By Cheryl Felicia Rhoads
Thank you for visiting my site. I have worked in several different jobs in the entertainment industry including as an actor. You can see some of my film and TV credits on my page at the Internet Movie Database if you CLICK HERE.
You are probably reading this because you would like to develop your acting skills and would like to find a teacher and coach in the Washington, DC capital region. I might be who you are looking for because I have helped hundreds of students set goals, learn about diction, and both invent and rehearse "bits of business" that often make characters come alive and add to the authenticity of a stand-out audition. Together, we will discuss and rehearse sample scripts and monologues and talk about what directors are looking for when they call you.
Don't be surprised if we might range beyond mere acting mechanics and technique to more spiritual questions such as what are we grateful for today, or how can our craft inspire the best in others? What material is worthy of our time and effort and what projects are not consistent with our personal values? How do we cultivate the wisdom, maturity, and courage to say yes to the former and no to the latter? Cheryl appears at left as Mother Goose with Will Ryan as Bertram the Goose in the 1987 Mother Goose Video Treasury. The series was recommended by Parent's Magazine.
On request, I have sometimes advised students about the ethics of the profession and we have talked about what is suitable material and how choices in roles might affect a career. An actor is a total person, not just someone who memorizes and recites lines.
In the classic or "old" Hollywood, many of the best actors were also widely respected as kind and generous human beings apart from their theatrical success. Instead of being obsessed with their own celebrity status, they made time to be role models and to give back something to their profession, community, nation, and to improving international respect and understanding.
Maybe someone once told you that you are not "the right type" for a particular role. Whether they were right or wrong at the time, the important thing is that over many years you will certainly be the right person for other roles that match your particular talents.
There are many community theater and professional production companies and commercial agencies that are searching all the time for a particular look, a unique accent, a mature age, or a nationality or ethnic type that would be a good fit for your background.
I believe in being honest with acting students but I also believe in encouraging people. If you are willing to be on time, do your homework, and approach assignments with a positive mental attitude, I know that together we can improve your skills and multiply your opportunities from what they have been in the past.
Please always try to remember that "show business" really is a business. No matter how you look or how much native talent you might have, you still have to work hard to develop your skills to the point where you can compete for the key parts you would like to win regardless if the project is a commercial, community stage play, or motion picture.
Hard work does not mean you cannot have fun. But it does mean that like any other profession, you will advance not just with luck but also with patience and perseverance. Maybe you started acting to find a creative outlet for self expression and that is fine. But you will find success commensurate with your work as much as your native ability.
So are you ready to roll up your sleeves and work? If so, please send me an email at [email protected]. I have helped hundreds of children and adults over the last fifteen years. I have worked as an actress, a director and producer, a coach and teacher, and for a voice-over talent agency, and as a free-lance casting director in Hollywood. I re-located to the national capital region and northern Virginia in 2006 to take advantage of a new environment for me to work in and new talent.
"Happy Trails to You"....In this photo above, Cheryl Rhoads meets Dale Evans and her film star husband Roy Rogers (1911-1998), the legendary "King of the Cowboys," at a breakfast in Hollywood in 1993. For other pictures of Cheryl Rhoads and Hollywood actors of the past and present, see Cheryl's photo album below left, or CLICK HERE.
New acting opportunities along the Eastern Seaboard are growing and Washington, DC and suburbs are a big part of that story. I know from experience that not all talent gravitates to Hollywood for many reasons.
Maybe you raised a family and want to return to acting ambitions you had in high school or college. Maybe you are very new to the idea of acting. Whatever your situation, I have likely come across a student in a similar situation before so with that experience I am sure I can help you. Please email me at the address below, leave me your phone number and the best time to call back, and let's talk about it. I can explain our goals, what times are available at what price per lesson, and what additional opportunities we can look for together to showcase your talents in front of an audience be it large or small.
No teacher can always guarantee producers will hire you for the parts you want. But with your cooperation and sincerely applied hard work, we can do a lot to expand your potential. Whether you wind up working with me or with another acting teacher, congratulations on your efforts so far and good luck in setting new goals and making the most of new opportunities.
Cheryl Felicia Rhoads