do you trust yourself seriously do you have enough confidence in your abilities
have enough confidence in your abilities
have enough confidence in your abilities to know that when you make a decision it
to know that when you make a decision it
to know that when you make a decision it is one hundred percent the right one for
is one hundred percent the right one for
is one hundred percent the right one for you you should you know yourself better
you you should you know yourself better
you you should you know yourself better than any one else I decided when I was
than any one else I decided when I was
than any one else I decided when I was seven years old that I was going to be
seven years old that I was going to be
seven years old that I was going to be an actor now prior to that I was going
an actor now prior to that I was going
an actor now prior to that I was going to be a paleontologist I know boys and
to be a paleontologist I know boys and
to be a paleontologist I know boys and dinosaurs but at my seventh birthday I
dinosaurs but at my seventh birthday I
dinosaurs but at my seventh birthday I got to see my first Broadway show I knew
got to see my first Broadway show I knew
got to see my first Broadway show I knew from that moment that that is exactly
from that moment that that is exactly
from that moment that that is exactly where I wanted to be in what I was going
where I wanted to be in what I was going
where I wanted to be in what I was going to be doing now my parents who were
to be doing now my parents who were
to be doing now my parents who were eminently more practical than I was
eminently more practical than I was
eminently more practical than I was convinced me that well I needed to
convinced me that well I needed to
convinced me that well I needed to finish school first apparently living in
finish school first apparently living in
finish school first apparently living in New York living in columbus and trying
New York living in columbus and trying
New York living in columbus and trying to pursue a career in New York City when
to pursue a career in New York City when
to pursue a career in New York City when you’re seven years old just isn’t a
you’re seven years old just isn’t a
you’re seven years old just isn’t a really good combination but I had to be
really good combination but I had to be
really good combination but I had to be on stage my elementary school didn’t
on stage my elementary school didn’t
on stage my elementary school didn’t have a theater club so I started one I
have a theater club so I started one I
have a theater club so I started one I wanted one I did my research I convinced
wanted one I did my research I convinced
wanted one I did my research I convinced my mother and a few other like-minded
my mother and a few other like-minded
my mother and a few other like-minded adults that it was feasible and we dived
adults that it was feasible and we dived
adults that it was feasible and we dived ahead and did it I started the columbus
ahead and did it I started the columbus
ahead and did it I started the columbus academy in sixth grade now this was
academy in sixth grade now this was
academy in sixth grade now this was because a elementary school teacher of
because a elementary school teacher of
because a elementary school teacher of mine had convinced my parents that if I
mine had convinced my parents that if I
mine had convinced my parents that if I stayed in public schools had become a
stayed in public schools had become a
stayed in public schools had become a juvenile delinquent apparently getting
juvenile delinquent apparently getting
juvenile delinquent apparently getting all of your homework and all of your
all of your homework and all of your
all of your homework and all of your schoolwork done before the morning
schoolwork done before the morning
schoolwork done before the morning recess and spending the rest of the day
recess and spending the rest of the day
recess and spending the rest of the day getting into trouble can earn you a
getting into trouble can earn you a
getting into trouble can earn you a reputation at academy I started my
reputation at academy I started my
reputation at academy I started my second theatre company this is one of
second theatre company this is one of
second theatre company this is one of the shows that we did I decided in my
the shows that we did I decided in my
the shows that we did I decided in my junior year that I was going to attend
junior year that I was going to attend
junior year that I was going to attend Syracuse University at that time
Syracuse University at that time
Syracuse University at that time Syracuse had the best theatre department
Syracuse had the best theatre department
Syracuse had the best theatre department in the United States unfortunately this
in the United States unfortunately this
in the United States unfortunately this gave my college advisor some serious
gave my college advisor some serious
gave my college advisor some serious heart palpitations they were only
heart palpitations they were only
