Reintroduce yourself to us! Where are you now and what are you up to?
Hello Encore Family! My name is Erin Driscoll Gardiner and I was involved in several shows at Encore. Now, I am a full time professor of Musical Theater at George Mason University and a professional actress in the DC area. I have worked at a ton of the professional theaters in town from Signature Theater to the Kennedy Center to Round House Theater. I have been a member of the Actor’s Equity Association for 20 years now. I just recently played Mrs. Cratchit at Ford’s Theater production of A Christmas Carol.
From starring as Maria in West Side Story to being a professional hire for Pirates of Penzance, you have had so many Encore experiences! Do you have any fun or funny offstage memories from your time here?
I am sure there are so many that I just don’t remember because each show I have done with Encore has been a blast.
What skill or word of wisdom did you take away from working with Encore?
I learned SO much! I basically learned how to act at Encore. I was a good singer when I joined the cast of West Side Story but I was pushed to connect to the material in a way no one had asked me yet. Then when I played Eliza Dolittle, I really had to let go of being the pretty ingenue and commit to getting messy and real with the character. It is something I continue to strive for in my work today.
Why do you think theatre is important for young people?
For some, it it the first time they are working towards a larger goal that is bigger than the themselves. You all have to come together and the show is the thing. Not ego, not friendship drama, not anything. You learn to work with people, you learn to lean on people, you learn how much goes into something…all the hours of work and commitment. You also get the joy of seeing it all come to fruition. You learn how to treat people and basically be a person in a functioning society.
What is one way your theater experience has helped you offstage?
I am not afraid to try. I am not afraid to fail. I can look at the big picture and see how do I help it happen. Oh, sorry, you asked for just one and that is too hard to pick!
We love highlighting Encore friendships, is there anyone you keep in contact with from your days at Encore?
Yes several! This is one of my favorite things to talk about with Encore. I am still friends with many of the people I worked with on shows. One of them was in my wedding party! Friends for life!
What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member?
Oh, that is hard too! I love ensemble shows. I love when the ensemble is integrated into the story all along and helps tell it, even it means singing and moving furniture while they do it. Like how the ensemble works in Waitress, is really inspiring for me.
Encore’s season this year is about courage — how can we learn courage through theatre?
To do theater is courageous! To audition and be brave enough to show your talents….to stand on a stage or work behind knowing an whole audience is watching is brave. To commit to a common goal and work hard to see it come together is all about courage. To tell stories because they need to be shared is courage. Theater is courage.
Lastly — we’re having an Encore alumni reunion in July at Footloose, will you be there!?
I will try to be there! I am always trying to support and be apart of Encore any way I can! If I can’t, tell them that they are the best and I continue to shout that from the rooftops!
Thank you for catching up with us, Erin! We look forward to seeing what you do next.
Photos by Larry McClemons, blog contribution by Parker Nelson.