Theater actors live between two worlds: everyday life and the stage, where a new story begins during each performance. Since they often have to reproduce other people’s fates, actions and emotions, it can be extremely difficult to separate them from their own. The story of each actor is closely intertwined with the theater, no matter how important the role they play. That’s why how stage actors manage to keep the balance is really worth our attention. Next up on dallas-trend.
Between two fires: the lives of the actors of the Dallas Theater Center
Drew Wall and Leah Spillman work in one of the troupes at the Dallas Theater Center (DTC). Their life backstage is quite complicated. First, they spend relatively little time on stage, which is why they cannot call the theater their main job. Secondly, their salaries are not very good, so they have to look for additional sources of income.
D. Wall is a graduate of Baylor University. After graduation, he worked as a carpenter, welder and occasionally repaired cell phones. However, he hopes to find his purpose as an actor. He made his debut at the DTC in the play Gloria.
L. Spillman has less hope of becoming a successful actress, as she often notices that there is no place for her on stage. It has nothing to do with her talent. Rather, it’s because theater is for people who fully consider themselves creative. Leah, as a graduate of Southern Methodist University, also works as a designer. That’s why you can often see her with a laptop at rehearsals, as she simultaneously repeats the words and works on projects. Spillman is not good at staying in one place for long periods of time.
Character traits that help actors cope with difficulties
The performers of the DTC talk about their life difficulties without much enthusiasm. D. Wall assures us that being an actor in Dallas is an extremely hard job. Despite all the attempts of those who want to achieve something in this field, they often end up with nothing. Only a few citizens manage to build a successful acting career. The overwhelming majority of actors live like Wall.
According to the DTC actor, he manages to remain a part of the theater solely because of his stubbornness. Even when it’s hard to pay the electricity bill, he doesn’t give up, the guy just looks for extra work.
Thanks to acting, L. Spillman has also discovered interesting character traits in herself. She is ready to partially live the fate of her characters to make other people more sensitive and attentive. Besides, the woman says, she likes living a double life.
As an actress, Spillman has a reputation for playing mysterious characters with difficult fates. For example, she once played Lady Bird on stage. She liked this role so much that she literally lived through everything that the first lady of the United States faced. There were many things that the actress experienced but could not explain. By the way, the performance with Lady Bird was brought to life thanks to the joint work of the DTC and Houston’s Alley Theatre. The event itself took place at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.
Another example of Spillman’s successful performance is her 2014 performance in Gidion’s Knot at the Kitchen Dog Theater. Back then, the Dallas actress played the role of a nervous teacher who was in conflict with one of the parents. It turns out that she had to work hard for this role, as she spent many hours in a row preparing for the performance. Back then, she not only studied the script but also picked out costumes, scenery and worked on the lighting.
