08/05/2026
🌟 SPOTLIGHT 🌟 There are amazing people in our community who work to create a more inclusive and artistic Madison. Encore is lucky to have some of them call our company their theatre home base. To celebrate our 2026-2027 season we are highlighting the creative, talented and brilliant people here at Encore!
We begin our celebration 🎉 with Simone LaPierre. We recently welcomed Simone back to Encore! Almost 15 years ago she worked with us as a direct support professional/artistic associate in 2012-2013 and we couldn't be happier to have her back with us!.
Along with being an accomplished actress, theatrical polymath, choreographer, and intimacy in theater coordinator, she also handles the drama offstage as a family therapist. And today is her birthday 🎂 ! One of our actors, Rikki, asked Simone a few questions, we dug up some pictures of her time onstage with us the first time around AND another one of our actors, Robbie, drew a caricature of her! Take a minute to get to know Simone!
RIKKI: Hello, Simone! Welcome. I’m going to ask you a few questions. What was your first experience with theater that made you want to be an artist?
SIMONE: I was actually pretty young when I got into theater. I grew up in a very theatrical family, and when I was about eleven years old, I went to an improv show that my babysitter was performing in. It was at ImprovOlympic in Chicago, where some Saturday Night Live performers got their start.
The show included audience participation, and I got to go onstage.
RIKKI: You must have been nervous!
SIMONE: I was! I remember my heart beating really fast, and I was shaking a little bit. But I did something called a “callback,” where you bring back a scene, line or idea from earlier in the show.
For me to do a callback as young as I was, and to save a scene that had gone dead, was really exciting. I could feel the energy of all the people around me, and I thought, “This is what I want to do forever.”
RIKKI: Do you still feel nervous when you’re onstage, now that you’re more accustomed to performing?
SIMONE: I do get a little nervous every time, even though I’ve been doing it for a while. I have a trick: I squeeze everything, including my derriere, and then I shake it all out right before I go onstage!
If it’s a scripted show, I remember my first line. If I can remember my first line, all the others follow. If it’s an improv show, I just go out there, listen and respond. Listen and respond.
RIKKI: That answer just gave me another question: How do you remember your lines?
SIMONE: That’s a good one! I love working with characters. Sometimes I become the character, and that helps me understand what I’m saying, how I’m saying it and who I’m saying it to. That helps me remember.
I also write my lines down. There’s something about physically writing them that helps the words stick in my brain. Then I go over them and rehearse, just like we do here, over and over again. Going back and forth really helps me.
RIKKI: What is the craziest role you’ve ever played?
SIMONE: Let’s see, the craziest role. I once played a very scary young woman. She was frightened and had a lot of fear, so she was very angry with her father. That was a scary character to play.
RIKKI: What is your favorite blooper from a show or rehearsal?
SIMONE: I think it happened during either opening night or the preview performance of the Sherlock Holmes play I just did.
There was a scene right before mine where a feather fell out of someone’s hat. The feather stayed onstage for an entire scene, and no one knew how to get it off.
Then I entered as the maid. I picked up the feather, stuck it into my feather duster and walked offstage.
RIKKI: That is awesome! That’s the best way to do it. Take care of it while staying in character.
SIMONE: That’s right. The show must go on!
RIKKI: How did you hear about Encore?
SIMONE: I was trying to remember that. I think I came to see a couple of shows when I first moved to Madison.
I’m originally from Chicago. While I was there, I worked with a company that included young people with and without disabilities. When I first came to Madison, I was trying to figure out where I fit. I didn’t know all the theater companies yet, so I was meeting different people.
I think it was probably “Papa Bruno,” Michael Bruno, who told me I should check out Encore.
RIKKI: He’s famous!
SIMONE: He was a great connector who introduced me to many people.
I also met Jess when we did a dinner theater show with Bruno. I played his daughter, and Jess played my wicked new trophy-wife stepmother! We became fast friends. She told me about Encore, so I came to see a couple of shows.
I thought, “This is great!” It was similar to Telling Tales, but for adults. I knew I wanted to be part of it.
RIKKI: We are Wisconsin’s first professional theater company for people with disabilities.
SIMONE: That’s awesome. I love it!
RIKKI: What is your favorite part of Encore, other than me?
SIMONE: Okay! My favorite part is the camaraderie. I know it can sound corny, but there really is a theater family here.
After being gone for some time and returning, it feels like a reunion. I get to see all my theater cousins! I feel sad about those I’ve missed who have either passed away or moved on.
RIKKI: But new people come in...
SIMONE: Exactly! I get to make new friends and family members, and that’s really exciting.
Happy Birthday and Welcome back, Simone!
