Hot For Teacher

Greetings Fans!

I hope your summer is passing slower than it seems to be for me!

Carol has been taking some time off from theater and film in favor of honing her craft (taking some classes) and "playing doctor" (or more accurately, playing patient), working at Kaplan Medical as a standardized patient. But, that doesn't mean we have nothing to mention here!

Several months ago, Carol worked on a Northwestern University student film called Andante. We had the pleasure of seeing the movie screened a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed it. The film was written and directed by Thor Rudebeck, and stars Joe Sinopoli, Drigan Lee, Nick Gertonson, Hannah Greene, Tracey Cook and of course, Carol. You can view the film trailer here.

You can view Carol's performance as the school teacher, Mrs. Zimmer, right here:

Miss Ohio Wins Big in Hollywood!

Greetings Fans!
As blogged last month, Miss Ohio was screened at the Dances With Films festival in Hollywood earlier this month. I am pleased to report that Miss Ohio was awarded top honors in the Features category, the Grand Jury Award!! You can read about it on their web site here.

Samantha Simon and Gregory Fitzsimmons accept the Grand Jury Award

at Dances With Films 2009. Photo courtesy of Samantha Simon.

Miss Ohio was written and directed by Gregory Fitzsimmons, and produced by Gregory Fitzsimmons and James Francis Flynn. Accepting the award at the Dances With Films festival were Gregory Fitzsimmons, and lead actress Samantha Simon (Carol Townsend was regrettably unavailable).

Congratulations to all who were involved in Miss Ohio!!

Miss Ohio Goes to LA

Hello Fans!

I know, it has been weeks since we had any news. After doing two plays back-to-back, Carol has been taking it easy and relaxing, and news has been slow. Aside from working for Kaplan Medical as a standardized patient, and the occasional Olay promotion, Carol has been living the life of leisure!

Carol Townsend (left) and Samantha Simon, in Miss Ohio

That said, here is some news about one of Carol's past works. The independent film, Miss Ohio, is being screened in LA at the Dances With Films Festival. The screening is at the Sunset 5 Theatre in West Hollywood on June 8th, at 7:15pm. Get your tickets now!

Who's the hot blonde?

Marla Gusler (as Minnie Swisher) and Carol (as Sissy Brockman)

Tales From Darkest Suburbia at Riverfront Playhouse is half-way through its run. If you have not seen the show yet, you only have until April 25th (but don't forget-- Carol will not be appearing on Aopril 17/18). The show was mentioned in the online Beacon News. Carol appears above (fans will recognize the "Babs" wig, from Prison Break as shown here) as Sissy Brockman, in a tale entitled: "The Rubbing".

I will be at the show on April 24. If you would like to join, just let me know! You can reserve tickets by calling the theater at (630) 897-9496.

Tales From Darkest Suburbia

Greetings Fans!
Having just finished Key For Two at the Riverfront Playhouse, Carol is once again back in Aurora, appearing in their next production, Tales From Darkest Suburbia, by Edward Crosby Wells.

This show is... "a black comedy constructed in seven interconnected tales that explore the typical quirks associated with American Suburbia—murder, adultery, blackmail, kidnapping, cutthroat art critics, dismemberment, devious financial advisers, cannibalism, back-stabbing divas, flesh eating perfume, Tallulah Bankhead and the nature of reality." (excerpted from the playwright's Myspace page)

Carol appears in the opening tale and plays Sissie Brockman, whom Carol describes as "a little bit Clairee, a little bit Blanche Devereaux, and a whole lot Theodore Bagwell." I will leave it to you, gentle reader, to determine what that means.


Beware, the understudy! For the weekend of April 17-18, Carol and I will be out of town (heading down south for our annual Thunder Over Louisville trip), so Carol will not be on stage for those performances. While I am certain her understudy will do a fabulous job, if your intent is to see Carol, you will want to avoid the April 17 and 18 shows.

Tales From Darkest Suburbia opens at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora this Friday, March 20 and runs through Saturday April 25. Shows are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students. You can reserve tickets by calling the box office at (630) 897-9496. See you at the show!

The Vision World Premiere

It has been a busy week for Carol, with the screening of Miss Ohio earlier this week, and the World Premiere of The Vision on Friday the 13th at the historic Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL! The Vision is an independent film by Robert Alaniz, shot entirely in the southwest Chicago suburbs.

"When an over ambitious reporter stirs up an old controversy surrounding a series of unsolved murders, a clairvoyant teenage girl and her friends enlist the help of a college professor with a plan to expose the identity of the killer, when it is believed that the young girl's reoccurring vision of the future may be the murder of the professor. "

The Vision Trailer

As reported here, Carol worked on The Vision back in March 2008. Carol plays Katherine Morrissey, editor of the local paper where the ambitious reports works. Two movie premiers in one week, and a new stage show opening next week! Stay tuned for those details...

Miss Ohio Screening

Greetings Fans!
As reported here back in August last year, Carol had a part in an independent film called Miss Ohio. We went to the screening last night at Northwestern, hosted by Studio 22, and it was excellent!

"After her young marriage falls apart, Natalie (played by Samantha Simon), a passive twentysomething living in New York City, follows the pull of mass media in search of a new life in Chicago. She embarks on a spree of sexual and chemical exploration, but happiness continues to elude her. Natalie widens her search, turning to a local church, hoping that the comfort of God will provide her with stability. Under the safety of religion, Natalie is forced to think outside of herself and take an active part in her life. It is here that she finds her path to self discovery, free from societal influence, ready to see the world for the first time."

After her divorce in New York City, Natalie returns to her home in Ohio. Carol plays Natalie's mother, Janet, who tries to give her some advice about finding God. Here is a clip from Miss Ohio:

Miss Ohio was written, directed and produced by Gregory Fitzsimmons.

Gregory also works on Dancing with the Stars, on which Carol also aspires to be a contestant someday. Be sure to vote for her!