Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsay Sweeney.
Hi Lyndsay, please kick things off for us with your story and how you got started.
Oh, this is fun… where shall I begin?! Well, I have always had a performer’s bug since I was a wee one. I got that from my daddy. When I was 5 and my family was moving to Houston from Chicago, we went to the World’s Fair and it started pouring down rain. Tons of people filled into the open arena theatre and I decided it was a good time to entertain the crowd. I got up in front of however many folks were taking shelter and sang and danced to “Baby Face”- my final dance class performance while in Chicago!
However, my love and understanding of theatre performance deepened when I was in 8th grade. I’m typically cast in comedic roles, which I love, but I decided to perform a dramatic piece for theatre competitions. I’m not entirely sure why I went that route, but I ended up winning 2nd place in UIL for Dramatic and our dramatic Reader’s Theatre piece won 1st place. It was a validation that I was a versatile actor and, although my spirit does thrive on comedy, I can dig into the tragedy, too.
Theatre was central in my high school years, and into college, where I attended Baylor University. My education at Baylor was incredible, a hidden gem of a theatre department, where we had numerous opportunities to perform and grow. After I graduated with a BA in Theatre Performance and a minor in Telecommunication, I left for London, England. Nope, this was not for a gig or an MFA, but it was to work and travel and have some fun abroad. Of course, I visited Stratford-Upon-Avon and attended 2 productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company – “Taming of the Shrew” and “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. In between shows, we went to the famous Dirty Duck/Black Swan pub and I told the manager how I was an actor and this is a dream come true. He then invited us to an after-party with the actors later that evening when the pub would close down for them! We didn’t hesitate and headed straight there after the show. At some point, Azlan came up to me and we started chatting about actor “stuff”. I’ll never forget what he said to me, “Create a one-person show, something that is yours, something with meaning. You will always have it and you will always have “work”!”
In 2002 I headed to Brisbane, Australia to earn my Master of Fine Arts at the Queensland University of Technology. After meeting with the Head of the Department, I chose an independent MFA and this allowed me to study and focus on what I was passionate about and create a performance piece as my thesis. I was able to take courses with The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble (QSE) and I also became a company member with them from 2002-2004. My MFA is in Theatre Studies, with a focus in Shakespeare! At the end of my journey, I had created a one-woman show, “Shakespeare’s Women: Gnawing At My Soul”. I performed here in Houston a long time ago, in 2006, and through that performance, I was an invited Guest Artist to open TxETA in 2007. Sadly, I have not performed the show since then, but it is always there gnawing at my soul!
In December of 2009 I finally got cast with Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company in “Margo Veil”! Getting that email offer from Jennifer Decker was the gift that has kept on giving! I had been admiring MU for a few years and waiting for my big break! Jennifer’s drive and passion to keep this amazing company running is an inspiration to me. I am beyond thankful to be a part of such an incredible team of women and men. I have been in a number of productions including, “Flu Season”, “Large Animal Games”, and “The Moors”. Mildred’s Umbrella embraced me as a company member, artist, and human. MU is truly my theatre family and theatre home, where I have formed some of my closest life-long friendships that I truly cherish.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like I have been fortunate enough to make amazing connections in the Houston Theatre Community. I wasn’t a UH or Sam Houston grad, but I found myself at the right time with the right people to help me on my creative journey… artists like Troy Scheid, Alvaro Sar Rios, Craig A. Miller, Julia Oppenheim and Robb Brunson opened doors to wonderful opportunities.
When I returned to Houston, I was fortunate enough to be cast in my first show with Troy Scheid. At the time Troy was the Artistic Director of Theatre Collide. She is now the Artistic Director of Brave Little Company, a theatre for everyone! Troy was and is an unstoppable force & visionary. Our friendship, her trust in me as an artist and inspiration is a constant in my life since 2004. (We were also roomies for 2 years!) Theatre Collide produced the performance of “Shakespeare’s Women..” in 2006 at Main Street Theatre, where she worked at the time. She provided me with my first Theatre Artist teaching gig at MST, as well, with early childhood kiddos. In 2019, when I left teaching at a school, we co-created a one-person show together for early childhood, “Wooden O”! An interactive sensory adventure where the children go on a journey with Robin Goodfellow. Then the world shut down and we lost all of the gigs we had. Sadly, I had to go back into a classroom, and the reigns of Robin have been passed on to another wonderful artist.
Covid shutting down performances and gigs was definitely a struggle for me. I had made the decision to leave the security of a teaching position to foster a more creative outlet and then BAM! Everything that I was doing was a teaching gig- creating early childhood classes for A.D. Players, teaching for TUTS, Brave Little Co. work, etc. I know numerous artists feel the same way. It was extremely difficult to search and apply for public school positions when my heart and soul didn’t really want to do it. Monetarily, at the time, I felt I had no choice. It was the time when positions were opening up and I had to act quickly to try and secure a position. Elementary Theatre theatre positions are not always up for grabs, and that is where my teaching soul thrives. However, I have to be honest, as much as I love my kiddos, their hugs and how they make me feel like I’m their own special superstar, teaching these past few years has been difficult. I cried literal tears of relief when this position popped up, but it has not been easy.
Once the performing world started to open up I was teaching full-time, and dedicating a LOT of time to earning my Teaching Certification. I had inner struggles with being on-stage during that time, and it kept me away from auditioning or really wanting to do anything “in the flesh”. The last show I performed in was “Lysistrata” in 2019 with Classical Theatre Company.
Now, in 2022, I’mmmm baaacck on stage and with CTC in “The Marriage of Figaro”!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a supporter, a lover of theatre, an actor, a teaching artist, the most favorite Aunt. I try my best to bring laughter and silliness when appropriate. I am known to break out into song, often with made-up lyrics, and dance. Something that my daddy did all the time and I’m honored that the gift was passed on to me. I’ve been told that my character voices should land me on a cartoon, and I have voiced a few anime characters with Sentai Filmworks. I’m, honestly, a child at heart which is why I believe I connect with the littlest of learners well. (just ask my friends who always say- NO WAY will I teach that age!) I’m an advocate for the arts in early childhood and c0-created “Arts, Literacy Action!” with a former co-worker and friend, Annie Ferguson. We were chosen to present at the National Association for the Education of Young Children and at Houston Arts Partners conferences.
I have performed with several companies throughout Houston and beyond, including: Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company, Classical Theatre Company, Catastrophic Theatre, The Landing Theatre Company, The Alley, A.D. Players, Main Street, Texas Repertory, Brave Little Company, Unity Theatre, Texas Shakespeare Ensemble and Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble. In 2016 I was honored to accept the Houston Press Award for Best Supporting Actress as Female Chorus in “How I Learned to Drive” with The Landing Theatre Co. I was nominated for Lenny in “Crimes of the Heart” with Texas Repertory in the same category a few years before. I currently teach Theatre Arts Integration in FBISD to PK-1st graders, and I’m a private acting coach.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Luna cuddles. I’m the mommy to a precious doggie, Luna (aka: Babygirl, Luna-Toon, punkin, goober), that I adopted from Jamie’s Animal Rescue in July of 2020 and she brings me buckets of happiness. Other joys: pajamas, showers, naps, laughter, family, life-long friendships, being part of a creative process, children’s A-ha! moments, traveling, feel-good energy, sunshine, making up songs with castmates on the fly, etc. Oh, and ice cream, can’t forget ice cream!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mildredsumbrella.com/company/
- Other: https://classicaltheatre.org/production/marriage-of-figaro/ https://www.brave-little.com/
Image Credits
Cressandra Thibodeaux
Dave Snook
Pin Lim
Larry Lipton
Alan Cho
