I. Details Provided by the Playwright (Godspell do not include actors clothing, only descriptions. We play ourselves on stage. So this vita is all about who I truly am)
Name: Giannii Marshall (GeeGee)
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: June 1, 2004
Place of Birth: Prince George’s County, Maryland Hospital
Dialect: English (A mixture of Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia slang)
Current Residence: Stafford, Virginia
Previous Places of Residence: Various parts of Maryland, near Washington D.C’s National Park, and parts of Stafford and Fredericksburg Virginia
Religion: Non affiliated. I was raised in a Christian household so I do believe in God and Jesus, but do not consider myself religious because I don’t participate in religious activities like reading the Bible and going to church.
Ethnic Origin: Black/African American
Family: To keep it simple, lots!
Marital Status: In a three almost four year relationship (not married)
Children: None unless you count my reptile pets!
Education: Daycare, Preschool, Middle School, Bible study, High School, and College
Occupation: Student striving for a BA in Theatre with a Musical Theatre Minor at the University of Mary Washington, Box Office Assistant at the Klein Theatre of Mary Washington, and a pizza delivery driver at Marcos Pizza.
Socio-Economic Status: Medium/Middle to Low
Interests/Special Skills: Painting, knitting, tattooing, board games, volleyball, doing hair, special effects makeup, acting, creating short films, diy projects, eating, treating myself, keeping my health up to date, roller skating, ice skating, puppetry, dancing, singing, swimming, badminton, etc.
Physical Health: Great
Mental Health: Overall Good
Significant Life Experiences: Having the opportunity to go to college/live on campus at some point, passings of relatives, the family I built from all the shows I’ve been part of at Klein Theatre, the significance of my mothers addictions, moving out of toxic households and becoming an adult.
II. Actor Analysis
A. Write a character autobiography in first person. The autobiography integrates details of the world of the play with the actor’s imaginary or real life experiences. This should include age, height, weight, health, class, occupation and attitudes toward it, education, religion, likes and dislikes, passions or interests, sex life, moral ambitions, frustrations, disappointments, abilities, as well as images and events that affect the actor as triggered by the events and images of the play.
Hello, my name is Giannii Marshall, but most of you may refer to me as GeeGee. I’m a 21-year-old Black woman, born June 1st, 2004, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. I’ve spent the majority of my life in loud and quiet neighborhoods where everybody knows everybody; from a kids perspective. I’m about average height with healthy weight, and in great physical shape. I try to stay active with things like skating, swimming, dancing, and all the random hobbies I pick up like it’s nothing. So my health has always been steady. I’ve had my fair share of heavy moments as much as the next person, but somehow I remember to stay lively.
I grew up in and around Maryland before moving through Fredericksburg and eventually settling in Stafford, Virginia. My dialect is this mix of DMV slang because my immediate family talk that way. I was raised in a Christian household, and even though I don’t consider myself religious now, I still believe in God and Jesus. I just don’t practice in the traditional ways. Prayers come through when eating, driving, or going through a rough patch in life.
I come from a big and complicated family who love to voice their opinions in a free manner. My mother’s addictions shaped a lot of my early life and due to such, her struggles forced me to grow up quicker, read people well, and understand emotions before they’re spoken. That background made me crave stability, so when I found theatre, I found a different kind of family. Klein Theatre became a home I wasn’t expecting but definitely needed.
Now I’m a Theatre major with a Musical Theatre minor at the University of Mary Washington. On top of that, I work as a Box Office Assistant and deliver pizzas for Marco’s Pizza. It’s not where I’ll be forever, but it’s honest work, and it pays enough to keep me part of the middle/low class. I know what it feels like to stretch money and make things last. Fun fact, one of my biggest fears in life is having no money at all.
I’m in a long-term relationship, almost four years now. It’s steady, supportive, and it’s been one of the healthiest in my life. As for my sex life, I’d describe it as private and tied to genuine trust. I try not to jump into anything without developing an emotional connection first.
My passions are all over the place. I love painting, tattooing, special effects makeup, puppetry, acting, singing, skating, volleyball, creating short films, and honestly just doing anything artistic or hands-on. I treat myself when I can, because for a long time I didn’t know how to. I love food along with hobbies that let me build or transform something. That’s probably why theatre is my passion. Theatre allows me to become someone else (put myself in their shoes), explore their interests, hobbies, significant life experiences, and more!
