Anita Farley:  

After H.S. I was accepted to the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. That was a pivotal point in my life for a couple of reasons. I was able to immerse myself in the study of theatre and I met (after several unfortunate choices) the man with which I would ultimately spend my life. If any of you remember H.K. Baird, I attribute to him my love of theatre and the decision to pursue it as a career for which on any given day I love and hate that decision in equal measure. When I left the Playhouse I toyed with the idea of continuing college to get a MFA in Theatre Arts but tossed that aside for an internship at the Mark Taper Forum and then on to three years with the Rock Musical HAIR. I worked with the L.A., S.F., Seattle and Florida Tribes before going out on the National tour for a year. That experience probably did more to sculpt my social and political values than anything before or since. And, set me up for more future disappointment than I would ever believe possible. I married Bob Farley in 1975. A challenging decision with both of us trying to establish careers in the same profession at the same time. In 1976 Bob was asked by the Alaska State Council of the Arts to be the Founding Artistic Director of the Alaska Repertory Theatre. So, we packed up our VW Van and headed north for what would be almost 12 years. Those were the “hay days" of regional professional theatre in America. Within three seasons we were the 8th largest Theatre Company in the Country and enjoyed the enviable distinction of having a line item in the Alaska State Budget. Less than a year after moving to Alaska I became pregnant with Laurel (long winter nights and all that) and four years later Heather. During t...Expand for more