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FRIENDS

This is a tougher subject to handle, because friendships around me tend to be such a revolving door. I have some friends that have just disappeared, others who have fallen into a rift between us, and yet others who have just moved on. It's the nature of people and life to keep moving, but although we've broken off contact, I've never forgotten them. Who knows...some of them may return. Here are people who are actively influencing my life. You will often hear me say things or see me do things that come straight from them. (to be safe, they're listed alphabetically)

Family

Andrea Martin
IMDB
Andrea and I have walked along either side of a wall for many years before we knew how close we could be. All that professional symbiosis aside - we have become, through trial by fire, great collaborators - Andrea was a voice of reason for much of Playhouse, where there is sometimes so little that makes sense. She understands grievances without taking them on. She's honest and opinionated, but not without action. She takes responsibility where others will step back. She's a true role model, and beneath all of this, she's a true friend who is not exclusively all these things to me, but she is this for everyone who knows her. That is a rare indictation of a truly good person.
Tony Savant
IMDB
Years ago, Tony took me in at Playhouse and acted as sort of a mentor to me. He gave me the first break to work on shows at the school, and then afterwards he started advising me on directing and writing. As my experience grew, he started using me more as an actor in "Welcome Home, Soldier", and now we share many equal tasks at the school, from developing new shows and directing plays to managing the theater company. Yes, we go head to head and argue about things within the theater company, but as he puts it, that is what makes us work well together. I wouldn't have what I have now if not for him, and I know that.
Suzy Cotè-Ciccolini
IMDB
Suzy speaks my language of creativity, and that's a real rare thing. What I've come to learn from her is that much of the collaborative process of creativity comes from trust, which is why we work so well together. All that chemistry aside, Suzy is incredibly talented and a hungry artist. I'll share a little secret about Suzy with you: If you get the chance to work with her, open up all of your senses, and after every moment, every rehearsal, and every performance, your own skills will jump ahead farther than you'll be aware. She is a great friend and source of inspiration. If I was ever in a position where I needed someone to be completely honest with me, Suzy would be...well, she'd be "Jonny on the spot".
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