The spirituality of the stage
Amy Brenneman ’87 knows what life is like in the spotlight. Famous for starring roles in the television series “Judging Amy” and “Private Practice,” the actress is well versed in the glamour, glitz, and red carpet “Kabuki ritual” that come with the Hollywood territory. Brenneman also knows about life under the gaze of the camera while in constant pain. Having suffered for years, she recently underwent surgery for ulcerative colitis when the illness reached a crisis point in 2010. But adversity spelled creativity for the Connecticut native who chose to bring her story to the stage. In her new autobiographical theater piece “Mouth Wide Open,” she reveals her personal struggle for balance and spirituality amid the pressures of celebrity and illness. The show is on a limited run at the American Repertory Theater’s (A.R.T.) Loeb Drama Center. “I love spiritual revelation and absurdity,” said Brenneman. A comparative religion major at Harvard, the actress said spirituality...