In Memory of Lois Weber

Last week I was deeply saddened to learned that Lois Weber had passed away. She was not only my director, she was also a mentor and a friend. I first met her 10 years ago when I auditioned for my first Children's Theater play (Peter Pan). I was so nervous. I was an awkward 14 year old and very few people believed in me, especially as an actor. Luckily my awesome teacher, Lisa Nass, (who sadly passed last year and it also greatly missed) encouraged me to go for it. My friend Julie came with me and a few days later we were both ecstatic to receive calls from Mrs. Weber telling us we'd been cast. We had small parts, but we were just happy to be part of the show! The next year I experienced one of the happiest moments of my life: learning I'd been cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland. When Mrs. Weber called me to tell me I'd got the part I jumped about 3 feet in the air and had to fight the urge to squeal into the phone. I don't think I'd ever been more excited or surprised! The show was great and I have many wonderful memories from it. Not only did it give me much needed experience in my first leading role, but, largely because of Mrs. Weber, it gave me the confidence I needed to go from awkward teenager to confident young woman. Mrs. Weber had a way of making every person she met feel special. She made me feel good about myself and proud of my work. My experience in Children's Theater gave me ambition to become more involved in theater and the confidence that I could succeed in something I loved. Without this confidence I don't know if I'd have gone to college. I certainly never would've pursued subjects I loved and gone after a dream internship at a major film studio. All because she believed in me and saw potential so many other adults in my life had missed.

I was only one life she touched. In her life she taught Sunday school, worked for civil rights and racial equality, and devoted herself to her community while also being a wonderful, loving wife and mother. I feel so incredibly lucky to have known her. I have no doubt she's already hard at work in Heaven. I think that's what would make her happiest. Here on Earth, I know I'll continue to be inspired by her for the rest of my life.