Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Pitts.
Bryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born in Dallas. Raised in Irving. Went to college at Northlake, which is how I got into acting. I was seeking a class where there were no tests. Acting is where I landed. I performed monologues from interludes from CD’s since I didn’t know any plays. At the end of the semester, one of my classmates, James Gammil, asked me to audition for their upcoming play. I rejected that opportunity several times before I went.
The audition went well, and I landed my first role of Reverend Hale in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I had never been on stage, or learned lines, or worn a costume, or taken direction under the lights. So, it was a learning experience and the staff and students at Northlake were awesome, and I learned so much. I stayed around the theatre department after that production because of the leadership of the department. Alice Butler, John Moseley, and Mike McKee lead that department and taught willing students how to build a set, learn lines, take direction, make costumes and other skills to apply to a career in acting/tech, or into life.
Over the next few years, I did more plays at Northlake, including Much Ado About Nothing, Streetcar Named Desire and Salome. I was fortunate to meet Valerie Hauss-Smith, and she asked me about being in a play with Shakespeare Dallas. I figured, why not? I went and met with Shakespeare Dallas and I did the production of Comedy of Errors. During that production, I met so many people that continued helping me along… Marcus Mauldin, Walter Fauntleroy, Lydia Mackay, Raphael Parry, too many to name! Marcus offered to introduce me to his agent, Kim Dawson, and I was granted a meeting.
We met and they offered to represent me. I didn’t know anything about how agents worked, but after talking with some trusted friends, I decided to take the offer. That was back in 2004, and I’ve been represented by Kim Dawson ever since. After the play with Shakespeare Dallas, I auditioned for Kitchen Dog Theater and landed a role in their mainstage new play, Raw Vision. I continued meeting more and more people willing to help, and I kept auditioning, and I hope to keep working.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always struggles. The acting industry is one of those professions where you are put into a box. Also, you are constantly judged, by everyone. Friends, family, people that don’t know anything about you, will have an opinion of you. The rate of success is very low, and it’s acceptable. My agent once told me, if I booked 30% of the auditions I went on, they would be ecstatic. When I first heard that, I couldn’t believe it.
But year after year, I realize that is so true. Surrounding myself with supportive family and friends has been key. When your family comes out to your show and they are so proud. It makes the long days and nights of rehearsal worth it. Being able to show your friends when you do, and they are entertained and provoked to thought, it makes everything worth it.
Tell us more about your work.
I’m an actor. I like dramatic plays. Live plays. I have done voice-overs, commercial, industrial, movies, and tv shows. I have enjoyed them all. But live plays is where I started, and I hope that I can do live plays forever.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My mother and my father
My extended family all over the country
My friends that I knew before I was an actor that support me
Numerous friends that I have met in the acting industry
My agent and casting agents that believe in me
Contact Info:
- Instagram: revhale98
- Other: Snapchat: revhale98
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