Candice Shedd-Thompson
Class of 2010
Actress
How would you best describe your life as a performer?
This could honestly be a thesis paper. It's as hard as everyone says but also it isn't. It's not linear at all and yet, there is a more linear path to "success" than outsiders realize.
Some years will be wildly successful, and other years you'll get called in for big things again and again and book none of them. You must be your biggest advocate. No one will reach out to someone they don't know and offer them a job. You must make them remember you by CONSTANTLY (and I do mean constantly) submitting your materials (headshot/resume), by updating your performance materials on youtube, by updating your website, and most importantly, by going out and auditioning.
You cannot book a job if they don't even know who you are. There are so many days where I think to myself "what are you doing you crazy person why have you chosen this career," and other days where it all makes sense.
You're allowed to have days of doubt, and you're also allowed to have your dreams change. I have friends who completed their musical theatre degree in college and now don't use it. They changed. Their dreams and life plan and desires changed. It happens. If you wake up one day after years of pounding pavement and realize you'd rather have a stable job with good health insurance, literally NO ONE will blame you or call you a failure. Things I've worked on: cruise ships as a singer, theme park, summer stock, regional theatre at both union and non-union houses. Degree is in Musical Theatre from JMU.
What was your favorite show that you worked on at Chantilly H.S. and why?
Bat Boy! Playing a character that I was wildly too young for and being exposed to new material that I wouldn't have found on my own.
Class of 2010
Actress
How would you best describe your life as a performer?
This could honestly be a thesis paper. It's as hard as everyone says but also it isn't. It's not linear at all and yet, there is a more linear path to "success" than outsiders realize.
Some years will be wildly successful, and other years you'll get called in for big things again and again and book none of them. You must be your biggest advocate. No one will reach out to someone they don't know and offer them a job. You must make them remember you by CONSTANTLY (and I do mean constantly) submitting your materials (headshot/resume), by updating your performance materials on youtube, by updating your website, and most importantly, by going out and auditioning.
You cannot book a job if they don't even know who you are. There are so many days where I think to myself "what are you doing you crazy person why have you chosen this career," and other days where it all makes sense.
You're allowed to have days of doubt, and you're also allowed to have your dreams change. I have friends who completed their musical theatre degree in college and now don't use it. They changed. Their dreams and life plan and desires changed. It happens. If you wake up one day after years of pounding pavement and realize you'd rather have a stable job with good health insurance, literally NO ONE will blame you or call you a failure. Things I've worked on: cruise ships as a singer, theme park, summer stock, regional theatre at both union and non-union houses. Degree is in Musical Theatre from JMU.
What was your favorite show that you worked on at Chantilly H.S. and why?
Bat Boy! Playing a character that I was wildly too young for and being exposed to new material that I wouldn't have found on my own.
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