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Professional actress joins local favorites in Shakespearen musical comedy.
NORTH EAST, Md. - The Milburn Stone Theatre is very excited to introduce professional actress, Carly Stocking as Rosalind in our upcoming production of William Shakespeare's musical comedy As You Like It. Carly comes to us from Sacramento, California where she was last seen as Helen in the West Coast premiere of BOB with B Street Theatre. She is a native of Arlington Heights, IL where she was raised by her parents Wallace Kent and Pamela Stocking. She is the youngest of three children.
As a young child Carly was very active in theatre. When asked what she loved most about performing, she expressed that the thing she appreciated the most about theatre was she was able to provide audiences an escape from their everyday lives; from their trials and tribulations. "My first show was Annie at Setting the Stage Theatre Company in Arlington Heights, and my parents signed me up because my mother was sick and they wanted to give me a good outlet to be distracted and get me out of the house. Theatre became such a positive part of my life, and remains that way today."
From then on, Carly participated in theatre through junior high, high school, and into college where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. Here, Carly names her most influential professor to be Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Music Theatre, Scott Susong. "Scott's 'Auditions' class was probably the best class of my college career. We were assigned 2-3 auditions a week of varying types. It made me extremely comfortable auditioning, which is a huge part of being a professional actor. I even enjoy auditioning now, because of that class. It was incredible." She also went on to mention her voice professor, Sandy DeAthos as another significant influence for her growth as a performer. Although Carly is not currently taking any classes she indicated that she found it extremely important as a performer to continue taking classes of all types and by different instructors. " You don't want to be a one-trick pony, or get stale in your acting choices, so I think it's really important performers continue to absorb as much knowledge and skill of their craft that they can. It makes you a well-rounded performer."
After graduating from college in 2010, Carly began her professional acting career, first moving to Washington D.C. and doing work with Alchemy Art Project as part of Capitol Fringe. She spent that summer working closely with friend, and Production Manager of the Milburn Stone Theatre, Marshall B Garrett. From there, Carly took a huge leap and moved to Sacramento, California to be an Acting Intern for B Street Theatre. During her internship, Carly learned a lot about the business of theatre. She was given the opportunity to develop her skills backstage in addition to participating in the administration or business of theatre. She said, "I got to see different aspects of theatre I may not have known about before. Most importantly, for me, was learning what a theatre [it's personnel] will or will not put up with from an actor. It's something extremely important to learn and know, and it should humble you as a performer."
As her ten month internship was coming to a close, B Street offered Carly an understudy role in a new comedy presented at the Humana Festival called BOB. Eventually Carly took over the role as Helen, which helped her earn her Actor's Equity Card. When asked why she took her equity card so early in her career, Carly had this to say: "There are many pros and cons to both arguments as to whether or not a young performer should take their equity card. I weighed my options, but when it came down to it I wanted to show that I was serious about making this my career. It takes some actors years to get their card and it took me ten months. It provides me with excellent insurance, which is something a lot of people my age are struggling with, it secures better auditions, and really creates a stable foundation for me in a completely unstable career."
Carly is very eager to share the stage again with fellow-performer and friend, Russell Matthews who is playing Carly's love-interest, Orlando. Russell Matthews has made his mark at the Milburn Stone Theatre in shows like The Odd Couple, Little Shop of Horrors, and Forever Plaid. Other recent credits for Russell include the New Candlelight Theatre's The Full Monty and Damn Yankees. In 2008, Carly and Russell were both cast in Illinois Wesleyan University's production of Scrooge; the Musical. When asked about his interest in working with Carly, Russell stated, "I always love working with Carly. She's so much fun to be around, talented, and it's just fantastic. It's always really cool when you get to work with one of your friends, especially on a production like this." Carly plays Rosalind, the daughter of the banished duke who is in turn banished to the forest, where she decides to dress as a man to avoid potential attackers. Luckily, her wooer, Orlando also escapes into the same forest from his scheming older brother. Great love and mistaken identity converge when Orlando meets Rosalind's male alter ego "Ganymede," and asks to be taught how to win the love of Rosalind. Additional love stories abound throughout the story, and Rosalind's banished father oversees all in the magical Forest of Arden. When asked about her role Carly stated, "I am so excited to be playing Rosalind. It is definitely one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles. I love that she (Rosalind) gets to be so outspoken, boisterous, and saucy; all because she's dressed as a man. I am having a lot of fun."
This is not the first time Carly and Russell have worked with director, Marshall B Garrett. Carly stated, "I'm also really happy for this opportunity to work with Marshall again. I really like working with him as a director. I think he has great ideas, and pushes me as an actor to be better which is not always easy to find." When asked about what can be expected of this production, director Marshall B Garrett had this to say, "This production will focus on our world today, as we are further and further removed from one another by technology, distance, temptation and maintaining appearances, and the need for a return to a Garden of Eden-style simplicity." He goes on to say, "The magic of the Forest of Arden is one we have left behind, especially in the last century, in favor of modernity, speed and a love for widgets. Strip it all away and there is still a potential for love, pure, unadulterated, love at first sight and pursued to the end of the earth."
