We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ruth Molenaar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ruth below.
Ruth, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
In 1987 I’d just graduated high school and was attending my first year at Grand Rapids Junior College. I was taking a dance class at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre through the college. Three days a week I’d run down the hill to the theater for an hour and then run back up the hill to my gen ed courses. At the end of one dance class my instructor announced that Civic was holding auditions for “A Chorus Line” that weekend.
Other than being on the Forensic/Debate team and auditioning for the high school plays/musicals (no, I didn’t get cast.), I’d never done any acting in my life. I wasn’t going to audition. Period! One of my classmates challenged me.. He actually said I was too chicken. I’d never heard of “A Chorus Line”, much less seen or had any knowledge of the music. I rose to the challenge and found myself singing “God, I hope I get it!” along side several of my dance classmates and about thirty other people. Not only did this introvert/extrovert get cast (as ensemble), but I got a speaking part, right before I was cut in the first act. I spent the rest of the show singing back up off stage and dressing one of the principle actors. The risk I took in putting myself out there set me on the road of forty years of acting.
Ruth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Being artistic is something that has always been part of my “life form”. I was adopted into a very conservative community which didn’t always allow me to exhibit my inherent qualities of art.
As I maneuvered life, I continued to look for avenues to exhibit the true “Ru”. I found that theater and music allowed me to really show my talents.
I threw myself into the theatrical community of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It took some work to find who “my people” were, My people have always been the diverse, accepting and fun loving artistic people.
Spending time in choir and orchestra in school help build my skill set and help validate my talents. When I progressed through education, I took dance and acting classes to continue to develop myself and my inherent love of the arts.
Life took many turns, including my offspring, Leandro, but I never lost my love for the arts. I often frequented karaoke venues to keep my pipes tuned. I eventually started to DJ Karaoke Venues to continue to learn from others and work at fine “tuning” my voice.
People as a rule are not always accepting of the artistic. I would always recommend that you keep displaying your talents and slowly infiltrate the community.
Meeting new people opens the doors for new opportunities. Never say “no” always say “tell me more”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It is so fabulous to be on stage and feel the overabundance acceptance from those that have come to see your and others talents.
Having friends, rather they be personal, or of the arts, accepting you, applauding you and really appreciating you is so rewarding.
The long hours of rehearsal and performances are sooooo much fun especially when you get the end reward of applause and cherished accolades.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
It is my wish that people would choose experiences over things. Taking time to support the arts, and local talents can be so rewarding. If they took the time to seek out local venues and experiences, I believe that everyone’s lives would be more fulfilled.
We need to do a better job of exposing local talent and opportunities of growth. I have been in several productions that exhibit diversity and the pains associated. It was so rewarding to expose the reality to our audiences.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: msru31
- Facebook: Ruth Ann Molenaar
- Linkedin: Ruth Molenaar
Image Credits
Leandro Lara, Dave Kagan,