Why must I deal with type casting?

Okay stop right there! I know what you're thinking. Is this another rant about how a black man has to deal with only being seen as a thug, or drug dealer, or drug addict? Well no, it isn't. Oh, how I would love to play a drug dealer. I mean, have you seen, "The Wire?" That show kicks ass. But that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about something that actually took me a little by surprise.

As an actor, I do what actors do. I go on auditions. Lots of them. It's just the nature of the business. No matter how talented you are or no matter how good your audition is, there is no guarantee that you're going to get work. But you put yourself out there until people become more and more familiar with your work. Then work begets more work. It's just how the process goes. We don't love it, but we understand it and have come to terms with it.

Now, if you do well during the audition, you get what I like to call, "the headshot turn." That's when the auditioner is so interested in your performance that they'll turn the headshot over and look at your resume on the back in order to see what you've done. It's a good thing. And I don't mind telling you that I've had my fair share of "headshot turns." If time permits, the auditioner may have a little conversation with you about who you are and what you've done. And recently, during these conversations, I've encountered this same quote on several occasions, "Wow, you've done a lot of Shakespeare."

Don't get me wrong. I love Shakespeare. I love performing in Shakespearean plays. I've spent the last 3 years or so studying with John Basil at the American Globe Theatre. I've also been doing quite a bit of work in his shows. I can definitely say that I am confident in my skills with the Bard. However, I wouldn't necessarily classify myself as a, "Shakespearean Actor." Just someone who is comfortable and confident with the language. I didn't exactly set out to master Shakespeare. I just figured it was one of the many skill sets that I needed to develop as an actor.

Also, as in any freelance profession, you work with whoever is hiring. And over the past few years, most of the people that have hired me have been Shakespearean theatre companies. And that's great. Work is work. And actors are supposed to be able to go with the flow and execute any and all roles with deftness and aplomb. (If I can look those words up so can you)

So what's the problem? Where are the stumbling blocks? Why do you people ask me so many questions? It turns out, (much to my naivete) that there's actually a bit of a stigma attached to Shakespearean actors. Shakespeare is considered by many to be boring, incomprehensible, too poetic, and intended for the upper-crust of society. And the Shakespearean actors who take on these roles are considered to be incredible snobs with enormous egos who are incapable of doing simple, grounded contemporary work. Everything is big and poetic with grand gestures and deep affected voices. Which makes it especially strange to when the ladies do it. (Yeah. You read that right and that was cheesy)

But I can assure you that nothing could be farther from the truth. First of all, ALL actors are incredible snobs with enormous egos. I mean come on. Doesn't it take a serious egotistical maniac to get on a stage or in front of a camera and believe that you will be moved to tears or laughter simply by what they say or do. So don't just single out the Shakespearean actors. We're ALL crazy and full of ourselves. Some are just more functional about it than others.

Secondly, Shakespeare, although difficult and intimidating at first, is actually very entertaining. I don't want to get into a lecture but I'll just say that when Shakespeare wrote these plays, he was trying to appeal to the common people just as much as the royalty. If not more so. So if you're fortunate enough to catch a production that takes this fact into account, you will be privy to a lot of sex jokes which your High School English teacher may not have pointed out to you. And who doesn't like sex jokes? I know I do. For instance, in, "Taming of the Shrew," Petruchio says to Kate after she turns her back on him, "What, with my tongue in your tale?" It means exactly what you think it means.

Third, I believe that any good writing has a poetical element to it. Think about August Wilson, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams. All American playwrights who had the ability to not only tell remarkable stories with compelling characters, but to do it using language in skillful and beautiful ways. It just so happens that we are a little more accustomed to hearing their style of language than we are with Shakespeare.

Lastly, I am proud of my experience with the Shakespearean language and poetry. I honestly believe that if I can be confident with Shakespeare's language then I can be even more skilled with the writer's of today. I think that my experience with Shakespeare allows me to find the nuances and subtleties in the work of contemporary writers. Finally, I believe that my training with saying lines like, "When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous to lock such rascal counters from his friends, be ready Gods with all your thunderbolts; Dash him to pieces," allows me to mine all of the bountiful ore out of a line like, "Naw, man. You ain't seein' the coke until I see the motherfuckin' money."

So if you want to brand me as a Shakespearean actor, then I say, "So be it!" I will gladly accept all of the praise and prejudgments that accompany such a moniker. Just be aware that there's more to it than a deep, rich voice with an excellent command of language. There's also an understanding of the beauty and complexity of all language. From Shakespeare to a toothpaste commercial. The similarities are subtle (extremely subtle) but they are there. And trust me, there's always a huge difference between listening to someone who has a high respect and love for the words they are using and someone who doesn't.