Over the coming days, we’ll be highlighting some of the crazy characters who are appearing in this summer’s production of SPAMALOT! Keep checking back to learn more about some of the different actors in the cast!
Today, we have an interview with Jenee Michelle! She’s one busy lady (as you will find out below) and she’s a BOBDIREX veteran!
Q: What role(s) do you have in SPAMALOT?
A: Technically, I’m playing the role of a tree. Honest to goodness, when I received the cast list, I’m listed as a tree. Apparently, trees in SPAMALOT dance and sing a lot and wear corsets and naughty tights.
Q: When you aren’t onstage, what do you do?
A: I’m the owner and founder of Pur | The Company, an Indy based cabaret group that performs all over the Midwest and monthly in Indianapolis. I also teach burlesque, Hip Hop, Fitness Bootcamps and all kinds of specialty workshops throughout central Indiana. My company also have a lingerie/swim line called Pur | Couture, a photography arm with boyfriend Todd Foreman and TJF Photography called Pur | On Location … and a publicity company called Pur | Publicity. I’m also the mother a of a fabulous 6 year-old named Evan!
Q: You’ve done a few BOBDIREX shows in the last few years, what gets you back onstage for Bob’s shows?
A: Funny enough…. Bob is the only director I’ve ever worked with in Indy! I’m not a regular in the theatre scene here…. but Bob and I have walked through some fire together, and so I continue playing in his sandbox. As long as he keeps putting me in fishnets, garters and heels…and give me a lovely platform to keep dancing…. I imagine this affair won’t end anytime soon!
Q: What brought you into the Indianapolis theatre/performing arts scene?
A: I left the world of theatre long ago (high school)…. and left the world of dance some 10-years ago (because I couldn’t possibly dance my whole life, far too short of a shelf life) only to return when I met Bob and do his first Indy show Annie Get Your Gun. I didn’t do much after that but then he reached out again and put me in A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. After that…. I found dance again…. started working with various burlesque groups in town and then decided I wanted to crank out some original stuff so a little bit of Vegas could find it’s way to the Midwest…. so Pur | The Company was born and now we do no less than 6 (different) shows a month!
Q: If you could have any actor/famous person’s career, whose would it be & why?
A: This will be so cliche and will come off abrupt, but not a single one of them! I admire many actors…. (despite they’re all aliens!) I’m in awe over so many of the great talents we have…. but I have finally reached an point in my life where I’m just super excited to be putting my own little stamp on entertainment. For me, wanting to be anyone else…. well, just wouldn’t be as fun!
