Erica is a New York born-and-bred writer and performer. She received her B.A. from Hunter College, and was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship in 1990, which brought her to Germany to teach English and study. She studied improvisation with The Second City, and voice with Marni Nixon and Bob Rue. She appeared on the New York stage with the sketch comedy group mini red satan to notable reviews. Her cabaret act appeared at Don’t Tell Mama, Eighty-Eights and La Belle Epoque.  

In 2011, she made her opera debut (Haushofmeisterin) in dell’Arte Opera Ensemble’s award-winning production of Ariadne auf Naxos. Writing credits include Salon.com and a blog on opensalon.com. Her poetry has been published by U.K.-based Little Episodes and in The Awakenings Review. In 2012 she published a narrative memoir in Telling Our Stories Press.  Her solo play, Alzheimer’s Blues, was inspired by her mother, actress Katherine Lind, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010. Alzheimer’s Blues premiered at Stage Left Studio in NYC in June 2013, co-written by her husband L.E. Swenson and directed by Cheryl King. Performances will continue in 2014 in NYC and other locations. Erica’s father is veteran character actor Richard Herd. She is a member of Actors’ Equity. View Reel