Peter Hargrave
From Kat: You can read about Peter and I’s scandalous coming together in my blog post. We’ve been married since 2013 and have a blast *trying* to navigate this industry together. I’ve seen Peter in a lot of career “ups” and a lot of career “downs”. Above all, I admire his determination, heart, and creativity as he waits for his “moment”.
Peter! Introduce yourself:
I grew up in Amarillo, TX in a really amazing youth theatre program. I went to Abilene Christian University for my BFA in Musical Theatre because one woman from my hometown had gone there and “made it”. It was the only program I was brave enough to audition for and, luckily, got in. From there, I moved to NYC and pretty quickly got a job on Disney Cruise Line. Even after a short time, New York City was already wearing on me, so I was very thankful for two years working on DCL. Thinking that I might spend my life as a professor at a University, I then auditioned for grad school at URTAs. To my surprise, I got into several schools and chose to attend The Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program. We decided to come back to NYC when I graduated in 2018.
You talk a lot about your relationship with Musical Theatre. Want to share with our readers?
Sure! I’m OBSESSED with Musical Theatre. It’s what I grew up on and still my favorite kind of show to watch. Coming to NYC, however, I was a 22-year-old bass/baritone and the industry was already starting to favor the young tenor. I remember going to auditions and I’d be going in the room after 35-year-old MEN. I felt very out of place, underqualified, and out of my element.
I wanted to do plays and TV, but I didn’t have the skillset for it yet. That’s where grad school was very helpful for me. Now, I bill myself as an actor who sings, not the other way around. It’s made a huge difference in my life. Best of all, my grad program was three years long. I’m starting to not feel so out of place at those auditions for my Musical Theatre dream roles.
Grad school! Talk about it!:
First, grad school is not for everybody. Make sure you want to go back. Depending on the program you go to, it’s two to (more likely) three years of relatively intense training. Don’t disservice yourself or your classmates by going back on a whim.
Grad school was great for me because:
1) It helped me develop my artistic voice for the first time.
2) It made me a MUCH better actor. Primarily in regards to classical text. I believe, however, that if you can do Shakespeare well, other things become easier as well.
3) It gave me my Equity card and three substantial regional credits before coming back to NYC. My Rolodex of connections grew by about 400% and several of those connections have given me jobs post-graduation.
4) I was PAID to go to grad school. My program was tuition-free, provided health insurance, and gave me a monthly stipend of $1,500 a month.
5) Even though my grad school is not one of the “triumvirates” (Yale, Juilliard, and NYU), I came back to NYC with FAR better representation. The doors for TV, film, and Broadway are now more open to be than they were before.
What’s the most challenging part of trying to be an actor in NYC?
It’s the problem I haven’t solved yet, but in my opinion, it’s keeping going through the dark times. And, yes, that is losing out on big jobs that would have changed my life. That always hurts. More so, however, it’s the times where NOTHING is happening. The lack of auditions can start to strain my belief it will happen for me one day and my fear gets the better of me.
How do you prepare for the big auditions?
It’s a common motto in our industry to treat the audition as the first day of rehearsal. I like that sentiment. Some days, the quality of the scene, the opportunity to read the full script and time to let the material sit in your brain really sets you up to do that. Those are the very best auditions. Other days, not so much. Bottom line, I’m ALWAYS memorized to the best of my ability and trying to focus on listening to the reader when I head in for my “rehearsal”.
Also, I don’t know if this is useful to anyone else, but it really helped me to hear. In a theatre audition, they want to see if you’re good to work with. In a TV audition, they want to see that you’re the person they want to hire. Be open and flexible to change in the theatre rooms. When you get in the TV rooms, be more prepared to give a “final performance”.
Looking back, what’s one thing you would change?
Ehhh... several things, but they’re all in the same theme. I’ve struggled with doubting my personal abilities a lot. (I’m an enneagram 4 if there are any enneagram fans out there...) Those struggles kept me from auditioning for bigger schools, feeling that I didn’t belong in the business, and thinking that I couldn’t create my own work. If I could go back, I would have tried to conquer those fears earlier. Now, I know failing greatly is much better for me than knowing I didn’t even try.
Of equal importance, I spent most of my life heavyset. A few agents told me I was “too fat” in my junior year of college. It was important for me to lose weight for health reasons, but I became obsessed with fitness. I was convinced my only value to the entertainment industry was looking ripped and, because of that belief, developed an eating disorder. It took me four years and a lot of pain to place less importance on my look. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.
Are you at the top of your mountain?
I’m not! I’ve always longed to be on a national tour or Broadway. I’m still chasing that dream!
RAPID FIRE!
Favorite Broadway show: Am I, like, super basic if I say Les Miserables?
Favorite TV show: Billions
Podcasts: Revisionist History, Hidden Brain, The Long and the Short of it
Side hustles: Waiting tables, catering, doorman at a retail store with a revolving door (?!?!?), personal trainer
Still doing your side hustle?: Yes! Very few people are lucky enough to make their full living as an actor. Be prepared to work hard. Wait tables in college. Take a bartending class. Get a fitness certification. It will likely be a major part of your early years of trying to make it.
Favorite one-line audition you’ve had: “Careful. I’ll blow both our heads off.” I said “Careful. I’ll blow bloth our heads off”... And got a callback. This business makes no sense.
Bad audition stories: I went in 6 times in 4 months for the same tour right out of undergrad... I didn’t get the part.
Best part of being married to an agent: Occasionally I get to find out if a part I auditioned for was offered. Closure is so helpful!
Biggest beef with the business: Agents, managers, and casting directors that only attend showcases of the “big” schools.
Religious or nah: Yeah. I was raised, and still am, a Christian. Some days, especially at this point in history, that’s very hard to rationalize. Ultimately, however, I believe.
Job you didn’t expect to book: My first under 5 on TV was entirely in Polish... I don’t speak Polish.
Anything you’d like to promote: The Obvious Path... OBVIOUSLY.
Interview by: Kat Hargrave