The fall after finishing my undergrad, I worked for a children’s theatre in Columbus, Ohio. It was a magical year. I learned so much about myself as an artist and I think the lessons I learned there still inform the work I do with young audiences today. While I was there, I would tell these stories of my life growing up. The artistic director of the theatre loved my stories and told me I needed to take all of these wonderful stories and make a show! For the next four years, I told anyone who would listen that I have this great idea for a show – but I never… read more →
I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to take classes at The Australian Film & Television Academy in February. I had a fantastic workshop with Australian television director Geoffrey Bennett and participated in voice and movement classes with the full full-time students. It was so much fun to get back into a learning environment and I realized how much I have taken my training for granted. We all get caught up in the day to day task of life and it is so easy to put off opportunities for growth. Growth in our relationships, our health, our careers. We feel like we know what we need to know… read more →
I tell this story during my keynote about how my greatest anxiety is shaking hands. Most people do not realize I am missing my right hand and so it is inevitable they will stick out their right hand to shake. I have this choice: I could put out my right hand to shake but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, so I extend my left hand instead, which makes us both feel uncomfortable. You have this split second thought, “why did he just stick out his left hand – oh my God, I feel like a nincompoop.” And I have the split second thought, “oh no, I just made… read more →
Over 7,000 individuals submitted their materials to the ABC Discovers Talent showcase this year; the 7,000 were cut down to 70, then to 35 and finally to 14. Six of the last seven years I’ve been one of the 7,000 to submit my materials. Six of those years I was one of the 6,986 individuals to not be cast in the showcase but this year I was one of the fourteen individuals to be cast. I’ve pondered this over the past few weeks. Did I do anything different? Was I a much worse actor last year? Or was it just the right time? The day before my audition this year… read more →