I want to take care of my people and make art that means something. My frustrations? Feeling underestimated. Feeling like I have to fight twice as hard sometimes to be taken seriously. Growing up in toxic households taught me how to survive, but it also made me impatient with people who don’t value growth. My disappointments come mostly from people who should have shown up but didn’t. However, my empathy, creativity, and discipline allows me to turn that pain into something useful.
Certain images stick with me include hospital rooms, late-night drives, watching my mother struggle, stepping onto a college campus for the first time and realizing I wasn’t trapped by my past, but shaped by it. My life in the theatre of Mary Washington reminds me everyday that I’ve built a second home with my own hands. Everything I’ve experienced influences how I react to conflict, to love, to fear, to joy. I am the product of movement between states, between households, and versions of myself. I hope to live a very successful life outside of my background/experiences.
Psychological assessment: major needs, major fears, moral rectitude, fantasies for the future.
- Major Needs: Money and a big change in life.
- Major Fears: Frogs, collarbones, running out of money, not paying bills on time, losing my parents, and not being successful.
- Moral Rectitudes: Act more in line with my values, spend money on more important things, and develop stronger moral habits.
- Future Fantasies: Owning a long haired dapple dachshund, living with my current significant other, traveling whenever I want, being of high class, have a star plaque in Hollywood, be on bulletins, magazines, movies, commercials, statues in museums, etc.
Physical and vocal assessment: physical center, vocal quality, special physical and vocal challenges.
- Physical Center: Sits low in my body around my hips and core to ground me on my work.
- Vocal Quality: Loud, but kind of low and gravelly at times. Shifts between lighter and heavier depending on my mood.
- Challenges: Maintaining an upright posture for a period of time and fidgeting.
Metaphors (color, animal, texture, season, song, musical instrument, food, painting, etc.)
- Color: Red because there’s emotional depth.
- Animal: A deer because they stick with groups but are also indecisive (deer in headlights, don’t know whether to freeze in fear or jump out of the way).
- Texture: Weathered stone from going through a lot but still holding together.
- Season: Summer because I’m a wild card.
- Song/Genre: Jazz for calmness.
- Musical Instrument: Trumpet for being loud and stands out from other instruments, but also soothing.
- Food: Alfredo pasta because a lot of people eat different forms of it. It’s also one of the most common picked foods at restaurants.
- Painting: Pablo Picasso painting. Sometimes they look pretty, all over the place, or simple.
E. Observation exercises.
- Stanislavski Method
- Breathing and Awareness Techniques to ground myself in the space
Circles of Attention:
What does the character say when alone to self and to the audience?
When I’m alone, I hum and use my inner thoughts in the moment of the play. My inner thoughts include whether I’m over acting, performing the correct blocking, keeping up with the stories, and whether I’m truly giving all of myself to the community. I have moments where I send friendly reminders to myself like the fact that I’m a strong and creative actor. As far as the audience goes, I want them to understand why this community matters.
What does the character say to other characters: individually, about themselves, about others and in groups?
- Individual: I ask questions that show I’m paying attention.
- Myself: I admit my flaws in a self-aware way.
- Others: I acknowledge their strengths and quirks; what tickles them.
How does the character respond to other characters, individually and in groups?
- Characters: If someone jokes, I match their energy.
- Individual: I’m able to adapt into any environment unless it’s a harsh one where I don’t feel welcomed.
- Groups: I help keep the group energy high. I notice when someone’s slipping out of the moment and will try to subtly bring them back in with jokes or laughter.
What does the character do compared to what the character says both immediately and during the course of the play?
- Immediately: My actions almost always reveal deeper care for my community rather than my words that verbalize what I should say.
- During: My commitment becomes justified. A lot of my hand gestures and physical movements get smaller as Jesus’s Crucifixion approaches sooner
What do the other characters say to, say about and to this character
- About: They would describe me as expressive, outgoing, hilarious, intelligent, and sweet.
- To: They enjoy my presences/moments of comedic bits
Stanislavski Method:
Super Objective in the Show – Connecting with the audience and mainly Jesus to push the parables along
Objectives in General – Telling the story of Godspell itself to a group who may not completely understand and building trust amongst the cast
Super Obstacle – Performing in a new environment filled with music and stories.
Obstacles – Remembering fast paced choreography, maintaining the correct harmonies, and keeping focus during rehearsals.
Tactics – Engage with the text and explore with child-like curiosity (let loose).