As a young child Carly was very active in theatre. When asked what she loved most about performing, she expressed that the thing she appreciated the most about theatre was she was able to provide audiences an escape from their everyday lives; from their trials and tribulations. "My first show was Annie at Setting the Stage Theatre Company in Arlington Heights, and my parents signed me up because my mother was sick and they wanted to give me a good outlet to be distracted and get me out of the house. Theatre became such a positive part of my life, and remains that way today."
From then on, Carly participated in theatre through junior high, high school, and into college where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. Here, Carly names her most influential professor to be Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Music Theatre, Scott Susong. "Scott's 'Auditions' class was probably the best class of my college career. We were assigned 2-3 auditions a week of varying types. It made me extremely comfortable auditioning, which is a huge part of being a professional actor. I even enjoy auditioning now, because of that class. It was incredible." She also went on to mention her voice professor, Sandy DeAthos as another significant influence for her growth as a performer. Although Carly is not currently taking any classes she indicated that she found it extremely important as a performer to continue taking classes of all types and by different instructors. " You don't want to be a one-trick pony, or get stale in your acting choices, so I think it's really important performers continue to absorb as much knowledge and skill of their craft that they can. It makes you a well-rounded performer."
After graduating from college in 2010, Carly began her professional acting career, first moving to Washington D.C. and doing work with Alchemy Art Project as part of Capitol Fringe. She spent that summer working closely with friend, and Production Manager of the Milburn Stone Theatre, Marshall B Garrett. From there, Carly took a huge leap and moved to Sacramento, California to be an Acting Intern for B Street Theatre. During her internship, Carly learned a lot about the business of theatre. She was given the opportunity to develop her skills backstage in addition to participating in the administration or business of theatre. She said, "I got to see different aspects of theatre I may not have known about before. Most importantly, for me, was learning what a theatre [it's personnel] will or will not put up with from an actor. It's something extremely important to learn and know, and it should humble you as a performer."
As her ten month internship was coming to a close, B Street offered Carly an understudy role in a new comedy presented at the Humana Festival called BOB. Eventually Carly took over the role as Helen, which helped her earn her Actor's Equity Card. When asked why she took her equity card so early in her career, Carly had this to say: "There are many pros and cons to both arguments as to whether or not a young performer should take their equity card. I weighed my options, but when it came down to it I wanted to show that I was serious about making this my career. It takes some actors years to get their card and it took me ten months. It provides me with excellent insurance, which is something a lot of people my age are struggling with, it secures better auditions, and really creates a stable foundation for me in a completely unstable career."
Carly is very eager to share the stage again with fellow-performer and friend, Russell Matthews who is playing Carly's love-interest, Orlando. Russell Matthews has made his mark at the Milburn Stone Theatre in shows like The Odd Couple, Little Shop of Horrors, and Forever Plaid. Other recent credits for Russell include the New Candlelight Theatre's The Full Monty and Damn Yankees. In 2008, Carly and Russell were both cast in Illinois Wesleyan University's production of Scrooge; the Musical. When asked about his interest in working with Carly, Russell stated, "I always love working with Carly. She's so much fun to be around, talented, and it's just fantastic. It's always really cool when you get to work with one of your friends, especially on a production like this." Carly plays Rosalind, the daughter of the banished duke who is in turn banished to the forest, where she decides to dress as a man to avoid potential attackers. Luckily, her wooer, Orlando also escapes into the same forest from his scheming older brother. Great love and mistaken identity converge when Orlando meets Rosalind's male alter ego "Ganymede," and asks to be taught how to win the love of Rosalind. Additional love stories abound throughout the story, and Rosalind's banished father oversees all in the magical Forest of Arden. When asked about her role Carly stated, "I am so excited to be playing Rosalind. It is definitely one of Shakespeare's most challenging roles. I love that she (Rosalind) gets to be so outspoken, boisterous, and saucy; all because she's dressed as a man. I am having a lot of fun."
This is not the first time Carly and Russell have worked with director, Marshall B Garrett. Carly stated, "I'm also really happy for this opportunity to work with Marshall again. I really like working with him as a director. I think he has great ideas, and pushes me as an actor to be better which is not always easy to find." When asked about what can be expected of this production, director Marshall B Garrett had this to say, "This production will focus on our world today, as we are further and further removed from one another by technology, distance, temptation and maintaining appearances, and the need for a return to a Garden of Eden-style simplicity." He goes on to say, "The magic of the Forest of Arden is one we have left behind, especially in the last century, in favor of modernity, speed and a love for widgets. Strip it all away and there is still a potential for love, pure, unadulterated, love at first sight and pursued to the end of the earth."
Chicago based actress Carly Stocking
As You Like It begins at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 and Feb. 3 and 4, and at 3 p.m. Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Tickets, which are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for children 12 and younger, and $5 for college students with a valid ID, can be purchased by phone at 410-287-1037, at the Milburn Stone Theatre box office, or online at www.milburnstone.org. The box office, located at One Seahawk Drive at Cecil College in North East, Md., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
LEFT: Stocking and D.C. actor Tyler Herman in 'Tape' at Capitol Fringe. Directed by Marshall B Garrett.
LEFT: Stocking and D.C. actor Tyler Herman in 'Tape' at Capitol Fringe. Directed by Marshall B Garrett.
Stocking portraying the leading role in The Women of Lockerbie.
Directed by Marshall B Garrett
Directed by Marshall B Garrett
Russell Matthews as Orin in last seasons' The Little Shop of Horrors