Denise R Zeiler

I'm just a Brooklyn Baby.

Allow me to share with you a memory from my childhood in Brooklyn. When I was younger and my father was writing his masters thesis - I thought the boring, mechanical text needed some color so I proceeded to use my box of crayons to highlight his hardwork with flowers and other assorted pictures. Apparently this was not a good thing to do.  I started dancing at four years of age taking an interest in ballet, tap and jazz.

Then we moved to Staten Island where bullies were as rampant as our wierd 80's hairstyles. This is where I first started developing a personal pride and voicing my opinions - much to the dismay of my family.  I detested popular people and bullies - and still do!

Next we were off to Michigan. A rural farm in Michigan - yes, a farm. Jiffy Pop was manufactured in the next town of Chelsea. There was an A&W drive-up with amazing rootbeer floats and burgers were served with sprouts...my first glimpse into the world of healthy eating. The town was so small that during we had football players change into their band uniform to play with the marching band at half-time.

From Dexter, Michigan to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The mall capital of the northeast and surrounded by the historical Valley Forge Park though we never went their for its historical character. It was and is still haunted - that's some after-prom fun. I was friends with a later-to-be convicted murderer, has a posse, experienced the loss of loosing a friend at the hand of a jealous ex-boyfriend and learned to drive.

Still in Pennsylvania we moved to Upper Merion outside Philadelphia and finished High School. Then it was off to Penn State. And yes, I actually was a cheerleader and dance team member. Had a radio program and drank to much. That was college.

I left college and went directly to work. From regional shows to dinner theater to national tours. The whirlwind and ups and downs of my life in the theatre began.