This month I would like to present a quiz for both long time
local theater fans and those who have recently discovered the magic
of live theater. You most likely will guess the mystery actress
before you finish the quiz.
This month I would like to present a quiz for both long time local theater fans and those who have recently discovered the magic of live theater. You most likely will guess the mystery actress before you finish the quiz.
One of her early roles was in the “Man Who Came to Dinner” at Gilroy High School. In college, she did shows with David Ogden Stires and performed in “Marat/Sade” and Brecht’s “Galileo” – to which her father commented on spending thousands of dollars to see her fall out of her dress. Russ Hendrickson, the former owner and director of Gilroy’s much-loved and missed Center Stage, went to every one of her college performances and, upon her graduation, enlisted her in his theater. One of her favorite roles at Center Stage was in “Vanities”, directed by George Costa, whom she fondly remembers as being so much a part of her life. Another Center Stage performance that I will never forget was the spoiled-but-introspective Southern belle heiress, Catherine Simms, in “The Foreigner”. Her performance equaled any professional I have seen.
Moving on to Gilroy Community Theatre, you may remember her as the smart, witty seductress, Abigail Williams, in Arthur Miller’s, “The Crucible”, proving her skills in “Lion in Winter”, or as the blind heroine, Susy Hendrix, in “Wait Until Dark”. At Gavilan College she performed in Oscar Wilde’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan” and Shakespeare’s “King Lear”.
I have been fortunate enough to perform with this actress in two South Valley Civic Theater productions of “Blithe Spirit”, she as Elvira Condomine me as Madame Arcati. We also shared the stage in “Moon Over Buffalo” where she portrayed drama queen Charlotte Hay, and “Inspecting Carol” where, as Zorah Bloch, she displayed her amazing gift of farce. I also had the privilege of directing her as Florence Ungar in the women’s version of “The Odd Couple”. Most memorable of all productions we have done together is “Nunsense”. As Sister Mary Amnesia, she commanded the stage and brought audiences to tears of laughter as she walked through the audience giving the Catholic quiz, shared the stage with her puppet, singing “So You Want to Be A Nun”, and brought down the house with her hilarious country version of “I Could’ve Gone to Nashville”. Most recently, this accomplished actress tried her hand at directing, and guided SVCT teens in a fabulous production of “Li’L Abner”.
If you are a fan of Pintello Comedy Theatre, you most likely saw her in “Belles”. Decked out in outlandish costumes and over-the-top wig, she was as sarcastic and funny as the part allowed.
By now you must know that the mystery woman is Gilroy’s own Rosalind Farotte. What you may not know is that she was extremely shy as a child. So shy, in fact, that she hid under the bed when company came to her home. To help her overcome this shyness, her parents encouraged her to take a drama class at St. Mary School. She first stepped on the stage in third grade and the rest is history. From her first performing experience, she felt the “magic” and fell in love with the stage, performing in school plays at the old Severence School Theater, on to Santa Clara University and finally San Jose State where she earned a master’s degree in theater. Together with husband Gordy, she also raised two children, Andy, who works in television, and Elizabeth, a professional dancer.
Rosalind feels theater brings enrichment and a sense of accomplishment that non-actors don’t understand. Exploring emotions, playing characters and the process of seeing the whole work come together and click are some of the things that draw her to theater. She describes acting as discipline, hard work and love, and feels fortunate she has been able to maintain her love affair with theater and privileged to live in a community where she can continue to perform. One of the highlights of her years in acting is the lasting friendships she has gained. In praise of the theater opportunities in our community available to young people, she describes the discipline, self confidence and friendships gained in theater as life skills that will enhance any future career.
Thank you, Rosalind, for the many outstanding performances you have given us and the many that are yet to come.
