…in 1997 I caught the bug.
The stage wizard had blessed me.
Oz was my first exposure to the world of acting. My mother had seen an advertisement in the local newspaper and my mother gave me a call.
I’ll always remember that phone conversation.
“Richmond Community Theatre is holding auditions for The Wizard of Oz.
Why don’t you try out?”
“I’m a fine artist. My drawing board is my stage.” I said.
“Will you do it for me?” She asked.
My mother always knew how to encourage my creativity.
I was nervous and scared out of my mind but I did it. They director awarded me the role of the guard. You know the one who greets Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion?
For two months I attended every rehearsal perfecting the high pitched character voice that made actor, Frank Morgan, Famous.
“Who rang that bell?”
These were the first words I ever spoke on stage in a theatre filled to maximum capacity.
The moment I spoke the audience roared with laughter.
I had found my calling.
The next ten years I filled my calendar with shows. Mysteries, comedy, Shakespeare, musicals and more.
My appetite for acting was increasing and with it came a hunger to learn. Satisfying those hunger pains meant taking acting classes, workshops and attending college.
Surrounding myself with actors wasn’t an option it was a must. For five years I committed every waking hour to studying the masters.
Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagin, Stella Adler and Konstantin Stanislavski.
In 2002 my heart was fixed on making my way Westward to Sunny California. Moving across country was new to me and a little scary.
The book, California for Dummies became my best friend.
I packed my car to its brim and set out on my 2500 mile dream journey.
After six months of acclimating to a whole new world I landed a role at Life House Theatre playing the role of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life.
The cast was phenomenal and many of us, including myself were nominated for the San Bernardino theatre award.
Obtaining an agent was a challenge in Los Angeles. But I soon learned that the only competition I was fighting was my own doubts and fears.
I began taking classes, meeting people in the industry and attending auditions.
After two years I decided to wing my way Eastward to New York City.
Manhattan was a culture shock to my system.
Learning the subway grid, the fast pace and just surviving was a challenge. It was the culture, diversity and acting opportunities it afforded me that made it worth the move.
Appearing in commercials, Law & Order, The Good Wife as well as New York University student films gave me the education and poise I needed in honing my craft.
In November of 2010 I was mugged , beaten and left for dead in Jersey City, New Jersey.
This “unfortunate” event turned out to be a double edged sword. (God always has a plan)
The mugging sent me home back to Michigan, where I was able to help my mother who suffered a stroke one year later.
Today, I am an actor, acting coach, life coach author, speaker and the founder of The Thompson Approach.
Thank you for reading my story.
How about yours?
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Oh, and I cannot end my story without saying,
Thank you Jesus
&
Thank you Mom.
I couldn’t have journeyed this far without both of you.