An interview with PSU's singer/actor Brady Lynch

Brady Lynch began attending Plymouth State University in the Fall of 2007. As a musical theatre major she has participated in more than twenty-three shows in university, regional, and community theatre. Most recently, she played the role of Jo March in PSUs production of Little Women. She boasts a phenomenal singing voice and the ability to do Southern, Yiddish, British, New Zealand and Australian accents. Lynch has taken voice instruction continuously since 2002 and has won the New Hampshire NATS in 2008 and 2009 in the lower college level and the New Hampshire NATS in 2008 at university level.

Currently, Lynch is living out the remaining semester of her undergraduate studies in New York City. While living on the Upper West Side, Lynch spends her time auditioning for new roles on the stage and taking classes. She blogs about her life of auditions and new adventures at ourhero.tumblr.com.

The Clock:   What are your plans now that you've moved to the big city?

Brady Lynch:   Well, it's a little scary and intimidating because I don't have a job and I am still in school, so my plan is to keep in shows outside of New York and I'm planning on getting work outside because it's easier to get work there. I would love to come back and live here, but I don't want to do it with a hefty full-time job and audition when I can. I don't want to have to be working a survival job. I would rather have it as a supplement income and still be able to do what I love and not have to worry about income.

TC:   How did you get the opportunity to move to New York City and take classes for your last semester of college?

BL:   It's a combination of several things, partly being crazy because I took anywhere from seventeen to twenty-one credits per semester, so that really put me ahead of the game. For my final semester I didn't need to stay on campus to do "gen-eds" and stuff like that. When I figured that out, I went to my advisor, Dr. Arecchi, who was one of the key people who got me here, (not to mention my professors in the department and the registrar). A student before had done the program [in New York] and my advisor told me that I should do it — "Why not?" There was an application process and over spring break of my junior year I came and auditioned in Manhattan.

TC:   How many auditioned and how many were accepted?

BL:   I'm not sure how many auditioned, but I'm the only person from a different school — it was like transferring in the middle of eighth grade. I walked in on relationships that had been forming for three and a half years without any idea of what to expect. It was definitely 'new kid syndrome.' Thankfully, I was welcomed with open arms and fit right in. Now everyone says they've forgotten that I haven't been with them for the past four years!

TC:   The theatre program at PSU obviously gave you a great beginning for your career. Is there anything in particular that you learned here at Plymouth that has helped you?

BL:   I think it really helped me understand myself, and my own strengths and weaknesses and what I need to work on. We (my professors and I) were on the same page about those things. And because of the size of the department my professors knew me well and I was able to get the most out of my time there. And I think that really boosted me forward and helped me find my way.

TC:   How many casting calls is it typical to go on every day or week as someone starting out?

BL:   For someone who is not in school, and depending on the time of year — because right now they are casting for summer seasons and it's also pilot season for television, so it's really heating up — you can go on anywhere from one to four auditions per day. On my spring break I'm scheduled for seven, and there could be more. People say the only guaranteed work an actor has is auditioning. So right now my job is to find auditions. And that's fine, I like it. It's tough right now knowing that I have class and I can't go to all of them.

TC:   Did you just wake up one morning and say, "This is it, acting is for me" ?

BL:   Um, no. I started doing theatre when I was five out of pure luck and pure chance and it was a hobby for most of my childhood. Of course I wanted to be famous! I would beg my mom to let me get an agent and she always refused. Years later, like now, my mom says, "I just wanted you to be a normal kid." And I appreciate that now, though I didn't then!

In high school I really wanted to go into opera. And when I was hating filling out college applications, I wanted to be a marine biologist! [Laughs] And one day one of my teachers looked me right in the eye and said, "Brady, you'd be doing the world a great disservice if you didn't go into musical theatre."

TC:   At what age did those around you, family or friends, take your dream seriously?

BL:   I think my parents always knew that I would end up doing something on the stage because I was a very theatrical and dramatic child, much to their chagrin. But I think once I was in college and I was getting all these opportunities to perform and participate in competitions and I was winning them and getting summer jobs and really, I guess, becoming a professional, I think my family was like, "yup, that's it." I think that really sealed the deal.

TC:   Would you have been as adamant about pursuing the dream as you have been without that support?

BL:   I don't know. Sometimes when things are rough in this business, I wonder if I'm doing the wrong things, if I should have been studying something else. And then I sit down and think, what else could I do? And there's nothing else. I wouldn't be happy doing anything else. I don't even want to think about not having their support — but it wouldn't have stopped me.

TC:   When graduation comes this spring will you be making the move back to NH or have you become an official New Yorker?

BL:   Well, at this point I will be back for graduation. However, come April that may be a different answer. I had an audition last week, which if I get the job I'll hear about it sometime this week. I have an audition tomorrow, too. If a job requires me to miss my graduation, then the sad fact is that will have to happen. I've waited four years to graduate and I may not even be there!