UNMC Off the Clock — Life is a stage for Denise Chapman

It happened when she was five.

During a school Christmas play, Denise Chapman was bitten by the “acting bug.” Since then, her life’s passion has played out on stages in Omaha and Chicago.

“I enjoy live theatre mainly because of the connection you have with the audience,” said Denise Chapman, an assistant in UNMC’s academic affairs office. “At every performance, I have the opportunity to step into my character’s world and give a voice to the life of someone whose story may or may not have been told.”

This month, Chapman has the lead role in “Intimate Apparel,” the opening season production at Omaha’s Community Playhouse. It is the story of an African-American woman, Esther, who creates intimate apparel for New York women in the early 1900s.

“Being onstage is the one place where my life makes total sense,” says UNMC’s Denise Chapman.

Chapman said the inspiration for this play came from a museum collection of photos referred to as “unidentified Negro people, circa 1905.” At that time in U.S. history, the lives of the people photographed were not documented with details. Playwright Lynn Nottage uses her imagination to create a world where the story of “an unidentified Negro seamstress” comes to life.

“I was really drawn to this woman and wanted to portray her life with honesty, truth and honor,” Chapman said. “Esther is 35-years-old, never been married and is taught that ‘women will pay you good money for your ability to sew their undergarments with discretion.’

“At a very difficult time in history, Esther must navigate between the worlds of buying fabric in a Jewish community, making corsets for ‘Fifth Avenue ladies’ and other apparel for her friends who work as prostitutes.”

Chapman said the play has beautiful language and is a story of tragedy and hope.

Although the call of big lights and big cities in New York and Hollywood draw many talented actors, Chapman said she loves Omaha’s artistic community and prefers to hone her craft and build her resume in her hometown. For now, she is enjoying her first major role in Omaha.

Chapman comes to the Playhouse after her performance in the Blue Barn’s “Witching Hour” production, “Down and Out in Heaven and Hell” and as the understudy for Tituba in the Playhouse’s production of “The Crucible.” Her performance credits include Spooke in “Shoes” at the Victory Gardens in Chicago, Beth in “Vince the Prince” as part of the Quest Educational Program and Mrs. Malaprop in “The Rivals” at Creighton University. Chapman holds a master of fine arts degree in theatre performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts.

“Being onstage is the one place where my life makes total sense — and I’m good at it,” Chapman said.

Intimate Apparel is a play for mature audiences. It runs through Sept. 21. For ticket information, contact the Omaha Playhouse Box Office, (402) 553-0800,
or online at www.OmahaPlayhouse.org.