Well, it’s been a while! I don’t have an excuse, other than that I am apparently terrible at keeping up a blog. But I am determined to try!

It’s been a busy year! A brief recap: I’ve done a lot of traveling, which has been wonderful (I went to London and Santorini in April, and then to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in July, where I finally ticked off my top bucket list item, gorilla tracking. It was every bit as unbelievable as I expected it to be!). I’ve been auditioning like crazy, and taking lots of new classes–right now I’m working on technique with Ken Schatz, and on-camera technique with Joseph Melendez at Matt Newton Studios. I feel like I’m learning a lot, and like my acting is definitely improving (which is a fantastic feeling!).

I’ve also been focusing on writing lately. I grew up writing, everywhere, constantly–poetry, novels, plays, essays, anything I could think of. As a kid, I would write insanely long, incredibly detailed novels in tiny little notebooks (mostly, um, about the Olympics. You know). But as I grew up, I stopped writing quite so much–and lately, I’ve started wondering why.

As an actor, I’ve found creating my own content incredibly intimidating. There’s the artistic aspect–how do I know if what I’ve written is any good? Am I writing roles I want, or roles that I’d actually be suited for? Does my dialogue sound real? Are my characters individuals, or do they all kind of sound the same?

And then, of course, there’s the logistical and technical aspects–you need money to create a webseries or a short film! How do I raise money? My technical skills do not extend very far beyond turning on my iPhone or changing a lightbulb–how am I supposed to create a film? How do I find a cameraman? What on earth is the “sound guy,” and is that the technical term for that position, and how do I find one? How do I edit the video once someone has filmed it?

These are definitely obstacles, but I feel like I’m finally finding ways to overcome them. I took a couple sketch writing classes at The PIT this year, which were fabulous–and made me feel like I do know how to write. Every week, we’d get an assignment…and every week, I’d sit down and think, I can’t do this! I have nothing to say! I’m not funny! And somehow, I’d end up with five pages on my computer, each and every week. Then, I’d bring it to class thinking, this isn’t funny! Nobody’s going to laugh! Why am I so bad at this? And each week, miraculously, people laughed! Now, I’m taking a TV screenwriting class at Gotham Writers’ Workshop and working on developing my ability to create better, more natural dialogue. I was pretty nervous going in, but I’m having a great time–and I think my pages just might not be so bad!

I’m also working with a really cool group of writers and actors I met at the Actors’ Green Room to create our own webseries. Being part of a group relieves some of the pressure of having to figure out every little thing (and having to do the things I’m not good at, like figuring out all the logistics!). We’re just getting started, but it’s been a lot of fun so far, and I’m really excited to see where everything goes.

So hopefully there’ll be some new, original work coming in this space soon!

For all who were somehow unaware, being an actor is all about rejection. I’ve gotten pretty used to it, and, surprisingly, it doesn’t bother me that much. Of course, there’s always that audition for a part that is absolutely perfect and why oh why didn’t they call? But most of the time, I feel pretty good about doing my best and walking out and moving on. Next.

I should note that I do honestly love to audition. I won’t say I don’t get nervous–I totally do, and half the time I’m trying to perform monologues while hiding the fact that my legs are shaking. And I won’t say it’s always fun to beg my boss for an hour during the day so I can dash out of work, spend 45 minutes getting to and from Ripley-Grier, 15 minutes waiting, and 30 seconds reading sides that I’ve spent days working on. Or to shlep out to Brooklyn on a Sunday night to do a one minute monologue, or to beg a friend to read sides with me so I can “tape” an audition on my iPhone. However, I always look at auditions as an opportunity to perform–whether its one of the monologues I’ve worked so hard at, or sides for something new and exciting. It’s a chance to play a character that I might never get to meet again–even if it’s only for a minute or two.

I had an audition experience these past few weeks that generated a really strong mix of emotions. I had the chance to audition for a really fantastic, well-written, interesting play that will be performed as part of a festival this summer. The first sides were awesome, and I got really into the character–she was intelligent, and interesting, and like me but very different, and going through something difficult but not super melodramatic. I had such a good time learning the first set of sides, and a fantastic first audition with a terrific director/writer. And I got a callback!

I should mention now that I really wanted this part. I’ve had few opportunities thus far to really want a specific part–I often have vague character breakdowns and I go in and do a monologue, or read a short and totally out of context scene. This time I had the whole play, I had five long, meaty scenes (between the first audition and the callback), and I wanted this part. I had a week to prepare, and I spent every spare minute working on my scenes. I read the play three times. I met with two friends to work on the audition. I felt incredibly prepared, and ready.

As you can probably tell, I didn’t get it (or this would be a very different blog post). And I’m super disappointed, but–the callback was a really interesting experience, and good reminder of what people tell me over and over and over again: casting isn’t personal.

Rejection certainly feels personal, but in this callback, I got the opportunity to see four other girls auditioning for the same part. I’m not saying I’d want to do this all the time, since it was sort of terrifying, but it was really interesting to see everyone’s (very) different take on this character. We may have all been the same “type,” but we each brought something completely different to the role–and I left thinking, well, if the director sees the character like this as opposed to like that, there’s just nothing I can do about it. If he sees the character as taller or ditzier or blonde, well–that just isn’t me.

