Occupation: I'm a singer and actress. I got my first agent when I was 12 years old and did a lot of modeling. I have a degree in music, specifically in vocal performance in opera. I've never wanted to just stick to one thing. I like to do it all. While most of my employment has been in musical theater, I've done a lot of voiceover work, film work, commercial work, and print ads.

Family: My husband Josh and I have been together for 20 years. At the end of May, we'll have been married for 17 years. I have a 15-year-old son, Zachary, who's a sophomore at the high school. He's on the honor roll and is involved with the REACH mentorship program, the tech team, youth group, and is on the varsity volleyball team. He plays with Mizuno and will be going to the USA Volleyball National Championship in July. My 13-year-old daughter, Madeline, is an eighth grader at the middle school. She's an honor student and is very involved at Rowanwood Farm as a head volunteer taking care of all the animals. She wants to be a veterinarian and is going to Nonnewaug next year to take part in the veterinary science program.

Pets: We have two French bulldogs, Emily and Lilly; and two cats - Luna is a sphinx and Aviendha is a long-haired kitten. Luna is Maddie's cat and Aviendha is Zachary's kitten.

How long have you lived in Newtown? A year-and-a-half. We're originally from Cleveland and lived in Germany for just over four years. While we were there, we did a lot of research on school districts in the area here. When we came to do our look-and-see visit in a bunch of towns, we decided to tour the schools. We told the kids that they could decide where they wanted to go to school and we would buy a house in the town, so the kids picked Newtown.

I spend a lot of time at Rowanwood Farm and volunteer working with the animals. I help do their programing and plan events. I foster animals and started helping with TLC Sweet Souls. Also, I have an in-home recording studio and I spend a lot of time recording in there.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Do you have a favorite author? I'm an avid reader. I love mysteries, so I'd have to say Dan Brown and Patricia Cornwell.

What is your favorite travel destination? Italy. We've been there several times. It's a beautiful country and the food is amazing. I love that there is so much history there and every city is so different from the next.

Everyone here is so welcoming and friendly.

What is the best part about Newtown?

What has been the greatest influence in your life? Traveling. In doing so, you get to really experience different people, see how others live their lives, and bring the places that you read about as a kid in schoolbooks to life.

What is your favorite musical genre? Musical theater. I was fortunate enough to be in the Ohio premier of the musical Floyd Collins. The lyrics and music are hauntingly beautiful. I was also in The Last Five Years and that was another one that had music that was impactful.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? When I was in fourth grade I was injured and my grandmother had to take me to the hospital. When she saw how upset and scared I was, she looked at me and said, "This too shall pass." To this day, I tell my kids to remember when things are really tough that you're going to get through it.

What is something you cannot live without? My morning cup of coffee. I make it with coconut oil, almond milk, and honey.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My children. I'm very proud of the people they have become and continue to grow to be.

What is your favorite quote? I have two: "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best," by Philip James Bailey. Also, "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it," by Roald Dahl.