Touring with shows has always been one of Audrey Cardwell’s favorite ways to work. Especially because of the travel, she gets to see and experience so many different cities around the country. However, with the pandemic, live performance has stopped, but that couldn’t pause theatre for too long. Many actors, including Audrey Cardwell, have been putting on solo concerts at venues like Green Room 42 as of recently. With full safety precautions put in force, the magic of live performance is coming back. Audrey Cardwell talks about the differences between performing before the pandemic versus when it’s calmed down a bit. As well as her experience going on tour with shows like Falsettos and Cinderella.
How did you get into acting? Was it always something you knew you wanted to pursue as a career?
I started dancing when I was 5, and I grew up watching the old movie musicals (The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, The Music Man) and going to see the national tours that would come through my hometown. I fell completely in love with the art form when I did my first community theatre production when I was 12, and by the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to pursue musical theatre as a career.
What was the experience of being on tour in Falsettos?
Falsettos was incredibly special.The bond that our cast formed was unlike any experience I’ve ever had. The show - for those who don’t know it - is hilarious, wacky, and absolutely heartbreaking. We went through that highly emotional journey together every single night and we all fell in love with each other in the process. And getting to work with James Lapine….well, that will forever be a pinch me moment in my life! Also, I have been obsessed with Falsettos since I was 13 (like…. I didn’t have to do any memorization before we started rehearsals for the tour because I’d had the show memorized for years from listening to the cast album… ), so getting to do a show that has been near and dear to my heart for many years was remarkable.
How have your different tour experiences (Falsettos, Cinderella, and more) helped you grow as a person?
Each of the shows I’ve toured with presented its own set of special challenges to me. The roles that I played demanded different parts of me, and pushed me as an artist and as an actor. Being on the road taught me self-reliance. I’m confident going any and everywhere by myself - the grocery store, dinner, another country - and new places, people, and situations feel essential to my life now. Additionally, learning how to perform a lead role while on the road really built up my stamina and resilience as an actor. Doing 8 shows a week is hard as it is. But throw in the added challenge of a weekly travel day (packing your life in a suitcase, going to the airport, flying, getting to the new hotel, unpacking, finding the nearest grocery/restaurant, learning the backstage of the new theatre, adjusting to an entirely new space) and it can, and does, get overwhelming. Navigating all of those moving parts while playing a leading role gave me a strong sense of self, because I know that if I come to the theatre prepared, and ready to ebb and flow with whatever comes, that I will be able to remain calm, cool, collected, and able to do my job. I’ve loved spending so much time on the road. It’s not always easy, but that’s what makes it so fun, right!?
What is your favorite part about touring with shows? What is the hardest part?
My favorite part is the travel! Seeing new places and exploring new cities! The hardest part is living out of a suitcase and planning out how and where I can get things shipped to me. It sounds silly, but for real! Moving weekly is no joke when you just want to have your contact lenses delivered but don’t wanna pay for that overnight shipping!!!
Being able to visit so many cities is so cool! Do you get a chance to explore them often? What is your favorite place you’ve visited?
Yes yes! I always make it a point to get out and explore each new city! I feel so so lucky to have been able to travel as much as I have. Some of my favorite cities I’ve visited are Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, and LA because I love it but also…..Disneyland.
Recently, you made your concert debut at Green Room 42, what was the experience like having a show after not performing for so long?
It was beautiful. I was BEYOND nervous for days leading up to the show and I was panicking about literally everything. I was nervous about how my voice would sound, how I would look, if I would feel awkward on stage again, if anybody would come, etc etc etc. But of course, once we got going, I felt like I had returned to myself. I felt more like me than I had in months. Performing, in a full show or a concert, is therapeutic to me. I get to work through my own feelings and thoughts and pain on stage - it’s how I process and make sense of the world around me. The opportunity to do that again, with my family and friends sharing the space with me, was something I will never forget. What a gift.
You’ve performed in other concerts, such as Pronoun Showdown, what was the experience like before COVID-19 versus now?
My solo show has been my only live performance since covid, and I can’t wait for more! The theatre industry is being forced to get really creative with how we’re going to sustain live performance from here on out and I feel confident that we will have some brilliant artistry and innovative ideas come out of this time. Pre-covid performances were incredibly fun to be a part of, but I think we all have a new-found appreciation for live performance, and we understand that it is deeply nurturing to our souls and our humanity. I’m excited to share in that joy with more people as venues and shows start to open back up.
What advice do you have for young actors who want to get their foot in the door?
There is no right way to do this business, and there is no magical key to success. These are the things that I find most important: Know yourself. Know what makes you YOU and celebrate and harness your singularity every single day. Learn to trust yourself. Find educators who inspire and uplift you. Never stop training and never stop learning- artists are always evolving and growing into the next great version of themselves. Nurture your soul as much as you nurture your talents and gifts. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to others. Don’t be discouraged by rejection and don’t take rejection as a statement on your self-worth. I think of each “No” as a notch in my belt. And one step closer to the long awaited “Yes”. Keep going. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Thank you to Audrey Cardwell for taking the time to answer these questions!
Follower her on Instagram @akatcard
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