We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cathy Newman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cathy below.
Cathy, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I’ve had “real” jobs. Office jobs, assistant jobs, side-hustles like house and pet- sitting and they are all fine, and I appreciate the income and some sense of stability, but they are kind of soul-sucking.
The times when I’m most fulfilled and at peace are when I’m working on new material (or re-visiting old) for auditions and ultimately booking and doing creative theatre work.
But, I do wonder, what would have happened if I had been a teacher (my original plan) and had worked a full career in that profession? I’d now be getting ready to retire, like so many of my friends. I’m tired and would like to enjoy the “golden years” but my financial advisor says I must keep working.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was bitten by the acting bug in the 4th Grade. I got the role of Pippi Longstockings in the class play. After hearing the laughs, that was it for me. I performed in all the fall plays and spring musicals in high school and thought I’d major in Drama in college.
My father, the lawyer and my mother, the teacher, didn’t think that was such a smart plan! So, I majored in Liberal Arts and thought I’d be a teacher of the Deaf at some point.
All the while, I was performing in college shows and some community theatre productions.
After graduation, I worked for a time as a Personal Assistant to one of the actors on the television show “Cheers”. I kept on doing more local community theatre productions and getting small stipends.
An old friend from high school encouraged me to go to New York, just to see what the audition scene there was like.
I went with him, and got two of the first shows I auditioned for, which gave me confidence. I was now a little fish in a big pond! I was non-union at the time, but I still got work.
Each year I’d go back to NY from California to audition, and eventually got my union (Actors Equity) card.
My “big break” came when I was finally cast in the first national tour of Les Misérables. My parents, who had been skeptical, were now fully onboard with this crazy career choice.
I’ve now been in the union for 30 years. I’ve done 8 national tours of Broadway productions and have traveled the US and internationally. I have done countless regional theatre productions around the country.
My life is uncertain, non-conventional and sometimes difficult with a lot of rejection, but I’m so glad I followed my passion. And I’m grateful for friends and family that have let me stay with them, rent free, so I could pick up and go to the next show whenever I was needed. I could not have done it without that financial help during the lean times.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I first went to New York, I was anxious to get into as many auditions as I could. I used to get up at 4:00 AM, get dressed in my warmest clothes (the audition “season” for summer stock shows was usually January – May) and go into the subway and when trains would go by, try to vocalize and sing to warm up my voice. I’d get to the AEA (Actors Equity Association) building or some other audition space and wait in line for the building to open at 8:00. We waited in the cold, the rain, the slush and snow. I met some great people on line who are still good friends. You have a long time to bond!!
I remember one time I saw pigeons eating frozen vomit on the sidewalk near me. I thought, wow! People think “show business is glamorous!” Ha!!!
Many folks gave up. I’d come back year after year and many of the people I had auditioned with in the past had just given up or decided to pursue other paths. It was truly survival of the fittest (or craziest!!)
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Now there are apps and other resources for actors to help with auditioning process.
My only real regret is that I never learned how to read or play an instrument. If I’d known how much money I was going to spend over the years to pay pianists and accompanists, I would have paid attention in my piano lessons.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cathynewman.com
