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Profiling someone is a hard thing to do. How do you distill a lifetime of living into 500 words and not sound like Mad Libs without the Mad or the Libs?

Well, I’m going to give it a try. I’d like to commit this column to a brilliant theater artist in Reno that continues to inspire with her talent and humility. A little too much humility. A slight fault of hers, in my opinion, but I’m sure I’ll get over it.

Sandra Brunell Neace is a part-time professor of theater at UNR, box office manager at Brüka Theatre, director, actor and writer. She received her undergraduate degree at UC Riverside where she learned the power of the character actress (playing unusual or eccentric parts — think Joan Cusack) and continued her education in New York City at the New School for Drama.

Question:
When you think about local theater, what comes to mind?

Answer: There is a powerful artistic community in Reno. Dave Simpson at Brüka has been a true inspiration to me. His abilities and insight have elevated some of my proudest moments. When I don’t have him by my side I sure do notice. I do wish we could honestly support one another, though. So many talented people in this community.

Q: You went to the New York Fringe last year with “The Medea Project,” which you wrote and directed and are heading to the San Francisco Fringe this year with a different show, “Parly Girl,” a one-woman show you wrote and star in. What are your expectations for SF?

A: When I first spoke to the folks at SF, I told them that last year, we went to NYC. They said they are more grass-roots. I like that. NYC was hard and expensive. We still need community support this time, though. I just hope that the community will still rally around us. I am very proud and very blessed. I want to do Reno proud — bring a piece of what we do out into the world.

Q: “Parly Girl” will be premiering here in Reno at Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company June 7-16. Tell us a little about the show.

A: I was working at a restaurant and living in Queens. Things happened at work, and I wrote them down on napkins. I threaded those napkins with my real life story. It’s the first thing I ever wrote. I had no idea at the time that I was a writer. After four plays, this year I began to say proudly that I am.

Her theatrical journey doesn’t begin or end in Reno, but it is certainly where she is now. And we’re all better for it.

Chad Sweet is producing artistic director at Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company.

Originally written for and published by the Reno Gazette Journal.