Me on TV for work! Link to the quick story

Below is a link to my interview on our local news the other day about the theatre where I work.  I've been a busy girl with my PR the past two weeks.  We taped a 30 minute show for the cable network, I did this interview earlier in the week, and just today, the local paper did an interview and shot pictures of me and the new seats.

I am so glad I had this surgery.  I don't have to worry as much about how I will be perceived on camera as a SMO person handling publicity for the city's performing arts venue.  I feel so much better about my appearance now and it's good for the theatre's image as well.

 

http://www.weartv.com/players/news/top_stories/wear_vid_3638.shtml

Whoo Hooo, look at you superstar!  Nice interview. Can I have your autograph?

You go girl! The work on your theater looks great and the idea of larger seating based on the old designs is genius. Oh, and the spokeslady (you) was most impressive as well.

Thanks guys.  I'm a big ham so I love it.  I did an interview on a radio station yesterday about the larger seats and it was followed up with a story about airlines forcing obese flyers to purchase 2 seats.  Interesting segway.

I also just saw the 30 minute show we taped last week.  The camera angle was not my friend as it caught my turkey waggle just a waggling.  Ugh, it was not pretty!

We have a celebrity among us!! 

Great interview Kathy!  You came across as very personable and knowledgeable.  I think that it's fantastic that your theatre decided to install larger seating.  I just love going to performances and live entertainment of all types and eventually I got so tired of trying to figure out if different venue's seating was large enough or trying to find an aisle seat that I stopped going to nearly everything.  I can't wait to go back and some of my weight loss rewards will be going to performances.

Keep up the great work!

Most professional theatres that have gone through a renovation have some wider seats just because of the the curved nature of the seating for lines of sight.  So we did have some seats (about 15) that were 18" and were more comfortable to sit in (but still really tight on me).

So, for those of you out there who are just starting, and want to go to a show, call the box office and ask if they have any of the wider seats available.  We kept about 4 pairs out for those kinds of requests.

That's a good tip, thanks! It's good to know that FOH management is waking up to the broadening of America. Although I may soon fir the seats, others will continue to strugge with this issue.

I worked in various backstage roles (SM, Dir, LD, SD, TD, Props) for years with several community theaters back in PA. At that point I was about 320 and even then, even when I could fit the tush, my shoulders and arms never had enough space if people were seated on both sides. For shows that I wasn't working on, I'd usually attend a final dress so I had room to spread out.

Back then (10+ years ago) both venues that I worked at had wheelchair spaces, but not wider seats with more leg room. I was too embarassed to ask to have an armless chair set up in the wheelchair space - I felt WAY too conspicious.

Thank you you making this happen in your community.

PS - Here in one of the houses I worked in. The renovations were in progress when I was working there. Don't you just love old theaters?

http://www.mishlertheatre.org/about.htm
http://www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=819