We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mallory Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mallory thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be on stage. My older sister and I would pretend to be rockstars in our basement, banging on a drum set and keyboard we did not know how to play. I would stand on chairs, couches, and tables; anything at a height where I could pretend that I was on a stage. The elaborate dance routines, plays, and talent shows we would put on were definitely a favorite for the neighborhood kids.

As I grew older, I fell in love with singing. I began studying opera and voice under the tutelage of Brad Benoit at the Minnesota Opera. That led to auditioning for school plays, in which I flourished. The rush of being on stage in front of an audience is incomparable. Once I had that, I knew there was no going back.

Mallory, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began acting professionally when I was still in college. There was a posting for a show called “Let’s Eat Mary” through Rotate Theatre Company in Madison, WI. I auditioned, knowing little of the show, as it was an original work, and was delighted by the sides they had provided. The humor and wit of the characters had me enthralled and I knew I wanted to be a part of this project. When I went into the audition room and read my sides, the director, Richard Paro, and producer Cyra Polizzi, gave nothing but positive feedback. I heard later that night that I would be playing a humorous version of Lydia from Pride and Prejudice… meets Lord of the Flies. At this point I was definitely all in! We had the most amazing cast, with professionals from the industry and amateurs looking to break in, like myself.

My cast mates and team gave me the guidance and the confidence to pursue acting as a full time career. They would talk about professionalism in the industry, as well as the way actors should and should not be treated. This allowed me to set healthy boundaries for myself, and to push myself harder than I ever had before. When everyone in a room believes in you and is cheering you on, it’s very hard to not believe in yourself as well.

Now that I have become a working actor, I find those lessons have stuck with me. I learn from everyone I meet, and every character I am lucky enough to embody, and I don’t think I will ever stop learning and growing. With every passing day, I feel I am getting closer to the life I have always envisioned for myself.

On a personal note, of all of the plays and musicals I have had the pleasure of working on, I always have a soft spot for a Shakespeare or a good dark comedy. A dream role of mine would definitely be either Veronica in Heathers or just about anyone in a Jen Silverman play.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first started acting professionally, the rejection really got to me. It felt personal. “What is wrong with me?” “Why don’t they like me?” It took time and coaching to learn that it wasn’t that something was wrong with ME… I just wasn’t the right fit for that ROLE. Once I realized it was subjective, I was able to gain that resilience.

I think you need to be resilient in order to make it in this industry. You will hear more noes than yeses, and if you are not passionate about acting and performing with everything you have, then the noes will wear you down very quickly. If you let the rejection drive you forward to become better, work harder, and learn new skills, then that’s when things start to work out.

“Even if you feel like you nailed an audition, and you don’t get it, the next one is around the corner! I never lose sight of the larger picture; you might lose the battle but win the war. Always have faith in yourself, your talent, and that you bring to the table.

Whenever I get turned down for a role, I remind myself that this is just a bump in the road on the way to my dreams. I firmly believe that what’s meant to be, will be. Besides, maybe I wasn’t cast in that show so I could perform in something else… The universe is funny like that!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The people are honestly the best part of my job. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by a community of people who cheer on each other’s successes and are there to help when you feel overwhelmed. There is truly something magical about being in a play with a cast of people for a few months. Very quickly you become a family; learning to love one another and appreciate the quirks and uniqueness that makes each person so special. I’m still in group chats from plays I was in 5 or 6 years ago! It’s wonderful to keep in touch with those who have touched your life.

The live audience is another aspect of acting that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The energy you get from a really invested audience is exhilarating! The tension in the air can make it hard to breathe… Having that connection to an audience is something so intimate and vulnerable, but there is no place I would rather be.

Contact Info:

• Website: mallorykatierose.com
• Instagram: @mallorykrlewis
• Youtube: @malloryklewis

Image Credits
Lotta Photo – Pride and Prohibition