Grabbing my oat milk latte I turned around to catch one of my cast members behind me in the coffee shop. I was just about to get some work done alone, but I figured I could use the company, plus, it might be a good opportunity to get to know them. We took our things and found a spot around a large, low circular table surrounded by cushioned and colorful armchairs. I left my ‘to-do’s’ in my closed bag, turned my chair toward them, and we began our dialogue.

My favorite conversation tactic is asking “why.” not always literally, but my goal in a one-on-one conversation is just to find out more. Then, any back and-forth that comes from that is always welcome. I love asking about goals, whether that’s current, three-year, or ten-year, but my most important inquiry is what your main objective is (yup, like the actor I am). These goals change but I’m just curious and love hearing all the different answers from different individuals.

I love my little techniques, but this can become quickly one-sided, so throughout my travels as a conversationalist I’ve been trying to be a little better at offering moments of myself in as intentional a manner as I can, avoiding being the only one in control of the conversation. When I find a spark and a piece of information I can add to, granting value, I’ll offer it. Also through this conversationalist journey, one thing I’ve continuously struggled with speaking about is my beliefs, and in this conversation, I was given an opportunity.

I believe that I am a medium, one who has a connection to a spiritual realm, and the characters are the ones that choose me, long before the director or casting director. It is my responsibility to answer this call and allow these characters space to be heard with as much intention and dedication as I can. These People are my responsibility to care for, nurture, and to commune with. The greater my work, the more these People can move forward however it is they wish to. Why I’m an actor, is because these People wish to tell our world something, and something uniquely important. It’s my job to find that ‘something’, to ask the questions, and it’s my job to bring those answers into the space.

When I told them this they started laughing. It caught me by surprise, but I continued. Another laugh. I started to feel insecure, this tends to be why I keep to myself, but I figured I should probably get some social feedback here. So, challenging myself I pressed on. I finished, and they were unsuccessfully stifling their laughter. I was both trying to hold my confidence, but also curious as to why they were laughing, so I asked them what was wrong. I wanted to make this a learning moment for myself, maybe I could improve how I communicated this belief. It turns out, I was the one reading it wrong.

Collecting themselves, they quickly shifted my perception. Their laughter was a form of expression that related to this belief, it came as an unexpected but welcome surprise to them that I would put it like that. They had also been feeling a similar form of connection to the person who originated the role they are playing now. This person passed away about one year ago and because of how recent it was there’s something important they feel is meant to be said. Such a strong energy had been left, which offered them an extremely strong connection to the deceased and one, that I feel observing, is growing.

I felt I truly had the unique opportunity to offer something and I didn’t expect it to be so well received, but that’s sort of the truth about beliefs. High risk, high reward. In hindsight, it always tends to turn out positively in one way or another. We continued our conversation and I got to ask my questions learning more about their goals and ambitions, how they intend to be in national tours, and how they intend to be a leading player like the emcee in Cabaret or the literal Leading Player from Pippin. Which, from the work I’ve seen from them in the space, is obtainable.

I’m thankful for my conversation with them and I’m thankful I got to learn more about them. I find I have far more time than I think to take the time and learn more about those around me. When I put my bag down, and turn my chair toward someone, I intend to be all in with that person in the present moment, and simply ask “why?” Because of this decision, I got to share something I believed in while connecting much deeper to someone in my cast. That’s invaluable to me.

These people that I get to share my experiences with are people I care deeply for, and I hope that I can inspire every one of them to move toward their goals, hopes, and ambitions. I hope that I can do that on stage and off.

A Chorus Line - Update

We are moving quickly! I am just about finished memorizing lines, they will have to be much cleaner for me to feel confident, but I’m extremely close and expect to be fully off book tomorrow, and confident by the end of the week.

I switched things up for this particular show, and it’s an experiment. Many people say character work first, THEN learn the lines. I flipped this. With the speed at which we need to put this show up I felt it was honestly best to learn the lines first utilizing instinct when we worked on any blocking, and THEN develop character.

Mind you, I had a pretty strong base to work on before I did this, so I guess I can’t say I did nothing and went straight into the lines. There was a level of research that I did about 1975 NYC the political climate and the Vietnam War which Zach lived through most of. So utilizing this basis I felt like I had good ground to stand upon.

I wish I could have had much more time to work on developing character and then come into the first rehearsal off-book, but that’s definitely not available to me. Therefore this week is when I finally get the opportunity to lock myself away in a room (not like I haven’t already done that many times to work on other things) and seek Zach out. Which I’m excited to find.

For those of you who are nearby and want to come see the show you can get tickets here!

Much love today and every day,
Matt Piper 🐅🌱♊️