Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!
About Emma
Emma is an Inventory Manager and experienced Teaching Artist at Compass. She has played Scruffy the Rat and Shere Khan the Tiger in the Compass productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book. Her favorite Compass play is The Jungle Book. She says, "I love how culturally relevant it is to the modern day".
Emma in rehearsal with a student for the 2019 Kohler Jungle Book camp.
Emma's Twenty Questions
#1 You’re stranded on a deserted island, but you have food and water. What are three things you’d want to have with you?
My fiance Jordan, my stuffed cat from childhood named Starlit, and my bed.
My fiance Jordan, my stuffed cat from childhood named Starlit, and my bed.
| #2 What was your favorite music group in middle school? Ke$ha was my favorite singular person, but The Dixie Chicks were my favorite group. |  Dixie Chicks at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. Photo by: SGRANITZ/WIREIMAGE |
#3 What teams did you belong to when you were growing up?
I played some sports like Baseball and Softball, but I also was on a synchronized skating team called the “Mousettes” as well as a team where I Ice Skated singularly. I was a cheerleader for my Elementary School Squad, the Stallions, as well as rode horses for 2 different teams. I stated at Red Coat Farms, before quickly moving over to Country Ridge. I was our highest scoring Pony rider my last year!
#4 Soup or salad?
Soup
I played some sports like Baseball and Softball, but I also was on a synchronized skating team called the “Mousettes” as well as a team where I Ice Skated singularly. I was a cheerleader for my Elementary School Squad, the Stallions, as well as rode horses for 2 different teams. I stated at Red Coat Farms, before quickly moving over to Country Ridge. I was our highest scoring Pony rider my last year!
#4 Soup or salad?
Soup
#5 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?
Tuesdays! I love getting to intorduce the students to their characters in a more full way.
Tuesdays! I love getting to intorduce the students to their characters in a more full way.
Emma teaching a scene in a Jungle Book camp in Kohler, Wisconsin (2019)!
#6 What’s something about you that some people might consider a weakness, but is really a strength?
I get extreme tunnel vision when I am overwhelmed. I used to think that this was a weakness as well, until I realized that this just allows me to complete my tasks more quickly, which allows me to move on to other tasks mroe efficently.
#7 Morning person or nightowl?
I'm Neither. I’m more of a mid-afternoon person.
#8 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.
Elgin, IL
Hoffman Estates, IL
Hawthorn Woods, IL
Colleyville, TX
Lakeland, FL
Mundelein, IL
Lakeview, IL
#9 What’s a piece of advice someone gave to you that’s stuck with you?
I don’t remember where I first heard this advice, but it was “Being an adult doesn’t mean that I have to act like one.” I always felt like as an adult I had to give up on all of my personal childhood wants and needs, and it’s of great comfort to me that I can keep at least a few of them.
I get extreme tunnel vision when I am overwhelmed. I used to think that this was a weakness as well, until I realized that this just allows me to complete my tasks more quickly, which allows me to move on to other tasks mroe efficently.
#7 Morning person or nightowl?
I'm Neither. I’m more of a mid-afternoon person.
#8 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.
Elgin, IL
Hoffman Estates, IL
Hawthorn Woods, IL
Colleyville, TX
Lakeland, FL
Mundelein, IL
Lakeview, IL
#9 What’s a piece of advice someone gave to you that’s stuck with you?
I don’t remember where I first heard this advice, but it was “Being an adult doesn’t mean that I have to act like one.” I always felt like as an adult I had to give up on all of my personal childhood wants and needs, and it’s of great comfort to me that I can keep at least a few of them.
#10 What’s a book that’s stuck with you?
The Outsiders. I have a tattoo on the inside of my left wrist with the quote “stay gold” on it, and all of my sorority sisters in college called me Ponyboy.
The Outsiders. I have a tattoo on the inside of my left wrist with the quote “stay gold” on it, and all of my sorority sisters in college called me Ponyboy.
#11 Top five favorite snacks:
-Peach Rings
-Chocolate frosting and pretzels
- Nutella on apples
-Butter and toast
-Oreo Balls
#12 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?
I do my own taxes, and have not accepted any financial help from my family since I was 17.
#13 What’s something you do to relax?
Reread my old favorite books (The Outsiders, Anne of Green Gables, etc)
#14 Describe your favorite mug.
