Kevin Rothlisberger
Bio
An aspiring actor from Farmington, NM writing a blog about theatre. Currently living in Eagle Mountain, UT. If I happen to make a dollar or two while doing so, so be it. Thanks for reading! Break a leg!
Stories (9/0)
Auditions at Weber State
An absurd thing occurred this last weekend. A 28 year-old man auditioned for musical theatre with a bunch of 17-20-year-olds. He was confused for a teacher at least once. He was the only one that didn't have a parent that had to be asked to leave. He was certainly the only one that hadn't graduated high school in the 2010s. He also drove the farthest distance to get to said audition (452 miles). This man was me, and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I now await to hear back about my audition and to see if I was selected for a tuition waiver that would pay for my classes in full. In the audition, I learned that being the oldest doesn't always make you the most experienced, that sometimes being the last one in line can be a good thing and I'll never regret chasing my passion.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Education
Auditioning: The Real Victory
Local, professional, and high school theatre are gearing up for auditions in the upcoming weeks/months. Some for the spring term/semester, others for the summer. Nerves are at an all time high. Some actors can audition like it's nothing, while others struggle with nerves mightily. For me, auditioning is the goal. If you treat the audition like the destination, instead of the first step, you'll audition much better. I've never hosted auditions or made the decision on my own in regards to casting or choosing people to come back to call-backs.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Journal
Opening Night in Theatre
Nothing quite explains how you feel when a show you've been working on is about to do it's first performance, live, in front of an audience. And here I am trying to write a blog post about it... oh well, it's too late now to go back. We are both way to far along in the post to give up now. Opening night for an actor really encourages your best, gives a crazy shot of adrenaline, and can't really be experienced anywhere else.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Geeks
Chasing the Dream: Musical Theatre
February 24. A large portion of my 2018 year goals/plans can soar or crumble based on my actions of that day, February 24. As the new year rolls around, I love seeing the messages of hope and encouragement. Seeing goals made and pursued. To see individuals mentally and physically decide that this year is a new start for them. There's some serious motivation there. When I dig deep down, I understand I need to make goals more often, for longer periods of time, yada yada yada. But my goal list could turn one way or another on February 24. No, it's not my birthday, nor is it an anniversary of anything I've done previously. February 24 is the date of my audition for the Musical Theatre Program at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. For those that don't know, I live in Farmington, NM, a small city in the Four Corners area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all meet. In reference to that date, I want to dedicate this post to the importance of chasing your dream. To chase you dream, you must research, act, and be willing to accept the results.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Education
Professionalism in Theatre: For the Youngsters
THANK YOU. Get that in your brain right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. "Thank you" can mean you are actually thankful. "Thank you" can be said sarcastically after your director makes you re-run a scene or a set change over and over and over and you are TOTALLY FED UP WITH THAT DIRECTOR. "Thank you" can be the most professional manner of responding to a note or a suggestion from your director. "Thank you" can be the appropriate reaction to a positive note you get from a director. Okay, okay, by now I've probably tired you of the "thank you." But it REALLY is important. This post is dedicated to being more professional in the theatre world by what you say, do and think.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Journal
Theatre Family: The Ultimate Acceptance
The year was 2005 when I quit football (for the second time) at my high school. My once "brotherhood" quickly turned against me and said some pretty hateful things. To this day I still regret it and I didn't think I'd find anything else I was good at doing. I am a 6'2", 290lbs guy, and in high school I was 6'2" and weighed close to 275, so my size gave me a pretty good advantage at sports. Sports were what I felt like I should do. My first love was baseball, and while I was passionate about it, I just wasn't that great of a baseball player, and it took me a long time to accept that. Next came basketball, which I became my best at in comparison to my peers when I was in about the 5th grade, and then I just plateaued. Football was the next sport I tried, because I felt very much invited and encouraged and motivated from other football coaches to play (I mean, like I said before, I was the chubby kid in the corner).
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Education
Tech Week in the Theatre Realm
So I think we can all quickly name off famous actors from theatre. Hugh Jackman, Ben Platt, Josh Groban, and the list goes on and on and on. What about the tech crew, though? Can you name some people who have been involved with successful shows like Hamilton that worked as a stage manager? Or how about a lighting designer from the show Lion King on Broadway? It becomes a bit more difficult. These magnificent people that work behind the scenes are the true heroes of the theatre realm. And around a week or two before each show starts, lighting designers, stage producers, assistant stage producers, audio designers and choreographers of all shapes an sizes (and believe it or not, occasionally individuals take on two or more of these roles for a show on the local theatre level, HUGE shout out to them!) give up sleep, food, and sometimes healthy hygiene habits to make sure a show is ready by the time it is supposed to open. I'd like to dedicate this post to my beloved tech crews I've worked with and any one out there that has a tech person that they love and cherish. Let's talk about tech week in a show: specifically my experiences with set, sound and lighting.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Journal
Theatre: What Took Me So Long?
Imagine a world where you don't feel pressured to be anyone else. A world where you are accepted and loved. Sounds like an oasis, heaven itself, or a paradise, right? Well for me, theatre, music, and acting helped me make it there. I love theatre and acting because it motivates me, helps me be a better person, and pushed me to an absolute breaking point.
By Kevin Rothlisberger6 years ago in Journal