Kathi O'Donohue:
CLASS OF 1970
Ganesha High SchoolClass of 1970
Pomona, CA
Chapman University - World Campus AfloatClass of 1974
Orange, CA
Marshall Middle SchoolClass of 1967
Pomona, CA
Kellogg Elementary SchoolClass of 1964
Pomona, CA
Roosevelt Elementary SchoolClass of 1964
Pomona, CA
Kathi's Story
October 1, 2021
Eating oatmeal and wondering what my bio could be and what I've been doing?
Well, after high school I struggled with what to do with my life. Theatre was always there. Did some hanging around, theatrically, with Terry Martin aka Terrance Robay, Laura Incontro, MSAC, BH, BC, JG, TV, CS and others. Names not commented on, accurately, due to their possible privacy and my lost memory. Always open to any corrections or additions.
Eventually spent two semesters at sea, going around the world. Spent a year between voyages working in the Stock Market in Center City Philadelphia. After my second voyage, I found my family had moved to NJ . Couldn't lose me. Tried a semester at Glassboro State College, radio shows on WGLS and found I couldn't sit in a classroom while looking at the same view, out the window, day after day.
Drove across country, again, delivering a car to some guy in Santa Rosa, California.
Then,
Found myself in Hollywood. Did this and that while acting doing voice work, office stuff, being a personal assistant, driver for an impressionist and a bit of technical theatre.
Got fired from an office job because I wouldn't make coffee for the boss.
Hey, I didn't drink it! I did manage to get unemployment.
Not a Make it or Break it job
Later on, la La la, la de dah, this and that. I still hovered around theatre work.
Became a stage manager, sound and lighting operator, props procurer
and assistant to the director.
Eventually a couple director friends asked (told) me to be their lighting designer, along with stage manager and board operator.
Not me , I said, I'm not a designer! Yes, they both replied. yes you are!
That began my entrance into the world of designing.
I still worked backstage, along with designing.
I ran, operated, the lights for all my shows as I didn't trust anyone's ability to follow the "music" of the scenes I painted. Eventually I started to trust others to run my shows. Hey, the lights and designs were like my children.
Computers worked their way into the designing world. YUCK, I thought, where will the feeling go with those cold, hard computers.
WOW!
I was soon sold on and became very adept at using this technology. As long as the operator could hit the go button, at the right time, the lig...Expand for more
hts and timing became music, art and the paintings I was drawing with lights, shadows and colors.
I know I became full of myself but also knew I did beautiful work that played as another actor in the production.
I received many awards and critically acclaimed reviews.
(Google me, if you have nothing better to do)
Several interviews that were accurate and not. Best being a Sunday L.A. Times. cover story. Yes, I'm bragging.
Alright, enough about my early life after high school until about ten years ago.
Started to fall and trip a bunch.
Fell off 10' ladder onto my head (good thing I have a hard head)
blah-dee-blah-blah.
Was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Vertigo, climbing steps on my butt, falling down, worried others and myself.
Had to move, after 30 years with same address. Sold much of my theatre and lighting equipment.
Moved to South Pomona , then Claremont, then Upland. Moving easterly, one city & county at a time.
Now, theatre IS ten years in the past.
Continue to write. keep struggling along on book or short stories or monologue one-person show.
Discovered The American Museum of Ceramic Art, long after my Mom had encouraged me to go.
Found I liked working in clay. Am now working on being a ceramic artist. Building by hand is my love.
Other artists tell me they and I will constantly be looking to find themselves in their art.
These days, I mostly stay in bed, read, watch tv, don't go to my local YMCA (a walk across the park), don't box or do other exercises, like Pilates, rearrange my art studio aka the living room, go back to bed (my answer to anything and everything).
Dislike the isolation and being without any personal contact with friends and family. Have known people who died of the virus.
Depression sucks.
Had to move out of my comfortable and "family" theatre and Venice life. My parents died within the last 8 years.
Depression Sucks.
My transportation was stolen so I don't get to AMOCA very often. Work on clay vessels and sculpture at home, occasionally.
DEPRESSION SUCKS!
Thank you to all who have contributed to my getting another electric scooter fund.
Meanwhile DEPRESSION S U C K S!
That's it for today's update. Back to bed before I get dizzy again and fall down.
Yeah, that's another story.
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