Creating Your Own Work In The Theatre Industry With Andrew Keenan-Bolger And Kate Wetherhead

Creating Your Own Work in The Theatre Industry

The profession of an actor is one of the most chaotic and sporadic professions. It's audition after audition, and never knowing where or when your next job will be, but it is also one of the most rewarding. However, in the past few years, one way that actors have been able to keep doing what they love and still turn a profit is to create work for themselves.

Creating work for oneself can be incredibly beneficial for an actor between jobs. It's a fantastic creative outlet, and it's a way to keep pursuing your career in the theatre business even without performing in a show. Actors are often afraid to take that risk of starting a project from the ground up, but if you have a good idea and an aptitude for creation, it's very hard for someone not to succeed. Creativity and originality are sometimes the things that this business is lacking so it's always so enjoyable to watch Fringe shows, or a web series because it's enjoying the work of someone who is pursuing the dream of creating their own art whilst at the same time inspiring like-minded individuals to start creating themselves.

I had the great honour of interviewing two of Broadway's most influential self-creators Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Both have had impressive careers on and off-Broadway, but it's their creativity and risk-taking mindset that has helped them also have careers in the digital aspect of show business. Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger met in 2010 doing a production of It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman at a regional theatre in New Jersey, where they both recognized the creative impulse in each other and wanted to start to develop something together. They realized that both of them were going to be going back to New York with no job and no money, so they thought that now was as good a time as any to start creating. That's how their hilarious and original web series, Submissions Only, based off of the crazy world of auditioning in the theatre industry came to be. They have continued to work together ever since creating all varieties of new work such as short films, and children's book series Jack and Louisa.

One of the main obstacles that is stopping people from creating their own work is the fear of failing. Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead knew failure a possibility, but they didn't let that stop them. They had a story to tell, and if one's content is fresh and exciting it doesn't matter about the quality of production."For us, it didn't feel like a risk because we knew that it wasn't a far distance for us to fall if it didn't succeed" Wetherhead remarked."We knew we would get an immediate and clear response. People would watch it or they won't and it was great that people did watch our show"."Plus there has been a significant growth over the past few years with the growth of technology and social media platforms" added Keenan-Bolger."It used to be that the only way you could see someone's individual work or project was one person shows or cabarets, but now with the growth of the internet, it allows for an immediate and it lets people now have the opportunity to get their work out there which leads to more stories being told, more creative outlets for actors, and greater community growth in the professional world of theatre."

As expressed by Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger, making your own work is a fantastic outlet for actors between productions. Now, sometimes it may be easier said than done, but if you have a desire to create and keep yourself working in this crazy, ever-changing industry, It's not as difficult as earlier perceived. Whether that's creating a show or a film, or even writing a solo show or musical of your own, there's so many ways you can create for yourself and make your voice heard. Everyone has the potential to create! Thinking that someone has already done something like this, or that it won't look professional enough is the mindset that stops the individuality in this world. Getting rid of that mindset and believing in your work and talent will be the factor that turns your work from good to great.

Sometimes however, it isn't that easy to create. If you want to develop work of your own, it might be put as a secondary task for you if you book another show or a project since that is the career you initially set out for, the professional theatre industry could adapt to spark more creation in the actors."Theatre is one of the only living art forms that people still pay to come see for what it is; live."The professional industry is keeping up the best way they can so they can keep the integrity of live theatre while keeping up with the times." Wetherhead explained.

The great part about theatre is that it's constantly evolving and thriving and in this day and age its because the actors are helping to add to the garden of theatre with their own projects that can put a lot of people to work on a unique and creative project.

As stated by Keenan-Bolger,"The theatre world is full of like-minded people who share similar interests and passions and although we still loved performing and continue to do so, we did need to make some choices whether or not to go to an audition or do another project to also try and work on our own work".

Although Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger are in New York City and had access to professional actors, there's still hope for people maybe living in a small town where there might not be as much of a professional theatre scene.

"Anyone could pick up a camera just as easy as we could whether you're in NYC or not. It's the desire to create and the passion you have for your work that sets you apart from the rest. Have no doubt that it won't succeed because that will only make you feel weaker" Said Keenan-Bolger."You just need your great content and the confidence to ask a friend for help and the belief that your work is good." Wetherhead added.

Overall, creating work for yourself is one of the best ways for aspiring actors to get their name out there and their ideas heard. Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger have many a project in store, and hopefully their words of wisdom and inspirational work can help inspire a generation of new young creators who can now have more confidence in making their own work.