Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Autumn Eliza Sheffy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

AUTUMN ELIZA, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I began my career with ballet classes when I was five years old. I LOVED dancing, and to this day, it is one of the things that bring me the most joy. I finally convinced my mom to sign me up when, on top of a mountain, she said if I skied down she would take me the next day for classes. I zoomed down the hill.

I may not be the type of dancer who winds up in musicals like “Cats,” or “A Chorus Line,” nor can I “kick my face” as they say, but dance is one of those things that fuels me. I never really wanted to sing; my Mom was the one who realized I COULD sing and helped me perform onstage. My first singing performance was at a local festival in my town singing “Me and My Teddy” with the lyrics taped on a teddy bear’s stomach in case I forgot them. I got the bug after that.

Once I decided I wanted to be a singer/actress, I absolutely sailed fully into it and became a full-throttle theater kid. I was in “Leader of the Pack” with my brothers at a local theater and then I joined middle-school drama club. In high school, I started auditioning for theaters around my state and got involved in my first professional productions with “13: The Musical” and “Fiddler on The Roof.” My hometown is a really musically talented place with very passionate teachers in the arts. I am not sure what they are putting in the water, but the talent that comes out of here is remarkable. It really encouraged me on my journey to perform alongside so many other people who were passionate about theater and music, and to see it was possible to continue on this path.

I took my first (in my eyes this was the TRUE first, because I no longer lived at my parents’ house for it) professional contract during the summer of my freshman year of college. I worked as a singer at Kennywood Theme Parks in Pittsburgh, PA. I met some amazing friends there that have shaped the rest of my life. I even recently connected with someone I met at that contract who is now a very talented writer in NYC, and performed in a musical they are working on called “This Old Haunt” (by SMJ, Maggie Kane, and Dillon Feldman… look it up!!!) at Green Room 42.

I believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason, but I also believe in working towards something. Working in the arts industry, especially in musical theater, is/can be very draining. Even when you finally get a job, you are continuously looking for the next one. At my last contract doing “Waitress” at Cape Playhouse, I was the only one to bring a ring light to our cast housing, and that thing got more use than the coffee machine. It was in someones else’s room each day and night; all of the actors were constantly looking out for the next job. It’s really hard to allow yourself breaks and grace in this industry, and it seems crucial to never miss an audition or deadline. It can be tough to remember that sometimes, taking personal time for yourself out of auditioning is important.

Despite my best laid plans, the state of the world has shaped where I am as well. Right after I graduated in 2019, I did a contract in Pennsylvania and got home in October. By March, we were hunkering down in the pandemic. During that time, I began vocal lessons virtually with someone that a former teacher of mine had recommended, and began vocal therapy for an issue I had been working through in my voice. This very helpful time away from the theater actually allowed me to take a break and work on my voice, and I know I would have felt a lot of personal pressure to not do so if the pandemic had not taken place.

I think as an artist, it’s hard not to compare yourself to others. To see where others are in their journey: on Broadway or a National Tour, releasing an album, etc., and ask yourself why you’re not also there, doing it as quickly, or in the same way. But I remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy. Where I am today could not have been possible without the path from which I’ve traveled, and it will provide tomorrow’s outcome. I am finally starting to take confidence in my personal journey.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! My name is AUTUMN ELIZA SHEFFY. I am a singer, songwriter, performer, and musician from CT. I have performed across America: in NYC (Green Room 42, 54 Below), Cape Cod (Cape Playhouse), Virginia (Wohlfahrt Haus), and across the world in countries like Norway, Denmark, Scotland, and Iceland working with AIDA Cruise lines. I have a deep passion for cooking and making bread (shoutout to my sourdough starter Doughlee Parton). I am extraordinarily inspired by people who allow their passion to push them. I am easily brought to tears by music, a good movie trailer, and a Shakespearean sonnet.

I don’t think there was ever a time in my life that I wasn’t surrounded by music. I was born into a very musically-inclined family and it has always brought us together. When I was a baby, I was sat on the stage while my parents directed and choreographed local theatrical productions. On long car rides traveling the US, my mom would play “Cabaret,” “The Producers,” “Joseph,” “Big River,” and the list goes on. I used to watch my dad play in pits as the drummer. That’s always been the world I knew. It gave me the passion to look up new theatrical works and become the theater kid that I am. My parents have always allowed me to be completely myself and the rest of my family is just as accepting. It comes with the occasional eye rolls when belting out into song at random times, but it’s all with deep love.

I think I am always striving for an authentic moment in performing where I can really connect with my audience. I put 100% of my focus while performing live into that connection. I think at the end of the day, there will always be someone who can sing a higher note, but I have always been more interested in the storytelling and the connection. There are very rare moments when you can actually forget you’re living or performing and just be in the moment, and that, as an artist, is what I strive for.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Support your local artists. Ditch Amazon. Go out into the world. Support your friends at their concerts. Go on Bandcamp and purchase a song/album directly from a favorite band of yours.

I think just the act of really listening in this day and age is everything. Listen to a friend’s goals, dreams, and ideas. I think we could all do more listening and learning about others.

“Here’s to good taste.
Here’s to good music.
I think we all could learn how to do more perfect listening.”

This is from a Brian Lowdermilk song that he wrote for his friends at their wedding. The lyrics come to me all the time, and if you have 4 minutes today, go to Youtube and watch Taylor Trensch deliver the most fantastic performance of this song.

Supporting artists can be FREE!

Bands you can listen to right now: autumn eliza, Josie’s Ring, Snowpiler, Ourselves Alone

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

This question feels so funny to me. I have typed and retyped a new answer so many times. I think that every day, trying to do what you love is a testament of resilience. Following your passions and your true love is a rare thing, and I believe you have to be a little wacky to do it. I think my friends who pursue musical theater are some of the bravest and most amazing people I know. Every day we face rejection at countless auditions. We stand in lines for hours hoping to be seen, nevermind selected. We drive across the world performing at different theaters. We work multiple jobs. We create, despite it all. I think to do what you love, and to go for it with all that you have, is resilience. I have faced many bumps in the road, including some vocal trauma, that made me fear what I do for a long time. But I think embracing all that you are, and who you are, is what allows you to keep going and to leave comparison at the door.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.autumnsheffy.com
• Instagram: @autumnelizasheffy
• Youtube: autumnsheffy
• Other: SPOTIFY: @autumn eliza
  @Josies Ring

Image Credits

Genito Photo
Monte Photeaux
DDB Photo
Amber Emerson Ayer Photography