Christine Krench

Let me introduce myself…

I am Christine Krench and I am an actor, dancer, photographer, choreographer, director and a singer (when it’s necessary as well as many other roles: a dance teacher, office manager, personal assistant, gardener, housekeeper, daughter, sister, wife, dog-mommy, Aunt and Godmother.

My true passion in life is performing.  I love being an artist.  For me, being creative is the stitching that holds me together, and without it, I’m undone.

I’m originally from Michigan and grew up in one of the suburbs of Detroit.  One of my first memories was of the Fischer Theatre in downtown.  I remember seeing my first show there, it was “A Chorus Line” and I told my Mom that I when I grew up, I wanted to live there- at the theatre.  I wanted it to be my home because it was absolutely beautiful… the ceiling with it’s gorgeous, art deco moldings, the velvet red chairs and marble floors.  I loved the lights, the costumes and the music but most of all the dancing.  The theatre was and is still one of the most magical places on earth for me.

I started dance class as soon as I began to walk and have been dancing ever since.  In middle school, I was introduced to the word, thespian when my teacher respectfully referred to me as one.  When I was sixteen years-old, I actually convinced my parents to send me to a performing arts boarding school outside of Boston where I could focus on acting and dance, and there I went.  And, then USC Theatre and Film School for college… It wasn’t until after I graduated that reality hit.  LA and the industry hit me.  Suddenly, I felt as if my dreams required a hold button on them, while I pursued rent.  I happen to be plagued by good mid-west values and middle-class mentality.  I can’t help it, it’s ingrained in my core.  I went to my “day job” for over seven years, miserably wasting away, doing some theatre here and there, and going to dance class whenever possible, just so I didn’t die inside.  Life went on, but my acting career stayed pretty much still.  Finally, my loving husband gave me the courage and the support to follow my dreams of an acting career and I quit my job!  I was going to be an actor FULL-TIME! WOW!! A dream come true.  During that time, I produced and acted in a play where I received some rave reviews.  Life on stage-cloud-nine was beautiful. After that, it took about four months of not getting any auditions for my practical side to take over.  And ever since then, I’ve been distracted by part-time jobs.

So, if I had so much passion for this career, why couldn’t I do it?  What was holding me back?  Well, the answer was myself.  I wasn’t exactly willing to give up my life and sell my soul to Hollywood.

In the past, I’ve ALWAYS been able to focus on getting something I wanted and accomplished it without a problem.  As a dancer, if I was disciplined and worked my ass off, eventually it paid off.  But, somehow this was different.  I’d ask myself questions like: “Do you really want it? Am I good enough?  Am I skinny or pretty enough? Am I sabotaging myself? What’s wrong with this picture?”  It didn’t help that rejection is actually a job requirement in which I was not emotionally prepared for (thanks a lot theatre school!).  I was questioning myself and my abilities, compromising my integrity and my self-respect.  Believe me, I’ve suffered A LOT of heartache in this business.  I have shed many tears… UNTIL NOW…

It recently hit me while discussing my distraught feelings with one of my closest and dearest friends, Sparky.  She helped me realize that I’ve been lost in “overwhelming-wishy-washy-what do I do?-land”.  I had no idea where I belonged or where I could contribute my gifts to. Then, she reminded me that I needed one, solid focus for my career.  Somewhere I could put my energy into.  And, now, thanks to that conversation and SS Sparky I FINALLY found it!  And, funny enough the title of the show describes exactly what performing feels like to me, “Glee”!

According to this blog, and as far as I’m concerned to the universe:

I AM GOING TO BOOK A SUBSTANTIAL ROLE ON THE SHOW, “GLEE”. And, that’s that.  If I can reach this one goal, maybe, just maybe I could live the rest of my life in peace knowing that I accomplished exactly what I wanted as an actor.

“Glee” premiered it’s pilot this past fall of 2009, and after seeing one episode, I was hooked.  I love the writing, the music, singing, dance, acting, everything about it.   It’s different than anything else I’ve ever seen on television.  It’s right up my alley.  It’s musical theatre on TV!!  I LOVE it!!!   I actually didn’t even consider being on the show until recently.  I’m not exactly sure why- I guess I was just having so much fun watching the show.

The spark had ignited when my husband told me about an open call that the show was having in Feb.  Excitedly, I went to the website and found it!  YEP!  Sure enough, they were having an OPEN CALL!!  That situation NEVER happens in LA, at least not for an episodic or comedic show.  Most of the time, it’s all set up by agents or managers.  Then, I got to the part where it said they were looking for three new cast members ages 16-26… Oh man, that’s not gonna work.  I can’t play that anymore (at least not in TV-land).

HOWEVER… I absolutely cannot let that stop me!  NO, siree!  I DO belong on the show, “Glee”!  I am so sure of it! It’s a show I can actually see myself working on, for once! My role just hasn’t been written yet, that’s all.   Now, I’ve got to figure out how to be seen and then prove myself to them that I belong there.  I am a performer- a dancer, an actor- I live for theatre, and am so passionate about it!  I am alive on stage!  This is the closest opportunity I can see yet that merges my desire to work in television while feeling like I’m on stage- with music, and dance and singing… aaahhhh.

So, that leads me here.  I’ve set a new challenge for myself, a new goal and now that it’s narrowed down, I feel like it’s actually obtainable.  It’s a place I feel that I belong and how often does that happen?  Not often, in my case.  I’ve been wandering around in wishy-washy-land for so long… it’s time for some focus!  Time to book the role of my life!

I’m jumping in, without a vest, but for once, sinking doesn’t bother me.  I have every intention of swimming to the gold.

Stay tuned to see how I’m going to make this dream real.

P.S.  If you’re interested in knowing where my passion is coming from- well, it stems from a lot of places.  Yes, it is from my love of the performing arts, theatre, and dance.  My belief that art needs to be present in schools. Teaching, training, blood-sweat and tears, and of course to make my Mom and my Dad (bless his soul) proud… but honestly this passion mostly comes from a very deep and dark place inside me.  It boils up from the years of creative suppression, the lost battles and rejection I suffered.  It exists selfishly for the single opportunity to feel the sweet taste of success in reaching it that I’ll finally be able to say to all those who ever told me “no” … Oh yes, I can!

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 1:01 am and is filed under The road to "Glee". You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.