Who are you, where you are from, and how did you start in this field?
my name is eryn snyder. a baby in iowa, toddler in england, and a child on college campuses, i have spent much of the last 26 years along the coast of maine. after going to college in new hampshire, i spent a summer in oregon, taught english for a year in spain, nannied for a family outside new york city for nine months, and traveled south to richmond, virginia for graduate school. with an MFA in theatre pedagogy, my heart has found its way back to the sand dollars of scarborough beach.
i stood on stage for the first time as a small child singing in a school choir.
from then on i began doing community theatre and school plays. theatre has served as a beautiful, creative way to tell a story and share it with the world. having studied and taught acting, been directed as a college student and directed students of my own, and dissected many many plays, i am certain that theatre has created some of my life’s most beautiful moments.
Tell us something you know that we may not know, about yourself or the world.
there is a beach on Great Diamond Island, called ” the sea glass beach”. you’ll fill a beach bucket in two minutes with the most beautiful bright sea glass. it’s one of my favorite places in the world.
What inspires you and keeps you motivated?
my family, coffee with cream, today’s youth, sunshine, strong friendships, fresh flowers, the ocean, hope, love, and the unknown.
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently.
i babysit for a family with three children every friday. we get into a whole lot of mischief!
How do you bridge the financial gap between what this profession pays and making a living?
i wait tables. it’s just another form of theater, with a different play each night!
What’s the best advice for the creative person that someone has given you?
write, share, and write some more. your stories are so very important.
What projects are in the pipeline for you? Do you have a ‘dream’ project?
i’ve dreamed of running my own bed & breakfast for years. perhaps i’d do that in the summer months, and then i’d find a place for myself directing and teaching and guiding during the school year. whether it be a small college, private school, or a community center, working with today’s youth is important to me.
Would you like to share your contact information? How can readers find out more about you?
of course. my email is eryncolleen@gmail.com. i’d love to share stories and tea!
Editor’s note: Eryn is a volunteer at Lucid Stage, and is directing ENDGAME by Samuel Beckett, starring Karen Ball, Elizabeth Lardie, Johnny Speckman and Nate Speckman Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 7:30pm at Portland Stage studio theater.
You can also meet her this Friday night, June 8th, at Lucid Stage’s Passport to Adventure, where she will be talking about her time in Spain!