Artist’s Corner –

Sigute Miller (Writer/Performer) is an acclaimed Lithuanian actress, twice winning Best Actress Awards at International Theater Festivals. As a member of the Echo Theater Company, she has been seen in “Anon”, “Better”, “The Suitcase” and “Undivided Heart”. She also performed at Sacred Fools Theater in “Emergency Operation“, “We the People” (playing Dr. Christine Blaisey Ford) and “What’s In Front Of Us”. Her most cherished performance was at The Victory Theater in “The Guys” – a tribute to the NYC firemen of 9/11.

During Covid, Sigute took to the “stage” on Zoom, performing her own monologues in Beth Bornstein Dunnington’s “Performing the Story” shows. With Beth’s guidance and direction, she wrote her one woman show, “Tragic Magic – A Story of Recovery”. Premiering on Zoom in January, with an encore performance, the show  premiered live at The Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest on March 19th, 2022. The show continues at The Live Theater as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June and is an official selection of United Solo Fest in New York this fall.

Sigute is also a competitive swimmer with United States Master Swimmers and has won numerous medals in age group swimming, including the Senior Games.

Staying close to her roots, Sigute was the Western Regional Director of Lithuanian Scouts and has been camping and scouting for over 50 years. Sigute is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

FOR TICKETS

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug of choice? When did you stop using?
A. My drug of choice depended on the decade! Pot, hash, alcohol, psychedelics in the 70’s; coke, freebase, poppers, alcohol in the 80’s; 90’s and 2000’s Alcohol! My sobriety date is September 13, 2004.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?
A. An illness and a disease. I was physically and emotionally sick during my worst days. I couldn’t stop no matter how hard I tried, prayed or how many promises I made. 

Q. Do you log on to ZOOM 12-step meetings? How often? Do you share?
A. Yes, 3-4 times a week. I do share!

Q. Anything special in your sobriety Tool-kit that helps keep you sober?
A. Knowing that I don’t have to do this alone. Bringing my god/higher power in gives me great relief.
Gratitude, prayer, mindfulness and being of service.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. Brighton Park, Chicago. A very ethnic neighborhood, mainly comprised of Lithuanians.

Q. From what school or teacher did you learn the most?
A. Mr. Patrick Degnan, 8th grade teacher. He taught us to think outside the box, trust our instincts, dig deeper into literature and song lyrics.
Sister Cyril – the BEST grammar teacher!

Q. Who is your favorite poet?
A. My favorite poet is Janina Degutyte. She is Lithuanian and her lyric poetry is intimate, intuitive and healing. 

Q. If you are in recovery, are you back to going to in person meetings or sticking with zoom?
A. Both! I love that in person meetings have opened up again, and I love the reaches of Zoom. I go to meetings in different states and countries, I meet people from other places in my home groups that are hybrid.

Q. Do you believe in God or a Higher Power?
A. Yes, I call my higher power god. I don’t know who or what she, he, it is. I do know that I have a deep connection that soothes me.

Q. Do you have any children?
A. Yes, my daughter Lana, and 2 wonderful step children – Lora and Brandon

Q. Did you start any new projects after getting sober?
A. Yes! Memoir writing with “The Big Island Writers Workshops” led by Beth Bornstein Dunnington. Through the years, I have performed monologues with “Expressing Motherhood”, on Zoom and have written a one woman show: “Tragic Magic ~ A Story of Recovery”, which I am performing now!
I was also the Western Regional Director of Lithuanian Scouts for 3 years and the leader of the veteran women scouts in Los Angeles for 5.

Q. If and when you retire would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop or penthouse?
A. Ocean :)))

Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. My biggest peeve is when I get lazy and procrastinate. I’m learning that often fear underlies that.
My other peeve (not littlest), is when people throw garbage out of their car windows while driving. 

Q. Who has had the biggest influence on you throughout your life?
A. My husband Danny and daughters Lana and Lora. They inspire, uplift and teach me.

Q. What is your favorite radio show, news show, podcast?
A. I’m a KCRW gal for decades. 

Q. What is your favorite city?
A. Vilnius, Lithuania 

Q. What is your favorite museum?
A. State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, and Whitney Museum NY

Q. What is the best piece of advice someone gave you?
A. Don’t underestimate the Power of Repair. 

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else? A. If someone really ticks you off, wherein you feel it viscerally – look within. What is it in you that is being triggered?

Q. What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
A. Goodness – driving drunk with my young daughter in the back seat. Too many times.

Q. What is your biggest regret?
A. Doing the above and after 5 years of sobriety, being brought to my knees again because of my anger filled outbursts at my daughter and husband.

Q. Have you ever been arrested and if so, for what? Leave blank if this is too personal.
A. I was arrested for driving drunk and recklessly with my 5 and a half year old daughter in the back seat. 

Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. Getting and staying sober. Truly. Without this, none of the blessed gifts I have received since then would be possible.

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