How It All Began

From an early age, I was a performer. As I quietly walked around the halls of my grandparents home in Arizona, dressed up in my favorite Pochahontas pajamas, my extended family members would say, “Tori, sing us a jazz song,” “do a show with your sister,” or plainly, “entertain us!” Apparently I was a modern-day Ella Enchanted before the spell-breaking moment because I would always oblige and perform immediately. This reflex to perform only grew with time.

Growing up I would rope my sister into performing in 2-person plays that I had either written or picked out—main point being, it was never a democracy. Poor thing was a trooper. Our 2-person career halted though after a successful run of both renditions of “American Girl Dolls Meet Aliens” and “Mermaids Are Not Maids” when my sister about broke her ankle during one of our more heated musical numbers. She fell over a ledge on the beach walkway in front of our grandparent’s friends at a luncheon. As she whimpered, I looked out at the crowd. They wanted more. It was obvious. And who was I to deprive them of what they didn’t come to see but were forced to enjoy?! Heck, I’m not a monster! I leaned down, poker-faced, and whispered, “Cali, the show must go on.” I didn’t budge. Her ankle didn’t obey. No Ella Enchanted reflex found in those tendons. So I did what any good thespian would do, I played both parts.

I am not completely blameworthy for my propensity to perform. I also blame (owe) my mother. My preschool teachers were invited over for lunch, and while they ate their summer salads with almonds and goat cheese, I would stand on our mantelpiece and sing improvised songs. My collection of soulful, autobiographical tunes about getting off at the wrong stops, not being able to hold my bladder, running late, and sandwiches lost through the holes of a rained on brown bag lunch, were later titled, “The School Bus Blues Chronicles”.

As time went by, I took my career into my own hands and took my love of comedy and performing to the school’s morning announcements where I acted as different characters to relay the lunch of the day. A crowd favorite was my Italian female character whose tagline was, “Mama Mia, it’s a-PIZZA DAY!” That humor wouldn’t fly today, it probably wouldn’t even crawl, but BOY O BOY did they eat it up at that age! These characters found their way into my numerous Halloween costumes. My mother, an artist herself, continued her relentless support of my natural aptitude to express myself and crafted a “Mona Lisa” costume for me. No one at the age of 8 really knew who I was, but the adults did.

I could go on and tell you about how I would do standup for my friends at sleepovers, but I won’t bore you anymore. Quoting the brilliant Lady Gaga, “baby, I was born this way” (okay yeah, I was also molded, encouraged, inspired, supported, loved, etc.).

And that’s how, in a nutshell, this crazy journey began…