Coryn McBride is a contracted performer for the Gaslight Melodrama and part time BC student. McBride, 24, and majoring in American Sign Language, has been working at the Melodrama for the past three years and has been contracted as part of the principle cast for the past year and a half.

When asked what her favorite part of working with the Melodrama was, she simply replied, “making people laugh.”

She also mentioned how much she loves working with the rest of the cast.

“There are lots of inside jokes, backstage conversations and teasing going on. We’re a very close-knit family, so we are very comfortable around each other.”

“It’s great when the audience gets involved,” she said. She is very proud of the family-friendly environment they create there. The cast does not want the audience to be afraid to cheer the hero, boo the villain and interact with them, she said.

“We have so much fun doing it, we want to share that energy with everyone. That kind of interaction really helps our performance.”

The Melodrama is always looking for more patrons and Linda Larma, the co-owner, works very hard at promoting, said McBride. “We have benefit shows where certain nonprofit organizations get to sell tickets, and the last dress rehearsal becomes a show for them.” It helps get local word of mouth and gets them involved in the community.

McBride’s favorite character she has played so far is Aunt Ilenie Weenie from last year’s production of “My Big Fat Oildale Wedding.”

“She is a 52-year-old drunk diva and I get to be outrageous when I play her.” Aunt Ilenie Weenie is coming back for her own vaudeville review, premiering after the next show and McBride is looking forward to playing her again.

In addition to acting, McBride also teaches a children’s workshop during the summer. “It’s a six-week workshop and on the seventh week we have performances. It’s great to see how much these kids learn and grow.”

McBride is also a pet nanny, who watches houses and takes care of pets while people are away on vacation.

The most challenging aspect of working with the theater is time management, she said. “I spend a lot of time on the go.” With this hectic schedule, she said the Melodrama is very understanding and flexible with school commitments. “It’s family owned and operated, so everyone is easy to work with and positive, like a family.”

McBride does more than just act at the Gaslight Melodrama. She also directed their most recent show “Westchester’s Finest,” a lighthearted spoof of the hit show, The Golden Girls. “It’s the first time a show in this timeslot has had such large audiences,” she said, “We’re selling out houses, which is great.” McBride attributes this success to a great increase in interest generated from the success of “My Big Fat Oildale Wedding,” which premiered last year.

When asked if acting was in her future, she replied that she would rather have a career that will allow her to act as a hobby. “I want to survive and do what I love to do without stress.”

McBride is looking forward to the Melodrama’s next show, a Halloween special called “Skylight Zone,” based off the famous TV show, “The Twilight Zone.”

“It’s going to be a little different this year. The show will be a little more creepy, but still family friendly. We really want to stay true to the original TV show, and it’s going to be in black and white, which gives us an extra challenge.”

Being almost a full time student at BC, McBride enjoys a variety of classes including sign language and ceramics, and especially likes it when the teacher is passionate about the subject. “It’s more about the teacher for me. If they are excited to teach, then I am excited to learn.”

Some advice for future Gaslight Melodrama audience members: “Just be ready to laugh and leave your cares at the door.”