’t stop thinking about it for days and still remembers it vividly. She began performing in high school, and was inspired by her drama teacher, Mr. Graham, who encouraged students to do adaptation projects and direct their own scenes for class. He also highly recommended the Chicago theater scene.
Rebecca grew up on the east coast and was in love with New York her whole life. Her father went to Cornell for grad school when she was a baby, and brought her back a teddy bear wearing a Cornell sweatshirt, and thus grew up with the intention of attending Cornell. She visited the campus, it was lovely, she got in. But….
Rebecca had visited Northwestern University a couple years before and had been so drawn to it. And of course there was that recommendation from her high school drama teacher to consider as well. So Rebecca had a feeling and went with it — and she’s sure glad she did. She loved the NU program and in her time there her focus evolved from acting to directing and adapting. She also fell in love with the Chicago theater scene, particularly the ensemble-based work, the challenges of small theater (both in space and budget) and the knowledge that there is already a large female director population here. Rebecca has graduated from NU and just completed her internship at Lifeline. We are glad that she will be remaining in Chicago and will look forward to keeping up with her further adventures here as a theater artist.
Dorothy Milne
Artistic Director