Julie Pici Unmasked

 I thank God every day for the wonderful life I’ve been given. I’ve had so many opportunities to do so many things.    I have a list that I developed when I was young, of all the things I wanted to do in my life and I’ve been able to check off quite a few of them.  Here’s a few items from that list that I’ve been able to check off:

1). Be in a play or musical: Accomplished this several times. As a member of Actors Equity, I get paid to act. Here’s a few credits I have within the past few years: Aldonza/Dolcinea in “Man of LaMancha” (Orlando, FL); Cinderella in “Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration” (Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL); Belle in “Story Time With Belle” (Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL)

2). Be in a movie or make a movie: In 2004, I was in 2 student films and one indpendent film. I was murdered in “Voices”; in “Eating Patterns” I played a principal; and I was a pickpocket in the independent film “Pickpocket” shot in Cocoa Beach. I have copies of the student films and can’t believe how bad I was.  But it was so much more different than being on stage, obviously. There’s a barrier between you and your audience when you’re on stage.  I have performed for thousands at Walt Disney World, so performing in front of a camera should come easy - I thought.  The fact is, is that the camera is right in your space. It’s almost “invading” your space - like someone is staring at you just a few feet away.  I was more nervous doing that than performing live. Go figure.  But it was so much fun to learn and experience first hand how a movie was made.  And then to watch yourself on the big screen was so exciting!

3). Be in a show or perform as a character at Walt Disney World: (I actually knew I wanted to do this from a very early age!) From 2001 - 2004, I was “very good friends with” Ariel, Belle, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Cruella De Vil, and the Evil Queen from Snow White’s story.  I got to sing and dance with Mickey Mouse and meet with children.  It was a fun, rewarding experience, as well as heartbreaking and frustrating. I performed on stage in front of the castle (my biggest goal that I have ever accomplished) and in the “Share a Dream Come True Parade” , as well as “SpectroMagic”.  I guess all of those childhood years of playing dress up really paid off. One of these days, I’ll tell you all about it.

4). Buy a house, 5). Drive, 6). Learn to cook (I’m still working on that one), 7). Take black and white pictures, 8. Not dread Mondays, 9). Work with children, 10). Gain weight, 11). Overcome depression, 12). Build a car set and play with cars (I have a huge collection of Matchbox cars, although I don’t play with them), 13). Paint a picture, 14). Win a pageant (I was crowned Mrs. North Texas United States 2006, but didn’t win the state title, though. Oh well.)

15). Marry my soul mate: Yep - it took a while, but I found him when I was 28.  I knew right off - I mean I called my mom and told her that I went out on a first date with her future son-in-law. We met 11/17 and got married 11/16 the following year.  We’re happy to say that we’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary this year!  No kids yet, but we’re working on that.  Adoption is probably going to be our primary focus for the next year and hopefully we’ll have a little Pici to call our very own next year.  If it’s a boy, his name will be Jackson Fox and if it’s a girl, her name will be Isabella Grace.

Goals I’ve yet to accomplish: 1). Touch a humpback whale, 2). Record a cd, 3). Travel to Europe (I did when I was in Highschool, but don’t remember too much of it), 4). Be a print model in a magazine or catalog, 5). Skydive, 6). Be famous, 7). Learn Cello and play in an orchestra, 8. Write a winning tag-line, 9). Spend time in an English castle, 10). Buy a grand piano, 11). Write a book, 12).  Compose music, 13). Become a teacher, 14). Have children.

Regrets: I really only have one.  When I went away to college, Oklahoma City University (later Southwest Texas State University), I took advantage of my freedom, like most young girls do. I found my first love and was a drama-queen-wreck (so naive). I lost the friendship of my roommate, Kristin Chenoweth (yes, the Tony winner - from “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”, “Wicked”, “Bewitched”, “RV”, the list goes on and on) that first year. Although I have an account of what happened to our friendship, she may have a separate account (there’s always 2 sides of the story, right), and I would like to know her side.  Gosh - I only have a couple of pictures of her, the first day in our dorm, celebrating with our first “freedom pizza”. People say she was born to play Glinda in “Wicked” - I guess you could say it’s true.  She lived that character.  She was so popular, talented, beautiful - rooming with a tall, non-descript girl who might as well have been green, because she was ignored whenever Kristi was around.  I was Kristi’s shadow…Kristi was an amazing talent and I’m not a bit surprised at her celebrity status. But the true regret is that I didn’t take myself seriously in college and really learn and practice.  While Florence Birdwell (our voice teacher) was teaching Kristi “how to sing” she was giving me life lessons.  I waisted so much time and energy on other people…I’ve always had “issues” with authority, and when you’re young, you always think of doing things your way.  I wish I had listened, learned and given myself the respect to become a better person. Kristi knew exactly how to treat herself and she was focused.  I wish I had been as focused as she was.

 So, I’ve had a lot of different careers in my life, thanks to God and the support of my family (Finance, Marketing, Acting, Photographer, Artist). It will be wonderful to see what life is going to bring in the future!