heart palpitations they were only accepting 30 people into the program
accepting 30 people into the program
accepting 30 people into the program every year and the school is expecting
every year and the school is expecting
every year and the school is expecting over
over
over three thousand applicants I’d done my
three thousand applicants I’d done my
three thousand applicants I’d done my research though I knew what they were
research though I knew what they were
research though I knew what they were expecting I polished my two contrasting
expecting I polished my two contrasting
expecting I polished my two contrasting monologues until they shone I trusted my
monologues until they shone I trusted my
monologues until they shone I trusted my instincts I dived into that audition
instincts I dived into that audition
instincts I dived into that audition like I’d been doing it for years 60 days
like I’d been doing it for years 60 days
like I’d been doing it for years 60 days later I had a letter asking me to join
later I had a letter asking me to join
later I had a letter asking me to join the freshman class at Syracuse
the freshman class at Syracuse
the freshman class at Syracuse University that following September when
University that following September when
University that following September when I began classes I found out that I was
I began classes I found out that I was
I began classes I found out that I was one of only three students who’d been
one of only three students who’d been
one of only three students who’d been accepted on their first audition the
accepted on their first audition the
accepted on their first audition the other 27 had to go through a first
other 27 had to go through a first
other 27 had to go through a first second or even third call back I had
second or even third call back I had
second or even third call back I had trusted my instincts that much now we’re
trusted my instincts that much now we’re
trusted my instincts that much now we’re gonna jump ahead a few years to my first
gonna jump ahead a few years to my first
gonna jump ahead a few years to my first national tour yeah I looked like that
national tour yeah I looked like that
national tour yeah I looked like that yeah my first national tour it was a
yeah my first national tour it was a
yeah my first national tour it was a horrific experience but I wouldn’t trade
horrific experience but I wouldn’t trade
horrific experience but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world I was doing
it for anything in the world I was doing
it for anything in the world I was doing what I loved on stages all over the
what I loved on stages all over the
what I loved on stages all over the United States granted the company I was
United States granted the company I was
United States granted the company I was working forward didn’t care if we got
working forward didn’t care if we got
working forward didn’t care if we got enough rest or if we had time to eat or
enough rest or if we had time to eat or
enough rest or if we had time to eat or if they paid us in a timely manner but I
if they paid us in a timely manner but I
if they paid us in a timely manner but I was young I ignored the hardships but I
was young I ignored the hardships but I
was young I ignored the hardships but I learned to really important lessons
learned to really important lessons
learned to really important lessons during that tour the first one should
during that tour the first one should
during that tour the first one should have been obvious the arts are always a
have been obvious the arts are always a
have been obvious the arts are always a part of our lives whether you realize it
part of our lives whether you realize it
part of our lives whether you realize it or not it’s subtle and so arts education
or not it’s subtle and so arts education
or not it’s subtle and so arts education has to be their proficiency in
has to be their proficiency in
has to be their proficiency in mathematics leads to proficiency in
mathematics leads to proficiency in
mathematics leads to proficiency in music and vice versa dance classes can
music and vice versa dance classes can
music and vice versa dance classes can improve an athlete’s performance out on
improve an athlete’s performance out on
improve an athlete’s performance out on the field and acting classes should be
the field and acting classes should be
the field and acting classes should be mandatory for anyone who is considering
mandatory for anyone who is considering
mandatory for anyone who is considering a career as a minister or a politician
a career as a minister or a politician
a career as a minister or a politician or a teacher or in any job are you going
or a teacher or in any job are you going
or a teacher or in any job are you going to talk to more than three people at any
to talk to more than three people at any
to talk to more than three people at any given time the other thing that I
given time the other thing that I
given time the other thing that I learned was that the entertainment
learned was that the entertainment
