Meet the Artist: Beth Mulkerron

What brought you to acting?
Both my Grandfather and Mother were actors. They got me into it and I just kept going.  

What did 10-year-old Beth think she'd be when she grew up?
Probably a librarian, or a back-up dancer for Michael Jackson. 


What is the greatest challenge of playing Hermione and Autolycus?
The amount of memorization. All that text is a daunting challenge. I've always had to work really hard to get lines to stick in my brain. 

What do you hope that Shakespeare in the Park fans will take away from The Winter's Tale?
That life and how we respond to what is presented to us is all about choice. Whether we chose fear or love, anger or forgiveness, determines how our lives play out. Every moment we make choices based on how we PERCEIVE our circumstances, or how we PERCEIVE the words, worth or ideologies of the person in front of us. We have the choice and the power.

Who should play you in the feature film of your life?
Me. :-)  

What Shakespeare character to you most resemble?
Actually, I think Hermione. She loves her husband and being a mother above all else. She's not afraid to speak her mind  or get a little cheeky, but remains true to her values and impeccable with her words. I relate to her, and strive to live this way.

What's your superpower?
Intuition. I like to think my instincts are pretty good. But if I could acquire one, I want to fly. I used to have a recurring dream as a kid about flying through the Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Public Museum!

Tragedy, comedy or history?
Comedy, definitely. Probably romantic comedy, at that -- I love a happy ending!

Truth or dare?
Truth. I allow myself to be vulnerable and try to be an open book. Plus, I'm kind of a chicken when it comes to daring behavior!

Guilty pleasure?
Any dessert. ANY. DESSERT. 


More about Beth: 
Beth Mulkerron will make her Optimist Theatre debut in this summer's The Winter's Tale. You may recognize her from her recent parts in A Christmas Carol or Ragtime with The Milwaukee Rep.  She has sung in concert with Davis Gaines and The Milwaukee Symphony and performed across the country including Off-Broadway and locally at The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, The Fireside and Skylight Music Theatre. Television and voiceover credits include Miller, General Electric, the Wisconsin Lottery and NBC. Beth has also appeared in independent films and has enjoyed recording extensively for Hal Leonard. 

Beth studied Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music and received her BFA from Florida State University. 

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