Meet Eileen Dover

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eileen Dover. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eileen below.

Hi Eileen , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

When I was younger I was bullied by not only students but teachers. I went to a catholic high school in Boston during the time when the Catholic Church was covering up the sexual abuse of students in the school system. Unfortunately I was abused by a teacher and verbally abused by some of the teachers who didn’t like gay people. I just didn’t fit in. I have been through more than most and have had to learn resilience. It’s a combination of discipline and patience and hope. When I’m focused on something I want to do I am relentless in some ways with myself. I have to push myself and having survived the bullying, abuse, the aids crisis, kidney failure, diabetes, broken ribs and so many other adversities I think I’m always in survival mode. I think a lot of people were tested, myself included, during the pandemic. Many people, myself included, are still struggling to get back to an in-person world. It’s easy to say no to life but it’s worth it to say yes. Pushing oneself is hard but it’s like a muscle, the more you do it the more developed your ability becomes to bounce back. The most important thing in life is to show up and I think we all struggled with that post pandemic but every win is a win. Resilience is inside all of us but we need to push through things that scare us to have it. We have to ask for that raise or ask that guy out or get up on stage or whatever it is that you want to do. Having the life you want means going out and getting it, without hurting others. I am talking to myself as much as anyone else when I say these things because there are times of paralyzing anxiety and depression and ptsd and the only way around these things is through them. One of the best things one can learn to do is to ask for help. It’s something I suck at but when I get sick of being stuck I just do it. Pain is a great motivator and I’ve had a lot of pain in my life. I recommend not waiting until things get painful to act and to begin practicing resilience. It doesn’t come easy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I just had the pleasure and honor of working with an amazing cast and crew of talented people in the Off-Broadway hit “The Village A Disco Daydream written by the amazing Nora Burns. In June I performed the first iteration of my solo show Do I Know Who You Am? Eileen Dover One Night! I was blessed to be roasted at the beginning of my solo show by the aforementioned playwright Nora Burns and by Michael Musto on his way to the Tony Awards. I’m reworking the show tightening it up and trying to get my voice in shape for it. It’ll start in New York City and I hope to bring it to other cities soon. I’m writing a memoir and I’m hoping to get a second season of the podcast I did with Gail Thacker as well as a YouTube show. It’s important to diversify. I’m in a film called Rufus directed by Mars Roberge and it’s premiering in 2025. I’m also available for bookings. Just reach out via my email ednyc@eileendover.net or via social media, preferably via email though.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

It’s hard to narrow down three qualities/skills that have served me. One of the most invaluable qualities one can have, one that has served me has been to stand out. It’s always important to have your own style and your own voice. Being an open book can be a great quality but it can also be difficult. I’m pretty open but I have learned to keep a little bit of me for myself. Being on time, showing up, networking, supporting others and being able to share your wins, but most importantly being able to celebrate the wins of others are all things you need to be an entertainer. Honestly 98% of this business is filled with rejection, closed doors and projects that get shut down or fall to the waist side. It’s important to know that it’s almost never personal. It’s about what the casting agent or club or venue is looking for. It’s important to either be able to bend to the needs of the audience or prospective booker, or to write your own ticket. I’d be remiss not to point out that one must always be creating to be a creative. It’s ok to take breaks but creativity is like a muscle that will atrophy if not used.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m currently looking for a ghostwriter for my memoir. I’m also interested in working on a video memoir which I have yet to begin. I’m always looking for collaborators who can play instruments or edit footage. It’s always been a dream of mine to be part of a comedy group and to do more film and television. I do everything I do for the passion of it and hope the money follows. It usually does but the best art is created with no expectation of monetary gain AT FIRST! One should always know their worth and creating something may not involve money but putting it out there and playing something to an audience should always be a paid venture. It’s a tough business but persistence pays off. Create it, collaborate, pitch, promote , negotiate repeat! If you want to collaborate with me email me at ednyc@eileendover.net
I’m open to lots of things and I play men’s roles too, actually mostly!

Contact Info:

• Website: www eileendover.net
• Instagram: eileendover_official
• Facebook: theeileendover
• Youtube: eileendovernyc

Image Credits

Matt McGrath
John Dellarocco
Gail Thacker
Joel Benjamin
Self