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After Long Hiatus, Actor In Stamford Show Rediscovers Stage Passion

GREENWICH, Conn. — For nearly two decades, Kate Telfer thought her acting days were done. Now, it appears the Greenwich woman’s time on stage might just be starting to truly evolve.

Kate Telfer of Greenwich plays Rosemary in "DelVal Divas," which begins Thursday at Curtain Call in Stamford.

Kate Telfer of Greenwich plays Rosemary in "DelVal Divas," which begins Thursday at Curtain Call in Stamford.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Kate Telfer
Kate Telfer, right, of Greenwich, and cast members rehearse for the production, which opens Thursday.

Kate Telfer, right, of Greenwich, and cast members rehearse for the production, which opens Thursday.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Curtain Call

Telfer, a native of Rye, N.Y., will be in the cast of “The DelVal Divas” at Curtain Call in Stamford when the show opens on Thursday at the Dressing Room Theatre. Although Telfer performs throughout Fairfield County, this will be her fourth Curtain Call production.

She plays Rosemary in the show, which centers around four accomplished women professionals who are serving prison sentences. With the prison warden in one pocket and the cell block guard in another, the “Divas” indulge in their lavish lifestyles until one of the inmates is released prematurely and a murderess moves in.

“I’m enjoying working with the other women in the show,’’ Telfer said. “Some of them I knew before, others have become fast friends. It’s nice after a long day of work to be able to do what I love with my girlfriends. I’m also working again with Gail Yudain, the director. I worked with her last year when I was in Calendar Girls. In that show, I had to briefly take my clothes off. This time I play somebody who eats all the time, so it’s totally different and a lot less stressful.”

Telfer’s acting days took root in middle school, and she graduated from the acclaimed theater program at Ithaca College. She seemed destined for a theatrical career. “Everybody wants to make it,’’ Telfer said. “I had a lot of friends who went to California and I went out there after college to see if it might be the place to settle down. The first night, there was an earthquake. I quickly decided to stick to the East Coast."

Shortly after returning, Telfer found herself in a new role as a single mother. She knew acting and child rearing as a single parent would be incompatible. She joined County Coach Corporation in Rye, as their Director of Public Relations and fell out of acting.

“When I got out of college I did some auditioning and some extra work,’’ Telfer said. “But I had to pay the bills. When I became a Mom, I knew I needed a steady income. For the most part, I thought my acting days were done. But once you get bit by the bug, it doesn’t go away.”

Telfer does not regret staying away from acting while she raised her daughter, Haleigh. It was her choice and raising her daughter took priority. “I had a good reason for it,’’ Telfer said. “My daughter is everything to me. I never felt like I was missing anything.”

When Haleigh reached high school, Telfer auditioned for a role and got it. It re-launched her stage career, and she now pursues more parts. She has shown tremendous versatility in her roles, which have included everything from a nun in The Runner Stumbles to her daring role in Calendar Girls. She also recently played the role of Olive Madison in “The Odd Couple” (Female Version) at the Carriage House Arts Center in Norwalk.

Following an upcoming neck surgery, Telfer hopes to find even more stage work. She plans to take a hiatus from her day job to pursue professional performing roles. “I think my best days are ahead of me,’’ Telfer said.

Meanwhile, she is happy to be back on stage in Stamford. Curtain Call’s shows have been widely acclaimed, and Telfer appreciates the versatility of shows and intimacy of the Stamford theater.

“They have a mixture of serious dramas, lighthearted comedies and big musicals,’’ Telfer said. “I like working in The Dressing Room Theatre. People can bring in their own food and drink and make a night of it. It’s pretty high-quality entertainment. For me, it’s my home away from home. That’s how it feels every time I go back to do a show there.”

“DelVal Divas” runs through Jan. 29. Click here for more information and tickets.

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