Becca Ayers shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Becca, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been doing a lot of guitar covers for social media (mostly instagram; becca__ayers) and it brings me a LOTTA joy. I love music so much and when a song hits me the right way, I’m excited to see if I can play and sing along. I’m planning some collaborations with friends, too. I love collaborating and I love seeing (and hearing) my friends shine. My friend, Sushma Saha and I are doing a cover of one called, “No Wonder” on Sunday. It’s a song by an artist named Billianne. When I first heard that song, I could just HEAR Sushma singing it. I’m excited so to hear them do their thing and add accompaniment and a little back-up vocals/harmony. Music is such a passion of mine, and I’m OBSESSED with Laufey, and excited to cover some of her songs, too (I, actually, learned about her when I was singing at a High School, because I love to know – and always ask – what the “kids” are doing lol). I’m going to see Laufey at Madison Square Garden soon and cannot WAIT!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Becca Ayers, and I am an actor, primarily working in theater; musical theater, more specifically – but I recently got to do a play called, “Dirty Blonde” at the Weathervane Theatre in New Hampshire, where I got to play Mae West!
I’ve done six Broadway shows, but I’ve also done some Off-Broadway and a ton of regional work.
My sister, Heather, is – also – in the business and has done a bunch of Broadway shows, too; the most recent of which was, “Our Town” directed by Kenny Leon. I grew up in a theater family – my sister and dad and I were in the community theater shows and my mom worked off stage doing costumes and props and such. I am, currently, writing a play about that with my writing partner, Stacey Wallace:)
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was, pretty much, ALWAYS a musical theater kid, and I’m lucky that my parents always supported me. Ever since I saw the movie, “Annie” when I was five, I was hooked! My mom would come into my room and see the Fisher Price record skipping at the end, and I would be passed out on the floor from all the dancing and singing! I’ve had people in the world tell me I had to be a realtor or some such (ie something “practical”), but I never bought into that idea. I was determined to make it in this business!
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I think I’m just starting to do that. I had cancer in 2016 and was understudying in an Off-Broadway show at the time. I didn’t tell any of the people in power that I was sick. This was before the reckoning we’ve, recently been having in theater, and I was from the “old school” mentality that dictated that one is not allowed to be sick or show any weakness. I’m now writing about that in my play, so I feel that that is empowering me. Also, after my last treatment, I came out with a blog post, confessing to the world that I had been sick and some of the people that responded truly blew me away with their warmth (and some of them were quite well known). The people who DID respond truly made me feel loved and empowered,
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to finishing my plays. I’ve written five pilots (all with various writing partners) and I’ve been getting nowhere in the on-camera world. After doing a reading of a scene from a play I wrote at North Country New Works this summer at Weathervane Theatre, I realized that I have vastly more connections and relationships in theater than in the television world, so I’m currently changing my pilots into plays and am excited about doing a reading of this first one and submitting it all over the place!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
They were kind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beccaayers.com/
- Instagram: @becca__ayers
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BeccaAyersNow/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beccaayers?si=kDDyeDOrOUlqjg0o (@beccaayers)
Image Credits
Pamela Bob
Lew Whitener
Lew Whitener
Unknown
Unknown
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