And that is what happened–the director decided that the character was more like someone else. I can’t say it doesn’t hurt–because, like I said, I wanted this part–but it was sort of comforting to realize that I wasn’t a failure, and I wasn’t a bad actor. It just wasn’t meant to be.

Now on to the next one.

Well, it seems I’m a bit of a failure as a blogger. I’m going to work on it though! My mission is to write one blog post per month!

In my (not very good) defense, I have been super busy for the past few months! I took the month of December off of work, acting, and New York City to pursue another passion of mine–traveling. After a quick stop in London to visit friends, I headed to sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. I’ve been traveling since the age of 16, and have been to more than 40 countries, but aside from a trip to Egypt in 2012, this was my very first time in Africa. I went on safaris in Namibia and Botswana, visited Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and climbed sand dunes in Sossusvlei, Namibia–I could go on and on and on about this trip, but basically, it was pretty epic.

I was ready to hit the ground running when I returned to New York in January, and it’s been a pretty busy (and exciting!) few months. I took Level 3: Introduction to Longform Improv at the PIT with the incomparable Chris Griggs and a pretty fantastic group of improvisers. Level 3 focused on learning the Harold, which was extremely challenging, but I was really proud of the two shows our class pulled off these past few weeks. I’m looking forward to working with this group again, and hopefully taking Level 4 soon!

I’ve also been busy taking theatre dance classes! While I don’t think I’m going to be dancing in Chicago anytime soon, I’m really, really enjoying them, and feel like I’m improving each class. It’s exciting to be adding a new skill to my repertoire–and although I’m not a musical theatre actor, I have a life-long passion for musicals, and I’m really enjoying exploring this new way of pursuing my art.

I’m also taking an advanced monologues and career planning class with Karen Kohlhaas, which has been great! I’m working on a few fantastic new monologues, and have been mapping out my career goals. It’s been great to have very specific major dreams to focus on, and figure out exactly what steps I need to take to get there.

Once I started taking classes, a lot of good things started happening! First, I was cast in a staged reading of a new play at the Emerging Artists Festival, Through the Glade, written and directed by the super-talented Rachel Whorton and Cali Moore. The play was incredibly smart and funny, and the entire cast was phenomenally talented, hilarious, and wonderful to work with. I had such a great time being a part of the reading on Tuesday night, and was really sad to say goodbye to this project!

I also got to be a part of a really fun, meaningful student film at Columbia. The film, The Soul Shattering Lightness of Divinity, was written and directed by Isabel Stewart Robinson, who is incredibly talented and really fun to work with! The film deals with the subject of mental illness, and a community’s response to it–I’m always interested in working on projects that are meaningful and thought-provoking, and we had a really great rehearsal prior to filming where we discussed a whole series of issues regarding mental illness. It made the character–an overbearing, disapproving mother, which is always fun!–that much more nuanced and layered in my mind.

Finally, I start rehearsals on Sunday for a new production of 29x/y! I had a fabulous time working on this play last summer, and I’m excited to get to explore it once again! Stay tuned for more information on performance times!

Happy Memorial Day weekend, and Happy Summer! (even though it’s totally 48 degrees and raining right now…arrrggghhh!)

It’s been an exciting few weeks, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a pretty good summer! I’ve been keeping very, very busy with classes and auditions and performances. Last Saturday, I had my level one graduation show at The Pit, and it was fabulous! I was a lot less nervous than I expected to be (even with my parents watching!), and once we got on stage, I almost forgot that we were performing in front of people! It went really, really well, and was just a lot of fun. Once it was over, I was sort of sad about it–I can’t wait to do it again! Improv is not at all something I expected to like, and most of the time, I still find it terrifying, but I’ve been shocked at how much I love it. It’s so easy to second guess yourself–this isn’t funny, or I sound like an idiot, or I have no idea what to say…but I’ve been trying to remind myself that the only thing that’s really boring is to not say anything. I’m hoping to take level 2 soon.

On Thursday night, I took a fantastic Intro to Voiceover class with voiceover casting director Andy Roth. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about voiceover–but it was quite possibly one of the best seminars I’ve ever taken, and now I’m really pretty psyched about looking for voiceover work! First of all, voiceover itself is just fun–there’s a lot less pressure (because no one can see you! so you can make all the funny faces and stupid gestures you want!), and it’s just a lot more upbeat and relaxed. I loved getting the chance to read some copy in a sound booth (I felt really cool!). I also sort of had it in my head that you have to have an interesting or unique voice to do voiceover work, but that seems to not be the case–and, in hindsight, that was obvious. Most commercials just want someone who sounds pretty average, I realized. So now I’m all, when can I record a demo?

Second, Andy was awesome, and his class (which I would highly, highly recommend to anyone) was a good reminder that things can and will happen, even if it doesn’t feel like it. He reminded us that when we get called in for auditions, it’s because they think we might be right for it, and they want us to succeed (people have told me this a thousand times, but I do feel like I consistently need to be reminded of that!). He also said that not booking a job is not failure (even though sometimes it feels like it!). He told us several stories of auditions where the actor did not get the part–only to have that audition lead to a much better part down the line.

