Jessica Miller, as the Easter Bunny, watches as Joseph McDonald tries to handle his English bulldog Ike. PHOTOS BY LINDSEY SHUEY
Originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on April 10, 2022.
SAINT CLAIR — Jessica Miller contemplates the head of the Easter Bunny, with its smiling face and duct-taped ears, as if she is Hamlet with the skull of Yorick. After all, she is a decade-long member of the Actors Guild of Schuylkill County.
Miller, of Tuscarora, played the Easter Bunny at an Actors Guild fundraiser Saturday.
The Easter-themed event, featuring photo ops with a costumed Miller, raised money to renovate the Guild’s new theater in Saint Clair, formerly the Ss. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church.
“I love it,” Miller said, taking a popcorn break between photos. “It’s always fun to have anonymity and play with the kids and goof around.”
Miller approached the role as an actress would.
“You can’t talk, so you have to use a lot of physicality,” she said.
It’s hot and sweaty in the costume, but Miller doesn’t mind.
“I can suffer for one day for something fun to do for the kids,” she said. “What greater role is there than the Easter Bunny?”
Early in the afternoon, the theater offered Easter Bunny photos for children, an Easter egg lottery and a naming contest for the Guild’s giant inflatable dragon (entries included “Dragony” and “Lava Mike”). Later in the afternoon, pets could have their picture taken.
It was Miller’s first time interacting with animals in the bunny suit, and the photo shoot quickly became a scramble to rein in the rambunctious dogs. Many “awws” were had.
“They’re adorable,” Miller said. “I love them. They’re so good.”
Actors Guild Vice President Dana Smith-Mansell brought four of her nine dogs — Scottish terrier Brodey, West Highland terrier Logan, miniature schnauzer Jordie and Chihuahua Bella.
Dana Smith-Mansell brings her dogs to the Easter Bunny.
“I gotta finish my parking,” Smith-Mansell told Actors Guild Treasurer Amy Mills as she handed her dogs to the doting staff. “Have a Chihuahua.”
“I can take my head off whenever I want when I’m with the dogs,” Miller said. “They’re not gonna tell anybody.”
“I take my dogs to get their picture taken everywhere,” Smith-Mansell said.
Smith-Mansell brushed their hair to get them ready for the photo shoot.
“I’m anal about that stuff,” she said.
“You’re such a pageant mom,” Miller joked.
The dogs seemed interested in everything but the Easter Bunny, but with the promise of cookies, they stood still long enough to get their picture taken.
Jessica Miller holds Jordie the miniature schnauzer. At her paws are, from left to right, Logan the West Highland Terrier, Bella the Chihuahua and Brodey the Scottish terrier.
While most people bring dogs and cats, sometimes more exotic animals make an appearance. At the Actors Guild fundraiser last Christmas, someone brought a bearded dragon for pictures with Santa Claus.
“You never know,” Miller said.
Megan Murray, her husband Joseph McDonald and their daughter Lily McDonald, of Saint Clair, took their English bulldog Ike to see the Easter Bunny.
“We love to support the arts in our area and our very dear friends with the Actors Guild,” Murray said as she tugged Ike along. “Come on baby, you wanna see that bunny!”
Ike was more excited to eat the fake grass. Miller said he was probably excited because it looked like one of his chew toys had come to life. It was a mad dash to get the bulldog to stay still, and at one point Joseph slipped and fell on the Actors Guild stage.
It was all in good fun, though, and for a good cause.
Comments