We were lucky to catch up with Dorothy Dillingham Blue recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dorothy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
While I’ve continued to appear on camera over the years, I’ve spent most of the past 15 years on the creative team side of theatre, appearing onstage only when personally asked. I love developing the talents of young artists, mostly 10-18 years old. I’m always challenging them to try things that scare them (safely) and push past their performing comfort zones and I realized I wasn’t doing the same and, therefore, setting a good example. So, as a proud Actors Equity Association member, I’ve been signing up and attending any EPA/ECC call I’m eligible for. The experiences have been incredibly varied and given me great joy, insight, humility, and confidence. There’s nothing like finishing your dance group and having the whole room applaud. Some choreographers post their dance combos and some teach it in 16 count sections with no review. If you don’t find your window, you may not get seen or be able to watch the demonstration properly. No matter long it has been since you put on your jazz shoes, your body remembers more than you expect. Be prepared for anything: extra headshot/resumes in case yours is misplaced; a song you can sing in 8/16/32 bars no matter what your vocal health is up to that day; all shoe possibilities. Be friendly and respectful to the staff. You never know when you’ll need to ask a favor. And they remember EVERYONE. What I’ve found as a choreographer & director is that yes, I am teaching the up and coming artists what they need to know to continue on this path professionally. In fact, sometimes I’m actually more challenging! But that’s a good thing. Challenges make us stronger and I look forward to continuing this journey from BOTH sides of the table.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My love for performing began in the dance studios & community theaters of Columbia, SC. After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Northwestern University, I sought sunnier skies in LA. As a performer I’ve worked on TV (Superstore, The Neighborhood), Film (The Nest, Legal 18), Stage (Good Fishermen, Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Voiceover (20+ audiobooks, regional & national commercials). Additionally, I’ve been a teaching artist for 20+ years, specializing in young performers looking to “level up” their skills on camera or on stage. Whether leading improv games in my yard or coaching a teen in Canada over Zoom for a film, I dig into my bottomless toolbox to offer techniques that are accessible and age-appropriate for developing talent. While performing professionally as a youth can be stressful, it doesn’t need to be dangerous, and I work with the actor’s grownups to make sure that we are keep the child safe both physically and emotionally.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
From what I can tell, NFTs are for people who are not art collectors to sell pieces of tech as if they were.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A few years ago, I was saying “yes” to EVERYTHING. No matter how busy I was, if there was a class to teach, a weird film project to appear in, anything, I would say sure and, of course, never get paid. I was doing it for the “clips” and “exposure”. One day, my husband brought home a copy of Shonda Rimes’ book “The Year of Yes”. I started to read about her journey to stop turning things down and do things that intimidate her. That’s when it hit me: I needed to use the power of NO. If it didn’t directly contribute to the advancement of my bottom line, the answer was no. I decided to give it a year and what do you know? Somehow, when compensation was now required, the money magically became available. And I had so many more hours in the day to take care of my personal life, which was a true gift. I still do pro bono projects, but I now limit them to once or twice a year for a limited amount of time. And those who know me book me far in advance. I also went to the places that were paying me and, armed with my record of success, raised my rate. No one complained.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dorothydillinghamblue.com
- Instagram: @dorothydblue
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dorothydblue
Image Credits
Travis Blue: husband (the tall guy) Rex Blue: son (the blonde dude)