I feel like I constantly need to remind myself of that. Lately, I’ve started to feel like things are happening, but only sort of. I’ve been getting tons of auditions, which is a lot of fun, and really exciting, but it can start to feel a little bit sad when nothing comes of them. But I’ve also gotten several really nice notes lately, from directors who said they weren’t going to be able to cast me in a particular project, but that they were impressed with my work, and hoped to be able to work with me in the future.

Something will eventually happen. It will. I just have to remember that.

Speaking of something happening, I have exciting news: I’ve been cast in my first NYC play! The play, 29x/y, will be staged in mid-July as part of the Fresh Fruit Festival. We start rehearsal next Saturday, and I could not be happier. More details to come!

It’s been a long and busy (but exciting!) weekend of auditions. I submitted a tape for a film, auditioned for a film in person, then went in for a commercial, a play, and a short play festival. I got a callback for the short play festival, which was super exciting, and went back (to Brooklyn!) for that this morning. I’m a bit exhausted now, but it’s good to feel like things are (maybe sort of kind of) happening!

I’m one of those kind of weird people who really, really loves to audition. This could be because I haven’t worked very much, but to me, auditioning is an opportunity to act! It’s a chance (usually my only chance) to experiment with different interesting characters, most of whom I’ll never get to take any further. Auditioning gives me the opportunity to find new parts of myself, and try different things. I think of it like scene study class, but free! Auditioning is a chance to perform, to put on a little show. For 30 seconds or a minute or two minutes, people are watching ME! And while I love performing my monologues (new and improved, thanks to the fabulous Victor Verhaeghe!), I really love getting sides.

I’m lucky enough to have a pretty fantastic memory, which means I can memorize pages of dialogue quite quickly. Yesterday, I learned a full page of dialogue, my callback piece, before the F train made it from 4th Avenue-9th Street Brooklyn into Manhattan. Bizarrely, I really enjoy the process of learning lines, which is probably another really strange thing. Memorizing my lines quickly means I can walk down the street, without my sides in hand, “rehearsing” (I’ve discovered that if you do this with headphones on, people assume you’re talking on the phone. I hope.). And by rehearsing, I mean trying the lines in different ways, waiting for it to click, waiting for it to make sense, waiting to find the meaning in the dialogue. And the funny thing is–it always does. I’ve gotten a lot of sides–for auditions and for classes–and been like, what is this casting director thinking? This character is nothing like me! I hate this one! But somehow, I always seem to figure it out. I don’t think I’ve ever done a scene and not totally fallen in love with the character. I’m sure it’s possible, but I’m still waiting for a character that I don’t desperately want to play.

The bad part of auditions is waiting for a response afterwards. Well, not bad, I guess–just significantly less fun! I’ve learned not to expect one, but lately, I’ve gotten some nice feedback. Last week, I got two separate e-mails and a phone call telling me that the respective directors were very impressed with my auditions, but that I just wasn’t right for the part in question. All three said they hoped to work with me in the future. It’s not exactly what I’m hoping for–I want to act!–but it’s nice to get positive feedback. I keep reminding myself that maybe someday in the future I will work with those directors again. I also keep reminding myself that the more times I audition, the more opportunities I give directors to say yes–and all I need is one person to say yes.

In the meantime, I’m off to look for more auditions!

Well, I’ve finally decided to make my blog public! Easier said than done, since I am not always a huge sharer. I started a blog when I was living in Thailand, got a few creepy comments, and decided that blogging was not for me, but…well, here goes!

It’s been an interesting and exciting week! This past weekend I had three auditions and a callback, which was a new one-weekend record for me, and very exciting. In one of the auditions, I had to sing in public for the first time since I was eleven years old. (The auditor said, “That actually wasn’t awful!” I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment). I also got a callback for that audition (of all things), which was exciting!

I have brand new headshots (also super exciting, and much thanks to the fabulous Taylor Hooper, who I highly, highly recommend). I wasn’t expecting to have so many good shots (humble brag there, but they came out pretty fabulous!), and it’s been so much harder than I would have predicted to pick the right one. I finally narrowed it down to three theatrical shots, then spent about three days crowd-sourcing my friends (family, acting teachers, anyone who was willing to look…). I took a final tally of the votes…and it was pretty much a dead heat. Good try? I decided to attempt to be a big girl and make a decision on my own, and this is the winner:

Here’s hoping it gets me some results!

I’m super excited about this weekend’s Theatre of the Oppressed workshop, which I’ve been working on with some NYU students. The workshop involves presenting oppression (my group is doing a sketch on discrimination and stereotyping), and asking the audience to come up with solutions to the presented problem. It’s a really interesting approach to raising awareness of social problems, and I’ve had a great time working on it–I’m really sad it’s ending! Hopefully, there will be more opportunities with similar applied theatre projects in the future!

Hello, and welcome to the website of New York City actor Alyssa Shari Ross. Please see my About Me page for more information. Thanks for visiting!