About the OCD Actor

Welcome!

Would you like to know more about the experience of working in the theater while having OCD?

Whether your interest is in the realities of working with OCD, acting, outdoor Shakespeare, or a mix of them all, this blog will give you an understanding of the process, from first auditions to the final show, with every little crisis in between.


The title is based on a joke with my mother which goes back some years.  In films, when an actor does something I would consider unhygienic for a role (this happens pretty frequently) she says, "For the craft!"  Now that I am acting professionally (admittedly for very little money), she says these words to me almost daily.

In my experience, doing anything you love with OCD is a system of give and take.  There will be complications and rituals and spine-tingling terror, and you will have to decide how willing you are to use a whistle has been sitting on a ledge backstage all week after only rubbing it off with an antiseptic wipe once.  I know a lot of actors who say they give their best performances when they have stage fright.  It could be argued that a person with OCD has stage fright all the time.

Just something to think about.

As you explore the site to feel free to ask any questions you might have.  I would love to better tailor this blog to fit its readers' specific interests and inquiries. 

At the moment, this blog is designed to chronologically take readers through a production of a play, with my own take on those events.

The "steps" can be very generally categorized  as Auditions, First Reads, Blocking, Rehearsals, Technical Rehearsals, Opening, and The Run.     

I will discuss the smaller events within those three topics in individual posts or series of posts.

You can click any of the links above to find a list of those posts, or on the tabs at the top of the page.  

Remember that I am open to any questions, or advice on how to make this site more accessible and easy to use.   

Thanks for stopping by!