We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lucie Tassel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lucie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I spent 10 years in a relationship with a man met in high school. We started to date at 18, studied and then started a career as an elementary school teacher together (not in the same school though). We bought a house, lived together, then decided to get married. To me, my life was all set. But, after 10 years, from a day to another, he left me, just by saying « I think I don’t live you anymore so I leave. » and this was the beginning of my new life. It was so hard and sudden back at the time that I knew it would be for the better. It couldn’t have been other way. I had a depression a few months after, couldn’t go to work, realized my job wasn’t making any sense without him because I actually had chosen my career with him and not for me. Then I remembered what was my dream when I was a child. I always wanted to be a singer but people told me it wasn’t a career so I buried my dream and literally forgot it. Until this depression. And, at this same time, a friend of mine pushed me to apply for a singer contest in Paris, which I did (with ZERO voice lesson ever !). I made it to the final. I didn’t win anything but with this I thought « maybe I was not on my path until now… ». I wanted to have a real and professional opinion on my potential so I auditioned for the best musical theatre school in Paris, the ECM, who choose only 15 students per year. I was 29 at this point, too old and not good enough I thought. But, against all odds, they choose me. I couldn’t miss the opportunity so I quit my job, lost my diploma (that is how it works when you work for the state in France and you quit) and started studying in this school in 2018. Fun fact: I quit my job on a Monday, the following Wednesday we sign the paper for the house (my ex bought my part to owe it entirely), and the following Monday I was starting my new musical theatre school, in other word my new life. This new beginning led me to audition at AMDA 4 years after, and here I am today, graduated from AMDA, living and working as a performer in New York City since 2022.
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 musical theatre performer, I sing, act and dance. Being trilingual (I am French and I speak Spanish and English fluently), my dream is to perform in those three languages, here in the US or elsewhere. From the moment my art makes me travel, share my culture and serve the multiculturalism, I will be thrilled.
Talking about multiculturalism, I produced and directed my first cabaret lately. We did it at The Green Room 42 here in New York last Saturday (11/30/24). I casted only international performers for this show because I wanted them to perform famous Broadway songs in their native language. The goal was to give us a space to shine (I am saying us because I also performed at this show), perform, be seen, share our talent and culture. And actually the show was such a success that a date for a second edition is already booked with the Green Room 42. I will keep the concept but change the program of course. I am more than exciting about this project because I feel part of a community that I also help. We make art together, we help each other, we have fun, and, most importantly, through this project, I work and give people work, which is non negligible being international performers living in the US ! If we want to stay in the territory, we have to proof that we work as performers, and justify the quality of every performing job we do.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I don’t work as a teacher anymore but I still use a lot of my teaching skills in my artistic career: I am very organized (I have always been I have to say, I need things to be and stay in order), I am a team worker, I know how to explain things, make them easily clear and accessible, I am efficient and know how to balance my energy.
For folks who are early in their journey, here is my advice: everything is experience, everything counts, everything you will learn will be useful at some point. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know which direction to choose, you can’t be wrong, and you still can change your mind, anytime. It is never too late.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
They supported and helped me financially to study at AMDA, here in New York. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to cross the ocean and start a third life here. Also, their move was unexpected because when AMDA told me I was accepted, hearing the price of the tuition, my mom said no, that they couldn’t help. But, seeing the energy I was putting to raise money, and the fact that AMDA gave me an important scholarship due to the quality of my audition, they changed their mind a few days before the deadline I had to send all my documents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lucietassel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucietassel/profilecard/?igsh=dGZtMG1waG0wN3Rh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/uP71B2xSJprPA2CF/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-tassel-8292b398?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lucietassel2346
Image Credits
Jessica Osber
Stéphane Parphot
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
