Traci Knights – The Witch

Where to begin?

When I was maybe 10-years-old, I saw the Original Broadway Cast recording of Into The Woods, featuring Bernadette Peters as the Witch, and I was HOOKED.

I hoped beyond hope that they might do the show while  I was in High School at Sprague High School in Salem, where I grew up, but to no avail.

Neither did I get to try it out while I was in college at the University of Oregon.

BUT, when I found out Mark was going to direct it at Actor’s Cabaret, I knew this was my chance!! And the stars aligned for me!

I now get to take the role that originally inspired me to pursue theatre, played originally by the artist who I would LOVE to be like!!

It is a dream come true for me and I am so grateful to Marky for this opportunity.

I grew up, as I said, in Salem, just an hour north of here. I started singing at a very young age and have been doing choirs or other singing groups almost constantly since I was about 6 or so.

I started doing theatre in Middle School and High School.

My first major role was Mrs. Van Daan in a production of The Diary of Anne Frank. This one was pretty exciting because I was called in 3 weeks before the show opened to replace someone who was unable to do the role anymore, so I took over and dove right in. I also played chorus member in Grease, Godspel and Ebenezer, and Ethyl Banks in Barefoot in the Park.

I did mostly tech and costume work while I was at the University. I graduated in 2006 and took a break from theatre and singing for a few years.

I sang in a band around the Eugene/Springfield area form 2009 until 2012.

I was in my first production back from hiatus in March of 2012, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at The Very Little Theatre. It was all downhill after that, and I have been doing shows almost non-stop since then. I was Villian/Hope in Almost, Maine (VLT), then I Stage Managed Arsenic and Old Lace (VLT). My first venture into a full Sondheim show was April in Company at LCC’s Blue Door Theatre. Then I was a Cagelle in La Cage Aux Folles (VLT) and Mayzie La Bird in Seussical the Musical (ACE). After that I was a villager and other roles in Young Frankenstein (ACE) and Ariel/Shiela-Type/Aquarian in ACE’s production of HAIR.

Now I get to sink my teeth into a real Villain. The one who started it all for me!!

I can’t WAIT!!!