When I was a kid, I used to run through the house when the record of that song from the Walt Disney film “Pinocchio” was playing. To be an actor seemed like a lot of fun. Of course, as I like to say, we’re all actors, or as Shakespeare put it: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” According to the famous Yiddish actor Jacob Adler, the reasons why someone wants to become an actor are: “You don’t want to get up early, you don’t want to work, and you’re afraid to steal.”
The actors that you’re likely to see on local stages are all amateurs. They may be very good, and some are truly gifted, but they’re not making a living out of it. They’re doing it for love and personal pleasure, and most of them have day jobs.
If you have the desire to act in a play or musical, this is the right time to give it a try. Many of the theater companies will soon announce their 2011-12 season. Audition notices will be listed in local papers and online, and maybe you know someone who can put you on a mailing or e-mail list. The groups are always looking for new, talented and dedicated people. Sure there’s no pay and you have to commit to a lot of time and work, but the satisfaction of the communal effort to put on a show is a reward that’s tough to beat.
Along with our local actors, there are a number of others with high hopes and great expectations who are looking for a chance to perform. These guys and gals are mostly young, come from all over to be in New York City, and live in such neighborhoods as Astoria and Williamsburg. Their resumes indicate solid education, training, skills and experience. And they have jobs, too, usually in the service industry with flexible hours and understanding employers.
My theater company, The Outrageous Fortune Company — still looking for a suitable venue after a year’s departure from Queens Theatre in the Park — would attract a lot of these hopefuls at auditions. Good actors want to have a good role in a good play, to hone their craft, add to their credits, and maybe get seen by somebody who can give them a boost up the ladder.
And then there are the professional actors, out of work much of the time, but a fortunate few who can actually make a living out of theater, not to mention movies and TV where the real money is. What makes them professional is their membership in such unions as Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. When you see a Broadway or Off-Broadway show, you can be sure that the actors in those productions have paid their dues.
Of course, there’s no guaranty that any actor, professional or amateur, a star or a beginner, will deliver a great performance. A lot depends on the play itself, the ability of the director, and whether the actor is “right” for the part. Casting is crucial, and very few actors have the range to play every role well.
Even if you’re not a theater critic, you can tell when an actor is really on his game. I saw two such standouts recently: Mark Rylance in “Jerusalem” and Bobby Cannavale in “The Mother… with the Hat”, a couple of plays that are worth a trip to Manhattan. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and take in some live theater close to home. You’ll find lots of actors worthy of your applause.
Contact Ron Hellman at RBH24@Columbia.edu.