'It’s from a Lady and the Tramp couples mug set. It’s red and has Lady on the front of it. The back has “Lady” written in gold script and the side of it has an indent that creates half a heart. When the Tramp half is sat side by side they complete a heart in the negative space.
#15 What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago in the winter?
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights and visit the Bean while it is snowing.
#16 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?
I'd live in Orlando, Florida. I loved living in Florida and I cannot wait to go back.
#17 What’s your favorite fairytale?
Little Red Riding Hood
#18 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?
Payoff my debts and invest in a decent condo.
#19 Tell us about your role model.
My grandmother is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. We’re cut from the same cloth and she always understands what I need without me even saying it. She survived so many difficult situations in her life, and is still thankful everyday. She always tells me to be wholly myself, and to never tamper down any pieces regardless of the situation. She’s one of the first people in my life to say that to me, and actually mean it.
#20 What’s a moment that you felt proud of the work you do at Compass?
When JM and I were in Findlay, OH there were a group of girls who were traditional gossipy, middle school bully types. One of the girls in that group would regularly get picked on because she was on the bottom of their group heirarchy, but when the group went in on another person she wasn’t usually the type to stop that behavior. On Friday one of the younger girls in the cast left her dinner unattended and without meaning to, the older girl picked up the mess and threw it out because she assumed that the mess was all garbage. When the younger girl came back and saw that her food had been “stolen” she got uncontrollably upset. She made a huge scene and the Principal of the school stepped in and demanded to know who took this girls food. The clique that that older girl belonged too were giggling about the whole event, and seemed to find this younger students panic somewhat funny, but the girl who tossed the food in the garbage seemed genuinelly sorry about the event. She even admitted in front of the entire cast that she had gotten rid of the food, and apologized to the hysterical student. Her friends were clearly angry with her for not joining in on the laughter with them, but she didn’t let that stop her fom doing the righ thing. It was clear that this girl had learned a lot about resposibility and honesty that week, and her improvement in only a couple of days really resonated with me.
-Peach Rings
-Chocolate frosting and pretzels
- Nutella on apples
-Butter and toast
-Oreo Balls
#12 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?
I do my own taxes, and have not accepted any financial help from my family since I was 17.
#13 What’s something you do to relax?
Reread my old favorite books (The Outsiders, Anne of Green Gables, etc)
#14 Describe your favorite mug.
'It’s from a Lady and the Tramp couples mug set. It’s red and has Lady on the front of it. The back has “Lady” written in gold script and the side of it has an indent that creates half a heart. When the Tramp half is sat side by side they complete a heart in the negative space.
#15 What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago in the winter?
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights and visit the Bean while it is snowing.
#16 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?
I'd live in Orlando, Florida. I loved living in Florida and I cannot wait to go back.
#17 What’s your favorite fairytale?
Little Red Riding Hood
#18 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?
Payoff my debts and invest in a decent condo.
#19 Tell us about your role model.
My grandmother is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. We’re cut from the same cloth and she always understands what I need without me even saying it. She survived so many difficult situations in her life, and is still thankful everyday. She always tells me to be wholly myself, and to never tamper down any pieces regardless of the situation. She’s one of the first people in my life to say that to me, and actually mean it.
#20 What’s a moment that you felt proud of the work you do at Compass?
When JM and I were in Findlay, OH there were a group of girls who were traditional gossipy, middle school bully types. One of the girls in that group would regularly get picked on because she was on the bottom of their group heirarchy, but when the group went in on another person she wasn’t usually the type to stop that behavior. On Friday one of the younger girls in the cast left her dinner unattended and without meaning to, the older girl picked up the mess and threw it out because she assumed that the mess was all garbage. When the younger girl came back and saw that her food had been “stolen” she got uncontrollably upset. She made a huge scene and the Principal of the school stepped in and demanded to know who took this girls food. The clique that that older girl belonged too were giggling about the whole event, and seemed to find this younger students panic somewhat funny, but the girl who tossed the food in the garbage seemed genuinelly sorry about the event. She even admitted in front of the entire cast that she had gotten rid of the food, and apologized to the hysterical student. Her friends were clearly angry with her for not joining in on the laughter with them, but she didn’t let that stop her fom doing the righ thing. It was clear that this girl had learned a lot about resposibility and honesty that week, and her improvement in only a couple of days really resonated with me.
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