“10 Things” is a regular feature in which the Sioux Falls Stage staff answers 10 burning questions with a performing artist—this quarter we feature theatre educator and frequent local performer with Bare Bodkins, Nadine Purvis Schmidt.

1. What is the single-most defining moment of your arts career?

Making the decision in my mid-30s to finally go to grad school and earn an MFA in acting. (Also a defining moment for my life in general.)

2. Describe the moment you knew you wanted to be a performer.

If I had to pick one moment, it would probably be when I was a sophomore in high school and played one of the featured ladies of the court in Camelot. In performance of the song “Guinevere” was the first time I felt that intoxicating feeling of living fully and truthfully in the character and situation.

Nadine Purvis Schmidt performs in a production of *Antigone.*

3. What’s your post-show wrap-party menu?

Traditional Sunday night pizza with my family – I miss them a lot when I’m away at rehearsals!

4. If casting parameters don’t exist, what’s your dream role in theater?

Adelaide in Guys and Dolls or Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire

5. Highlight three of your proudest theatre résumé moments.

Lady in Superior Donuts with Theatre Squared
Prospero in The Tempest with Bare Bodkins Theatre Company
Barbara in Nickel & Dimed with Theatre Midwest

6. Whom do you consider your greatest acting influences?

The teachers I’ve had at every level. Jim Hylton and Byron Smith in high school. Jay Fields at Missouri Southern, who introduced me to the importance of analysis. Amy Herzberg at the University of Arkansas for the sea change that Meisner technique made in my work. Mavourneen Dwyer and Roger Gross at U of A, and Geoff Bullen at RADA, who led me to fall in love with Shakespeare performance and taught me the tools to do justice to the work.

7. What’s your theatre warm-up routine?

I always do a complete vocal warmup, and a physical warmup as well. If the company I’m working with does group warmups, I love those too, as a way to connect with castmates before performing. I always look over my lines (almost to the point of superstition!). Right before going on, I usually do an Alexander Technique check-in with myself to make sure that I’m not holding tension anywhere, my alignment is free and I’m ready to go!

8. Deserted island game—pick three scripts to take with you.

As You Like It, William Shakespeare
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry
Angels in America, Part 1, Tony Kushner

9. What’s your hope for the next generation of theatre artists?

For them to know that they can do great and meaningful work wherever they live and wherever they are in their journey as theatre artists, that there is value in both new and old works, that the more you know about different subjects and the infinite diversity of human beings, the better artist you will be.

10. Give advice to fellow theatre artists in just five words.

It’s about the other person.

10 Things with Nadine P. Schmidt