Interview: Amanda Himebaugh - AD, 'Rumors'

Amanda Himebaugh

1. Tell us a little about yourself, and if you are seen mostly on stage, or prefer to remain behind the scenes...or do you dabble both on and off stage? My name is Amanda Himebaugh; I am a student at LCC and work at Living Arts Dance studio in Mason and Williamston. I'm mostly behind the scenes but I am can be seen on stage in musicals in choruses and stuff.

2. What was your first theatre experience? I was in the chorus of Hello Dolly for LCP when I was 6 years old - so that would have been 1994. I was in the Parade Scene.

3. How would you describe your first experience as an AD? It's been good - actually, more than good, really. It's been a wonderful learning experience - it's great to work with a director who knows what he's doing and has everything planned out and knows what he wants. It's also amazing to work with an experienced cast. For my first time, it's been beneficial to work with people who really know what they're doing, and they are all definitely hard workers.

4. Favorite role - that you've done or would like to do? I can always think of roles I would like, but there is one that I would really love to do, and that is Sally in Cabaret...

5. Why is theatre important to the community? It is something that brings people together with a common interest to do what they love to do, and it shows what people can accomplish when they work together, and work hard - its a real bonding experience.

Quick Questions:

1. What three people have influenced you the most in your theatre experience? My mother (LeAnn Dethlefsen) is one of them definitely because she got me into theatre in the first place when I was young.

Rick (Dethlefsen) has been an influence because he has shown me that I do have some talent I haven't been aware of, and has shown me some confidence in myself.

My friend and colleague and mentor - Mellisa Cunningham - she was another one of those people who, no matter what you thought your abilities were, would push you further and say this is good but you can make it better and I'll help you get there. She was not afraid of hard work.

2. Favorite line of any show? I can't quite quote it exactly but it's from the 'Odd Couple' and it's the F.U. line from the show - it took me forever to figure out F.U. meant Felix Unger.

3. Best show you've been in? I can't really decide that one - each experience has been beneficial in it's own way, in whatever I was doing.

4. Worst show you've been in? There have been some rocky ones - again, I'm not really sure. In the end I can find something good in every experience, even if at the time I can't see it - I can later. I can't label the best or the worst for the same reasons.

5. Any words of wisdom you'd like to share with people who either are new to the theatre community, or else don't know much about it in general? Never forget what you're really doing it for. Whether it be for yourself for whatever reason, the community, to be with people you love, to do something fun - just never lose sight of what you're doing it for....