We recently connected with Lisa Lamothe and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

While living in NYC, when I was done attending Lee Strasberg, I started auditioning. In NYC, EVERYONE is an actor!!!
So, unless you had a resume the length of a football field, nobody would take you serious and give you a chance.
I just finished school, how was I supposed to provide a long resume when I had nothing to put on it except awards and my education?
So I decided to do it myself!!!
I rented an off-off Broadway theatre space, produced a play and acted the lead. (“Sunday on the Rocks” – by Theresa Rebeck / 4 woman cast). I put an ad in the Backstage newspaper holding an open call for actresses, designed the set, handed out flyers, picked the music….everything. And I LOVED it!!!
One of my instructors from Lee Strasberg, that has been in Soap Operas, TV, Feature Films and is still an instructor there, attended the play and said “It was one of the best student productions he has ever seen”
Doing this production made me realize my passion behind the camera.
Being able to bring any creative process to life is where my passion is.
Whether it be helping an actor give their best performance, Casting Directing to find the perfect person for the role, directing a film or theatre production or doing choreography, I love it all!!!
Putting on a theatre production and acting the lead right out school in NYC was a HUGE risk. But I thought what better city to do it in? No one is going to do things for you…..YOU need to make them happen. Open your own doors.

Lisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I always knew I wanted to be in the industry, ever since I was a kid. I would write skits and find costumes & props in the house and my friends & I would perform them for our parents. I never really gave it any real thought till I was in my late 20’s. Then one day I thought….”I don’t ever want to wonder what if”
I joined an agency in Dec 2002 and through them I competed at M.A.A.I in NYC in April of 2003.
I placed 1st in Monologue & Soap Star and won a scholarship to The NY School for Film & Television. After completing that program, I moved to NY and attended the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in NYC.
Since my training I have been an Agent, I have Directed theatre productions & a music video, Choreographed theatre, Assistant Directed Independent Films, managed a Performing Arts School & more.
I now own Passion for the Arts. I Direct (Theatre & Film), Producer on Films, Casting Director, Choreographer, and more.
But, I am mainly an Acting Coach, that is my biggest passion. I love being able to guide an actor to understand what is needed to be a successful, working actor. Bringing an actor fully into their creative ability, understanding how to read and deliver dialogue and emotions, and seeing them book and succeed in their careers.
I provide training in Commercial, Monologue, Improv, Audition Technique, Scene Study, Character Development, Script Analysis & more.
Once I become someone’s Acting Coach, I’m invested in their success. I genuinely care about their careers.
I’m always there to help. If they have an audition coming up and they need any assistance with the script, or need a reader, have a question about something, they know they can always reach out to me. Anything I can do to help them BOOK IT!!! I will!!!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

March 2008 I left NY and moved back to Canada. 3 months later my Dad passed away.
To say it was life changing is an understatement.
At the time I was teaching Ballroom & Latin dancing (I took lessons to be able to add it to my resume….again, open your own doors) and it was tough to put on a happy face and dance at the time, to say the least.
So I left that job. I just wanted to work somewhere that I could just do my thing, which is what I needed at that time. But, before you know it, way too much time has gone by. Over those years I worked on projects and always dabbled on things in the arts.
After Covid, I decided it was time. No more wasting it!!! No more dabbling and it was time to do it full time.
And I’m so glad I did! I love my job(s). Every day is different and I love every second!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In NY when I produced “Sunday on the Rocks”, during the open call, there was A LOT of women there to audition.
Auditions were for 2 days from 11am – 7pm. We saw a lot of people. Coming up to the end of day 2, there were still a lot of women waiting to be seen and we wanted to be able to audition as many as possible. We had 3 female roles to cast.
So, we sped up the auditions and we would see people again at the callbacks.
Once woman came in and she gave a good audition. I said “Thank you, we’ll be in touch about callbacks.”
As I was writing her name on the callback list, she threw her script onto the table and walked out of the room.
I immediately scratched her name of the list.

You never know what someone is thinking. Even if I did bring her for a callback and didn’t cast her in the play, I could have considered or recommended her for other projects. Always just show what you’re capable of. Leave the rest up to fate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.passionforthearts.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion.for.the.arts/?igsh=cTVwNXY5N2ZxbWkz&utm_source=qr#

Image Credits

Wilson Matthew