Ally Beans, Eisenberg/Beans & Resident Casting Director at Dallas Theater Center
From Peter: Ally’s first year of college, I had been tapped to be a student mentor for their freshman introductory class. Being a musical theatre lover, I would occasionally (AKA ad nauseam) make them watch Tony Awards videos and then put together short quizzes on who won what, who won which year, etc. Ally ALWAYS knew the answer.
Fast forward 4 years, I hear Ally’s planning to go into casting- making her the FIRST person we knew that would stay in the business, but not as an actor. The year after that, we hear she turned her internship into a job. That job into another job. Then, 3 years after she graduated, we heard Ally was partnering with Daryl Eisenberg to open Eisenberg/Beans.
In many ways, Ally is responsible for The Obvious Path. When you come from “small” schools, more people quit the business than figure out how to lean into their strengths. You’ll hear Ally beat herself up for not doing that sooner, but she’s the first person I knew to “lean in” unapologetically. She’s always had a remarkable memory, zeal for the business, and confidence in her talents. The way she lives challenges us to be braver- we hope she does the same for you.
Ally! We know you… We went to college with you! But for our readers who didn’t have the PRIVILEGE of knowing an 18-year-old Ally, would you briefly introduce yourself?:
Y’ALL! I’m Ally Beans. I grew up in Dallas, Texas and fairly early on in my life knew I wanted to be an actress. I started out acting in film (I have some pretty wild roles on my resume from non-union independent film work I did as a kid) and eventually started self-producing (hahahaha) my own sketches when I saved up to get me eMac (they don’t even make those anymore) so that I could use iMovie. I had grown up knowing and loving musicals but it didn’t register until I started working with a voice teacher as a teenager that musical theater was a legitimate career I could pursue - and I was hooked. I wound up at Abilene Christian University for my BFA in Musical Theatre and there are several true answers as to how I got there but the one I’m sharing today is that Kat, Peter, and a host of others in the program at the time blew me away in their production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. After seeing those Christians dance, I knew I had found my people.
As I said, Ally went to Abilene Christian University (Go ‘Zac Efron-less’ Wildcats!) with Kat and I, and then at the Tepper Semester in NYC through Syracuse University. Can you tell us about your time there and how that impacted your career?
I pretty much owe my career to Tepper. Until recently, there hasn’t been a training ground of any kind for Casting - Tepper was it. I was very grateful to be paired with a casting internship and to be learning from Casting Directors every evening while simultaneously seeing all the theatre NYC has to offer…but I was also so naive because it wasn’t until post-graduation when I was starting to pursue work that I realized the magnitude of that opportunity. Casting internships alone are so competitive and to have my first one handed to me? Insane. I can’t imagine what I’d be doing or where I’d be if I hadn’t done Tepper.
You studied musical theatre in college and got to play some really cool parts. Can you talk us through your thought process on how you knew acting wasn’t the career for you?
I’ll be honest, college was frustrating for me as a performer. Admittedly, I wasn’t accepting of my type nor my strengths. I wanted to be doing triple threat roles, I saw myself as a showgirl. What I was getting cast as and what I should’ve leaned into were acting-heavy roles. If I had to do college again, I would go as an acting major - I wouldn’t have gone into musical theater. And since we’re being really, really real here - I was tired of not being the best at something when I knew I had a lot to offer. I took a hard look at my strengths and outside of performing, I had a vast knowledge of the business, the players, etc. and I decided to transition into something where I could work on the other side of the table. Eric Woodall, who was a CD with Tara Rubin at the time, visited ACU my junior year for showcase and after one coffee with him, I knew casting was a world I could thrive in. I spent the summer before my senior year doing summer stock, researching, reading all of the trades, and getting really excited about my big leap. Ironically, I landed my biggest collegiate role that fall back at school - Diana in Next to Normal. I had finally let go of what I thought I was and embraced what I actually was and it was not coincidental that it was probably the best performance I’ve ever given.
What were the things you did in the first year to help you make the transition to being a Casting Director?
See everything, meet everyone.
You made the brave leap to start Eisenberg/Beans with Daryl Eisenberg, after working for Daryl and another well-known office in the business. How did you know opening your own office was right for you?
When I have the power to call the shots, I get to create a workspace I’m proud of and I would never fully be able to do that without being my own boss. I’m able to manage expectations, create a warm environment for actors, be a cheerleader for actors to my clients and be a cheerleader for my clients to agents and managers.
You have cast both film/TV and theatre. What is your favorite to work on? What are the biggest differences?
Theatre is always going to have a big piece of my heart but I have found such fulfillment in working in independent film and I’ve formed some really incredible relationships through my work in film - both professionally and personally. The timeline is the difference that makes the biggest difference for me - I feel more involved in a film process. In TV, we are constantly casting roles and when we’re not casting roles we are reading the script for the next episode full of roles that we’re going to be casting. Usually, with theater, we in casting are spending our time solely on the front end - we assemble the cast and then send them off with the rest of the creative team to build a tight-knit family over the course of rehearsals and performances. Whereas, when I’m working on a film or TV project, I feel like part of that family because I’m involved through the end of the process like everybody else.
What’s the most important thing you’ve done in your career so far?
Married a sane dude. I am nothing without Owen beside me to encourage, push, and (most often) give me a reality check.
What’s something you wish you had done or wish you had known earlier?
I touched on this earlier but when I started fully embracing myself and the talents that are unique to me, I started having the most fun I’ve ever had as a person on this planet.
Where are you on your mountain?
I hope I haven’t even begun ascending. This is all a prelude. (Okay so I’m scared of dying and live in fantasy world where I live forever - please let me have this)
RAPID FIRE!
Favorite Broadway show of all time: Am I basic for saying Legally Blonde? As a New Yorker I take B’way for granted, of course, but at that time...there was something about the lead up to traveling to NYC to see THE SHOW you’ve been listening to over and over (and watching on MTV) and I saw it on my birthday in 2008 and that feeling of being there in THE PLACE to see THE SHOW...was magic.
TV show that you love: Fleabag and Succession.
Favorite music on your commute: Kacey Musgraves.
Any other obsessions?: Dogs and plants.
Social media is ________: toxic!!! But I will tweet until my final breath.
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Apologetic Christian.
Actor-ism that frustrates you: push-ups in the hallway are dOoOoUchEyyyy (but if it works for you, fine)
Biggest beef with the business: elitism.
Hardest part about being a Casting Director: Only one person can play the role.
Best part about being married to an actor: The very tangible experience of getting to show up and cheer on my spouse.
I get inspired when _______: I see other artists in their zone. I love watching Directors work in an audition setting, the mental gymnastics directors do to craft a show - not my gift. Forever fascinated by them. Same with Actors, Music Directors, Stage Managers - y’all crush it at your thing.
Social media handles: @castingbyally for my unsolicited attempts at comedy, @ebcastingco for my biz.
Anything you’d like to promote?: I’ve been developing a feature film (working title is THE DOULAS) and I’m saying that publicly on this blog so that I’m held accountable to finish it. So I guess I’m promoting my writing that nobody has read or produced.