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Jessica Payne

Creator's Cafe 43. Brian Abraham - Just Be Real

Published 4 days ago • 1 min read
Happy Friday Reader,
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What if something wonderful just came out of nowhere? Have you forgotten that is also an option?
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I am definitely guilty of the big swing. Many days I'm really deeply optimistic, audacious, and bold. But then I can also swing to the opposite, and get pretty down on myself about the state of things. When that happens I almost forget that crazy and wonderful things can happen out of the blue.
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Every once in a while, life drops a big opportunity in your life. And if you're ready for it, it can turn out quite fantastically.
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My guest, Brian Abraham, had one of those moments. He was and is an amazing actor, and he was currently killing the LA Theatre scene. He was doing great in a really special production of Zoot Suit at the Taper. I was delighted to get to watch a friend who had worked hard and was being rewarded for it. I remember thinking, "wow, he's really killing it - this is a man at the top of his game!"
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And then he dropped that he got a callback for the first Broadway show he had every auditioned for, with a self tape from LA.
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He booked it. Everything changed. What I thought was his pinnacle moment, the top of the roof career-wise, became the supporting floor of his career.
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That's how Brian came to originate the roles of Hagrid and the Sorting Hat in the first giant Broadway production of Cursed Child. That job led to him moving permanently to NY (boo for me!), creating magic for thousands of audiences for three full years (good for them), meeting the love of his beautiful wife (yeah!) and his second and now third Broadway acting roles (hell yeah!).
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In this convo, we talk about his love of acting theory and deep rehearsal. He is a dedicated artist devoted to his process who deserves every role he's ever won. He talks like a grounded and deeply authentic journeyman working actor.
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But I reflect on the before and after the one callback that flipped his life upside down in all of the best ways. Yes it's important to prepare, but also sometimes life just surprises us in a wonderful way. That one conversation, that one email, that one coffee shop visit, that one audition really can change everything.
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I wish you a life-changing moment. Trust that when it happens then you deserve it, and ride that magic carpet wherever it takes you. I can't wait to hear all about it.
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​-with love and serendipitous surprises, Jessica

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​Theme Music: Our theme music is composed and performed by Kyle deTarnowsky.​

Jessica Payne

Actor, Host of "Creator's Cafe", CEO of Kika Labs

Hi! I'm an actor and host of "Creator's Cafe" podcast, available on YouTube and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe for links to the podcast, and for information on getting more comfortable creating on camera!

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