Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dyan McBride. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dyan, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I’ve been a professional actor, director, singer and instructor for over 30 years. This is a crazy, wonderful business. It’s often everything all at once or sort of slow. What I’ve come to realize (and I’m sure this sounds like ‘duh!”), is that I’m just a creative being, period. And while it’s wonderful to make my living in the arts, to have a great year with a commercial a ton of plays or whatever, the thing to remember is I am a creative and my self-worth can’t always rely on the externals. You have to continue to foster your creativity, so when the work comes you are ready. Read a play, write a short story, work in your garden, re-model a space, go on Pinterest and make a dream board, clean a drawer, play your guitar, do your make-up in a new way, create 5 outfits that make you feel amazing, do your hair differently, try a recipe, write a letter to someone you miss, go to Michael’s and walk around for an hour!
To further speak to the business side of show business, even when you are in a slow period, the finding of the work itself can be creative. It can foster a sense of hope and possibility, and that’s important. The emails you write, the way you set up your desk to look for work, the dreaming of what can be, is necessary. It gives you the chance to set an intention and see yourself in a creative space and to move toward whatever goal you want to achieve.
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 member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. I am also a professor of theatre arts at Las Positas College in the SF Bay area. I am always doing the hustle between multiple plays (directing and acting), commercial work with my agency, and teaching classes in acting, singing and musical theatre.
I always try and move my career to the next level, but often times that’s a personal, as well as a professional goal. Professionally, I want to be well compensated for my work and for my extensive theatrical knowledge. I want to work at theatres that have an incredible production team or have a massive passion to move towards excellence. Personally, I want to be in spaces that feel like they have fun, positivity and possibility as core values. I bring that and I want to have that bounced right back at me.
I try to do projects that reflect my values and interests. I like work that is focused on the female experience, slangy language, 20th/21C comedy, rock and roll or romance, not necessarily all at the same time!
Right now I’m directing She Loves Me and prepping Margaritaville, both at Las Positas College. I’m also deep in audition season and waiting to see what summer and fall will bring acting and singing-wise. I am also teaching an acting for the camera class. I’m also so into my garden, that it’s a bit obsessive. (I love spring and flowers almost more than anything!)
I’m also directing Always, Patsy Cline at Hillbarn Theatre in early fall.
Personally, I have tickets to 3 Springsteen shows in March and April and I am also going to be in the E Street Lounge before the show. I don’t even really know what will happen there, but it’s for friends and family. So if I see some members of the band milling around or have a sandwich with Bruce, well, my life will be complete. The next 3 shows will make my total shows 55. Small by East Coast standards, but pretty good for a West Coast girl.
You can keep up with me at www.dyanmcbride.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
This is a terrific question. As a professor, we talk about personal qualities often. what makes you stand out? Often it really doesn’t have anything to do with talent.
1. Imagination. I like to think that I am a pretty imaginative human. I think in shape, color, sound. I can take a scene, a song a play on a flight of fancy, go deep, mess it up, come back to something new. I like to throw a lot of ideas at a project, abandon them, get obsessive with them and wrestle with them. I like multiple ways of looking at something. And finally, when I’ve sat with the idea for awhile, I can be decisive. But I think the hallmark of me in the performing arts is that I am an imaginative person.
2. Kindness. Talent only takes you so far. Are you the person people want to be with? Do you have good manners? Are you appreciative of the work of others? Are you able to sublimate your ego so others can shine? Can you find the “yes”? Kindness is everything. And kindness doesn’t mean you don’t have boundaries, it just means you are trying to find the best, most positive path.
3. Leadership. I’m not afraid to plan, speak up, share my ideas for organization, to wrangle a lot of people. I like leading a class, a workshop, a play. I also think the best leaders are good collaborators, so I like to surround myself with people who are talented and can offer new ideas.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
It’s interesting to choose this question. I think I chose it because I have to write a lot of letters of recommendation for my college students and I see the myriad of ways they struggle with their parents.
My family had it’s share of challenges, from divorce, single parenthood, to addiction. But the one thing my Mom did, and continues to do, is to believe in me 100%. She never told me to have something to fall back on, she came to anything I was in or was directing, she has sat in my classes while I’ve taught, she’s read my writing. She always told me I could, I was worthy, I was smart. I cannot begin to express how powerful this kind of love is.
She also stayed in her lane. She might not like a musical I was in, but she would somehow be able to talk about it without making me feel bad that I was doing it. It wasn’t personal. To be able to be objective without personally criticizing, is a gift. It’s academic to a certain extent and I appreciated it. But to be fair, my Mom does hate wrinkled costumes and bad hemlines. I appreciate her eye and always tell my cast to make sure their clothes are ironed or my Mom will point it out after the show.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dyanmcbride.com
- Instagram: princessleiahansolo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyanmcbride
Image Credits
Lisa Keating-Director pic The Mountain Play-Dyan McBride as Dolly Levi
