We recently connected with Becca Lustgarten and have shared our conversation below.
Becca , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I think I have always wanted to live a creative life. I am trying to remember if there was one particular moment – one spark or “Ah ha!” – but the truth is, I think I have always known that this was what I was put here to do. I began playing piano when I was 4 years old. I was in many different choirs and acting classes and dance, really anything I could explore that was performing arts related, I tried it. I would take the bus downtown after school, walk to the library to take out the book “On Acting” by Sanford Meisner, and set up camp in my favorite coffee shop for hours, reading and dreaming about living the life of an actor.
Some people become obsessed with the spotlight and the attention. Others find the work to be cathartic. From the very first time I worked on a fully staged show (I was 9, I believe?) I was hooked – on the energy, the passion, the generosity of the group. The communal nature of what we do is so magical. The exchange of energy that happens between the performers on the stage and the audience bearing witness is the closest I have ever come to feeling divine energy.
So perhaps I didn’t find my purpose so much as I named it. Standing in a rehearsal room surrounded by bold and generous artists, willing to be vulnerable and brave, I thought, “now this is it.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a performer and writer originally from Ithaca, NY. I spent most of my younger years focusing exclusively on performing. I went through an elite and rigorous undergraduate training program and felt like my only path was to move to NYC and try to “make it”. This singular focus and pursuit left me feeling drained and unfulfilled. I ultimately ended up on the West Coast and eventually discovered a profound love of teaching which then inspired me to go back to graduate school to earn my MFA. Over the years I have expanded my work to include writing and producing, and, more importantly, expanded my view of what it means to live a creative life.
At the moment I am working on my world premiere musical dramedy entitled, “Dear Auntie B” – a solo show about a New York City dating advice columnist and her fight to continue to advise her readers after receiving disturbing news.
This project began as my graduate thesis at the University of San Diego/Shiley Graduate Acting Program and has grown from there. I am presenting “Dear Auntie B” as part of the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Performances will be at the Actor’s Company in the Little Theater beginning June 7th.
Show details and tickets can be found here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10714
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
“The answer is in the other person”. I was taught this phrase in my undergraduate training at Boston University by one of my favorite acting teachers, Judy Braha. She always told us to focus our attention on our scene partner. How do you know if what you are doing is working? Check in with your partner. It isn’t about me, it is about affecting them. Getting what I want from them. The beauty of this advice is that it forces us to get out of our own heads and release the ideas of doing it “right” or looking good. It immediately gets you into your body and connected to someone else.
“Go before you’re ready”. I love these words of wisdom, especially as someone who has a tendency towards perfectionism. This advice was given to me by a favorite director I worked with at USD, Dawn R. Simmons. These words encouraged me to be brave and bold, even if I wasn’t sure yet. Even if I still had questions or doubts, these words moved me towards action. We learn so much by doing. Much more than we ever could learn while waiting and stewing. I try to remind myself regularly of this in my own work, and I often share this with students as a way to nudge them out of their comfort zones.
The third thing I would say that has had the most impact on my journey is about leading with “yes”. Learning to welcome feedback, critique, direction, with a “yes” mindset. An openness will get me so much further than shutting down and saying, “absolutely not”. A yes can lead to so many more discoveries than a no. I try to lead with yes in my work as a performer, as well as in my teaching and writing.
My advice would be to spend as much time in observation as you possibly can. We can learn so much from simply watching the work of others, and soaking up details about their process and artistry. I spent many years as an apprentice and in the ensemble when I was younger, and I grew immensely from being in the room with incredible artists who were at the height of their careers.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Up until about two months ago, I never thought of myself as a producer. I was an actor/writer/teacher person, but not a producer. When I decided to participate in the Hollywood Fringe Festival, I knew that I would need to change this perception of myself. I was going to need to face the challenges head on, and learn by doing and possibly through failure.
The challenges of writing and starring in a solo show are immense, but the even bigger challenges right now are in tackling all the other tasks related to making theatre happen. People have so many reasons not to want to leave their houses. We are inundated with content all day long. But here is what I would say: I am learning SO much from participating in this festival, and have been so incredibly inspired by the artists around me. I am blown away by their bravery, their boldness, their authenticity and generosity. So even though I feel the weight of all of the challenges that come with producing a piece of theatre in Los Angeles, I am so moved by what I have already witnessed from being a part of this festival. I have no doubt that it will all come together exactly as it is meant to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10714
- Instagram: @beccalust @dearauntieb
Image Credits
Rich Soublet Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
