A Letter To All Actors During COVID-19 Crisis
By now, you’re well aware that COVID-19 has completely changed the world as we know it.
Broadway, Disney World, Disney Land, Universal Studios Hollywood, NBA, major league soccer, NCAA, NHL, museums, marathons, presidential rallies, debates, concerts, international travel, voting, late night television shows, festivals, offices, schools, colleges, training programs… canceled or postponed indefinitely.
To student actors: I can’t fathom what you’re going through right now. Having to pack up your belongings and leave your dorms, quickly say goodbye to your classmates, forfeit your senior showcase, cancel school productions, fumble through makeshift online courses, all with very little warning…
To professional actors: I acknowledge your concerns. Those of you who were making your Broadway debuts, traveling on National Tours, performing on cruise ships, and working regionally and internationally… I’m truly so sorry. The uncertainty that comes with being out of work (for who knows how long) makes any actor uneasy. But especially now, questions like “where will I go?” “will I still get paid?” “how will I make ends meet?” “who can I turn to?” are deafening.
Sometimes theatre can seem trivial in the heart of a worldwide crisis.
But just remember this.
Art unites us all.
It has always been there through the nation’s toughest times… times of crisis, confusion, war, epidemic.
Art provides us relief - a way to escape the challenges of the world. It lifts us up when we’re at our lowest.
We need it.
So don’t stop dreaming.
Brainstorm how you can contribute artistically.
Conjure up new ideas. Write a screenplay. Create a musical. Learn a new song. Listen to cast albums. Connect online. Put together a virtual cabaret. Start a podcast. Learn a new instrument. Record an album. Develop a series. Film it. Share it on social media.
We need art right now more than ever to cope and to heal. Theatre makers, let’s use this time to connect and devise something beautiful.
Stay safe, stay vigilant, stay healthy.
And never stop creating.
Learn the latest ways to join Actors' Equity Association, including the new Open Access program.