learned was that the entertainment industry will absolutely chew you up and
industry will absolutely chew you up and
industry will absolutely chew you up and spit you out if you do not do the hard
spit you out if you do not do the hard
spit you out if you do not do the hard work I realize that’s true in other
work I realize that’s true in other
work I realize that’s true in other businesses but people don’t think about
businesses but people don’t think about
businesses but people don’t think about that in the arts but it’s true talent
that in the arts but it’s true talent
that in the arts but it’s true talent guarantees you nothing there are a lot
guarantees you nothing there are a lot
guarantees you nothing there are a lot of really famous actors out there with
of really famous actors out there with
of really famous actors out there with no
no
no talent but they’re willing to do the
talent but they’re willing to do the
talent but they’re willing to do the work the days are hard they’re long if
work the days are hard they’re long if
work the days are hard they’re long if you’re doing a Broadway show you are
you’re doing a Broadway show you are
you’re doing a Broadway show you are rehearsing all day long you are
rehearsing all day long you are
rehearsing all day long you are performing at night if you’re doing a
performing at night if you’re doing a
performing at night if you’re doing a movie you may have a makeup call as
movie you may have a makeup call as
movie you may have a makeup call as early as five a.m. you may not be
early as five a.m. you may not be
early as five a.m. you may not be released from filming until midnight and
released from filming until midnight and
released from filming until midnight and then you start all over on that same
then you start all over on that same
then you start all over on that same timetable the next day taurine is not
timetable the next day taurine is not
timetable the next day taurine is not any easier tour buses are cramped and
any easier tour buses are cramped and
any easier tour buses are cramped and uncomfortable and after two weeks they
uncomfortable and after two weeks they
uncomfortable and after two weeks they smell okay the job is a 14 hour a day
smell okay the job is a 14 hour a day
smell okay the job is a 14 hour a day minimum you don’t have guaranteed sick
minimum you don’t have guaranteed sick
minimum you don’t have guaranteed sick time you don’t have paid vacation you
time you don’t have paid vacation you
time you don’t have paid vacation you don’t have a retirement plan and you
don’t have a retirement plan and you
don’t have a retirement plan and you were always having to audition for your
were always having to audition for your
were always having to audition for your next job you only get paid if you work
next job you only get paid if you work
next job you only get paid if you work and too many theater companies are
and too many theater companies are
and too many theater companies are willing to pay you next to nothing or
willing to pay you next to nothing or
willing to pay you next to nothing or nothing because actors will work for the
nothing because actors will work for the
nothing because actors will work for the experience try paying your rent with
experience try paying your rent with
experience try paying your rent with experience now twice my career was
experience now twice my career was
experience now twice my career was almost derailed the first time happened
almost derailed the first time happened
almost derailed the first time happened 20 years ago I broke two disks in my
20 years ago I broke two disks in my
20 years ago I broke two disks in my back now the workers comp doctor who
back now the workers comp doctor who
back now the workers comp doctor who looked at the x-rays the first time
looked at the x-rays the first time
looked at the x-rays the first time diagnosed a sprain I thought he was
diagnosed a sprain I thought he was
diagnosed a sprain I thought he was wrong because I had sprained ankles I’d
wrong because I had sprained ankles I’d
wrong because I had sprained ankles I’d sprained my wrist it didn’t feel like
sprained my wrist it didn’t feel like
sprained my wrist it didn’t feel like that it felt like ground glass in some
that it felt like ground glass in some
that it felt like ground glass in some pepper grinder was in my back every time
pepper grinder was in my back every time
pepper grinder was in my back every time I breathe deeply every time I bent if i
I breathe deeply every time I bent if i
I breathe deeply every time I bent if i SAT too long if I stood too long doctor
SAT too long if I stood too long doctor
SAT too long if I stood too long doctor said it was a sprain it didn’t get any
said it was a sprain it didn’t get any
said it was a sprain it didn’t get any better two weeks went by before I
better two weeks went by before I
better two weeks went by before I finally convinced a doctor to look at
finally convinced a doctor to look at
finally convinced a doctor to look at the x-rays again he found the fractures
the x-rays again he found the fractures
