Always sing your "SWAN" song!!

In theatre we all hope to not be type cast. To get stuck in one kind of role over and over is death to a CREATIVE career. I was always typed as the "troll" or some other weird forest creature.  That was part of my dissatisfaction with my acting career. I knew someone who was always cast as the mom and housewife. I've seen the "fool" and the "leading man" walk right past. I have sat on the other of the directors table. I've heard "He's too short," She's too big, " "He looks too gay," "She'd be perfect if she'd dye her hair." He wont be believable s such and such a character." I never understood that one. The actor becomes the character- not the other way around. After we got all that "typing" out of the way we moved on to substance. "his voice was amazing, and that song suits him." She delivered that monologue with such passion" or "They have great chemistry." I know which had the larger impact on casting. I've seen it ... I've done it.  I've seen people be who could not act at all, cast because they were tall enough, pretty enough, and sometime just because they were easy to work with

Disclaimer: To my Five  Towns peeps I am not implying that any of these statements were specifically made about ANY of you. There were shows before, and after you.

Here's where it gets tricky: Actors get used to this. We learn to know our "type" and embrace playing those roles. Even when deep down we want to be the ingenue. OK so we don't always embrace it. (insert sarcastic tone here.) but we desperately want to be on stage. Sometimes we humiliate ourselves, in fear that we wont get cast, again, if we turn down roles or refuse to take direction we find degrading.  We find comfort in our fellow cast members who share similar feelings. And than there are those who live by "at least I'm not in the chorus!) Or as Jack called it 3rd tree from the left.

But then there are PEOPLE- Every day people, who have never stepped foot on a stage. They get typed, more often than not. Every one knows the "dumb girl," "the fat kid" "the slacker," "the snot," "the bully," the jock," "the kid we feel certain is gay (and sometimes is or is not!" "the shy kid," "the geek," "the theatre nerd" (that was me)

Who are you? Don't be any of the above. Unlike theatre, where a director determines what role you play, you have the opportunity to play all those and more. So what you're the "theatre geek?" Does that mean you can't be popular? Because you're "shy" does it mean that you're not smart? Because you're African American, does that mean you're "poor?" How about the "gay kid?" Does that mean you can't open, and still be successful? NO!

Play whatever role you want to play. Don't force the worlds type casting upon yourself. I'm guilty: I've been the "little person" meant to be alone, unsuccessful and uneducated. I accepted that type for a long time. It took years before I decided that role wasn't for me! I turned it down. I know what roles are for me, and which are not. Unlike my performing days: I can look the world in the face and say "SHOVE IT!" I won't be her, I won't even look at the script and consider it.  This is my life, and I wont type cast myself.

So no matter who, or where you are reject "types," and cast yourself as who you want to be. And no matter what find a time, a moment, and a place to sing your SWAN SONG!