Davis, (Mindy) Paige 1970-

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DAVIS, (Mindy) Paige 1970-

PERSONAL:

Born 1970, in Philadelphia, PA; married Patrick Page (an actor). Education: Meadow School of Arts at Southern Methodist University, B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—New York, NY. Office—c/o The Learning Channel, 530 Walnut Street, Suite 276, Philadelphia, PA 19106

CAREER:

Performer and writer. Actor in musical theater productions, including Chicago (member of New York, Las Vagas, and national and international touring companies); Beauty and the Beast (member of national touring company); has also performed in commercials, videos, and toured with the Beach Boys; host of cable television show Trading Spaces, produced by the Learning Channel.

WRITINGS:

(With Vicki Ingham), Paige by Paige: A Year of Trading Spaces, Trading Spaces (Des Moines, IA), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS:

Paige Davis is the energetic host of the popular cable television show Trading Spaces. Davis joined the home-improvement show at the beginning of its second season, and quickly became known to viewers for her playful personality.

The concept behind Trading Spaces calls for two sets of neighbors to trade homes for two days of intense redecorating. Each set of homeowners decorates one room of the other's house with the assistance of guest designers and a carpenter. As often as not, Davis lends a helping hand while keeping the designers within the $1,000-per-household budget and the two-day time limit. As host, Davis mediates between the opposing households and designers with a bright, audience-pleasing presence laced with humor and enthusiasm.

Although Trading Spaces is a reality show that uses actual homeowners and designers as characters, host Davis is a professional performer. After graduating from the Meadow School of Arts at Southern Methodist University, Davis moved to Los Angeles to begin her career. It was there that she honed her craft doing commercials, videos, and touring with the Beach Boys. Her first big break as a dancer came when she won a role with the national touring company of the Broadway show Beauty and the Beast. Touring for two and a half years with the production fulfilled her dream of performing professionally in musical theater. Davis continues to dance, and has performed roles in various productions of Chicago, including both national and international tours, a Las Vegas production, and more recently, starring as Roxie Hart on Broadway.

As an author, Davis infused her first book, Paige by Paige: A Year of Trading Spaces, with the same kinetic and quirky personality evidenced in the television program. The book is written in journal style, and is based on the 2002-2003 taping season. Tina Velgos of Review Zone called Paige by Paige an "interesting read for anyone looking for some behind-the-scenes scoop on the host of this popular TLC series." Davis uses the diary format to reveal her experiences as the Trading Spaces crew crisscrosses the country. According to Velgos, the book highlights how much Davis "enjoys the theater and dance, as well as playing referee between two sets of neighbors, two diva designers, and a carpenter."

Regardless of whether Davis is wearing the hat of television show host, actor, or author, her heart remains in the performance. In an interview with Good Housekeeping's Kate Coyne, Davis said, "Dancing is my life. To think of it merely as exercise dilutes its importance to me. I didn't start dancing until I was fourteen, but I knew immediately that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."