the x-rays again he found the fractures they changed the diagnosis I got the
they changed the diagnosis I got the
they changed the diagnosis I got the treatment I needed that doctor told me
treatment I needed that doctor told me
treatment I needed that doctor told me that I was lucky that I was so pigheaded
that I was lucky that I was so pigheaded
that I was lucky that I was so pigheaded because if I hadn’t convinced them to
because if I hadn’t convinced them to
because if I hadn’t convinced them to look at it again I could have
look at it again I could have
look at it again I could have permanently damaged my spinal cord now
permanently damaged my spinal cord now
permanently damaged my spinal cord now five years ago I woke up with no voice
five years ago I woke up with no voice
five years ago I woke up with no voice literally I couldn’t speak I could growl
literally I couldn’t speak I could growl
literally I couldn’t speak I could growl out a few sounds but they had no power
out a few sounds but they had no power
out a few sounds but they had no power and it was very hard to understand it
and it was very hard to understand it
and it was very hard to understand it thank Harvey Fierstein only multiplied
thank Harvey Fierstein only multiplied
thank Harvey Fierstein only multiplied by a million times alright I went to the
by a million times alright I went to the
by a million times alright I went to the doctor and she said I had laryngitis now
doctor and she said I had laryngitis now
doctor and she said I had laryngitis now I had had laryngitis I’m an actor
I had had laryngitis I’m an actor
I had had laryngitis I’m an actor laryngitis should throat hurts it’s red
laryngitis should throat hurts it’s red
laryngitis should throat hurts it’s red and swollen I had none of those symptoms
and swollen I had none of those symptoms
and swollen I had none of those symptoms I just couldn’t talk but I wasn’t the
I just couldn’t talk but I wasn’t the
I just couldn’t talk but I wasn’t the doctor so I accepted that I had to come
doctor so I accepted that I had to come
doctor so I accepted that I had to come back in seven days I did she said I
back in seven days I did she said I
back in seven days I did she said I still had laryngitis now at this point I
still had laryngitis now at this point I
still had laryngitis now at this point I was starting to worry I had already had
was starting to worry I had already had
was starting to worry I had already had to drop out of her production in
to drop out of her production in
to drop out of her production in Cincinnati my contract was that theatre
Cincinnati my contract was that theatre
Cincinnati my contract was that theatre company stated that if I missed more
company stated that if I missed more
company stated that if I missed more than two rehearsals I could not do the
than two rehearsals I could not do the
than two rehearsals I could not do the show I couldn’t speak so i could not
show I couldn’t speak so i could not
show I couldn’t speak so i could not rehearse I was starting to panic I thank
rehearse I was starting to panic I thank
rehearse I was starting to panic I thank God every day for my mom and for my
God every day for my mom and for my
God every day for my mom and for my boyfriend at the time he was now my
boyfriend at the time he was now my
boyfriend at the time he was now my husband they kept me sane during that
husband they kept me sane during that
husband they kept me sane during that time period went back to the doctor she
time period went back to the doctor she
time period went back to the doctor she said it’s laryngitis I scribbled no I
said it’s laryngitis I scribbled no I
said it’s laryngitis I scribbled no I demanded to see a specialist now
demanded to see a specialist now
demanded to see a specialist now remember I’m a working actor I had no
remember I’m a working actor I had no
remember I’m a working actor I had no insurance I was paying for everything
insurance I was paying for everything
insurance I was paying for everything out of my savings account this
out of my savings account this
out of my savings account this specialist that I went to ran test after
specialist that I went to ran test after
specialist that I went to ran test after test after test five weeks later he sits
test after test five weeks later he sits
test after test five weeks later he sits me and Matt down in the office and he
me and Matt down in the office and he
me and Matt down in the office and he says I don’t know what’s wrong you might
says I don’t know what’s wrong you might
says I don’t know what’s wrong you might have cancer not to see an oncologist but
have cancer not to see an oncologist but
have cancer not to see an oncologist but you’ll never speak again your career is
you’ll never speak again your career is
you’ll never speak again your career is over I was devastated but Matt bless his
over I was devastated but Matt bless his
over I was devastated but Matt bless his heart made me go on facebook and reach
heart made me go on facebook and reach
heart made me go on facebook and reach out to my network of other actors and
out to my network of other actors and
out to my network of other actors and singers and find out what was going on
singers and find out what was going on
singers and find out what was going on that’s how I met dr. Eric forest at OSU
that’s how I met dr. Eric forest at OSU
that’s how I met dr. Eric forest at OSU it was because of dr. Eric forest that i
it was because of dr. Eric forest that i
it was because of dr. Eric forest that i found out that what I had was common a
found out that what I had was common a
found out that what I had was common a virus had wrapped itself around the
virus had wrapped itself around the
virus had wrapped itself around the nerves to my vocal cords and paralyzed
nerves to my vocal cords and paralyzed
nerves to my vocal cords and paralyzed them this happens to one in a hundred
them this happens to one in a hundred
them this happens to one in a hundred people in their lifetimes it could
people in their lifetimes it could
people in their lifetimes it could happen to you it could happen to you if
happen to you it could happen to you if
happen to you it could happen to you if it did your doctor would most likely
it did your doctor would most likely
it did your doctor would most likely prescribe the regimen of twenty four
prescribe the regimen of twenty four
prescribe the regimen of twenty four dollars and ninety-five cents worth of
dollars and ninety-five cents worth of
dollars and ninety-five cents worth of antiviral medication and steroids two to
antiviral medication and steroids two to
antiviral medication and steroids two to three days later you would have your
three days later you would have your
three days later you would have your voice back in my case because my doctors
voice back in my case because my doctors
voice back in my case because my doctors were looking for something exotic it was
were looking for something exotic it was
were looking for something exotic it was six months from that morning when I woke
six months from that morning when I woke
six months from that morning when I woke up with no ability to speak until I was
up with no ability to speak until I was
up with no ability to speak until I was successfully able to audition for
successfully able to audition for
successfully able to audition for another show now the lessons here are
another show now the lessons here are
another show now the lessons here are simple do your research
simple do your research
simple do your research if you are armed with your facts you can
if you are armed with your facts you can
if you are armed with your facts you can deal with any situation in business in
deal with any situation in business in
deal with any situation in business in personal relationships in life do your
personal relationships in life do your
personal relationships in life do your research make the most of your
research make the most of your
research make the most of your opportunities when my back hurts so
opportunities when my back hurts so
opportunities when my back hurts so badly that I didn’t want to move or when
badly that I didn’t want to move or when
badly that I didn’t want to move or when I could not speak I couldn’t work as an
I could not speak I couldn’t work as an
I could not speak I couldn’t work as an actor but I could still write since then
actor but I could still write since then
actor but I could still write since then I’ve written six plays I might work on a
I’ve written six plays I might work on a
I’ve written six plays I might work on a novel I’m about to start an
novel I’m about to start an
novel I’m about to start an autobiography you can always find that
autobiography you can always find that
autobiography you can always find that opportunity align your vision with your
opportunity align your vision with your
opportunity align your vision with your dream you do not have to be six foot
dream you do not have to be six foot
dream you do not have to be six foot nine to play pro basketball you have to
nine to play pro basketball you have to
nine to play pro basketball you have to work a heck of a lot harder than
work a heck of a lot harder than
work a heck of a lot harder than everyone else but you don’t have to be
everyone else but you don’t have to be
everyone else but you don’t have to be six foot nine so be realistic but be
six foot nine so be realistic but be
six foot nine so be realistic but be imaginative and be willing to do the
imaginative and be willing to do the
imaginative and be willing to do the hard work when the time comes and
hard work when the time comes and
hard work when the time comes and finally trust yourself every time I have
finally trust yourself every time I have
finally trust yourself every time I have second-guessed myself I have been wrong
second-guessed myself I have been wrong
second-guessed myself I have been wrong so trust your instincts trust yourself
so trust your instincts trust yourself
so trust your instincts trust yourself thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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