From Peter: Scott held the dressing room station next to mine for nine beautiful and exhausting months on Disney Cruise Line. He has a smile to brighten the room, one of the best listening ears I’ve ever encountered, and a new angle to attack any problem. To this day, I am still impressed by Scott’s positivity, practicality, and ingenuity when it came to this career.
In a world where most young artists convince themselves it’s “New York, LA, or Bust”, Scott has made his home in the Bay Area nearly all of his professional career. And it’s been an illustrious career at that. Whether getting his Equity card performing alongside James Monroe Iglehart in Big River, countless Silicon Valley industrials and commercials, or a twelve-year stint at San Francisco’s iconic Beach Blanket Babylon, Scott is daily proof you don’t have to be in the biggest markets to realize your dreams.
We talked to Scott in the early part of this year before Coronavirus shut down the business. To aid the feature he had already completed, he graciously answered our Corona Coping questions as well. And, just as we expected, Scott is managing his business, attitude, and innovation way better than the average bear. If you’re interested in life outside of big markets, how to pursue goals outside of the theatre, or a good long breath of optimism and creativity: Scott’s your guy.
Scott- I met you as you played (were friends with?) the boy who never grew up. For our readers that never saw you fly (or wear tights!), can you introduce yourself?
My name is Scott Reardon, and I am born and raised in the San Francisco/Bay Area. In the summer after 8th grade, a friend coeerced me into auditioning for a children’s production of Grease because they were in desparate need of boys. I was always someone who enjoyed singing and was an extremely imaginative player, but I had never participated in any formal arts endeavor. I ended up being cast as Teen Angel and Doody. Needless to say, it was a blast and it was the beginning of my love/passion for all things entertainmnet. My first job was actually for Nickelodeon/Paramount at their theme park, Great America. I worked as a performer bringing the show “Slime Time” to a live audience and also bringing a Blue’s Clues experience/meet-and-greet to guests as Blue’s Friend Scott. Along the road, I earned my Bachelor’s in Drama, Master’s in Education, Teaching Credential, and have performed across the country at regional theatres including: Tony Award Winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, Tony Award Winning TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley, Disney Cruise Line, Musical Theatre West, PCPA Theatrefest, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, San Francisco Symphony, and 12 years with Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon. I have also appeared in spots for Visa, Samsung, Garmin, Dell, HP, LG, Logitech, United Airlines, LinkedIn, Oracle, etc.
What led you to UC Irvine? How did going to school there impact your career?
My college choice expreience was interesting. I was a good student in High School with a 3.92 GPA and tons of extra-curriculars. I shot for the moon when applying to about 12 different universities, knowing some were out of my reach be it financially or academically. My acceptance/choice list narrowed down to three Univeristy of California schools, UC Berkely, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine. Though UC Berkeley offered prestige, I knew I needed to move away from home (Bay Area) to have my own expriences and develop as an adult. I visited UC Santa Barbara, and it just wasn’t a fit for me. You had to participate in general classes for the first year and then audition for their Drama program in year 2. Well, me being an extreme pragmatist, I didn’t want to hedge any bets. What if I didn’t get in during year 2? I would have just wasted so much time and energy. Then I visited UC Irvine, and I kid you not, it was as if the heavens opened during my campus visit. It was a campus that was beautiful, bustling, and there were so many offerings at the School of the Arts; you just had to take advantage. I consistently says that attending UC Irvine was one of the best decisions of my life, and I believe it led me to where I am today. UC Irvine required all drama majors to participate and take classes in every aspect of production. You were not allowed to just “be a performer.” I took lighting design, costume design, set design, shop construction, running crew (tech), and performed in my years there. Their goal was to instill a love of theatre and a respect for everyone who has a hand in creating the finished product. My education set me up for success around the country, where humble gratitude, understanding, and respect take you so much farther than platitudes of grandeur and ego.
You’ve worked in the LA market since graduating, but what led you to make your home base back in the Bay Area?
I moved to Los Angeles right after college. I always had a feeling NYC wasn’t the right fit for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love NYC, I just couldn’t live the hustle lifestyle day in and day out. To this day I always say I will go to NYC if something takes me there. Los Angeles was the mecca for entertainment. I began extra work for TV Shows and Movies, and I used this as a crash course in understanding the Film/Television industry. Though you can take classes/workshops, I truly feel there is no better education for on-camera work than actually being on-camera and in the environment. I would always be aware of what was happening around me and the terms that were being used (two-shot, master, apple, martini, etc.). I would study/examine Matthew Perry, Sarah Paulson, James Woods, and Kirsten Dunst, as I was standing feet from them while the cameras were rolling. In the end, however, I was called away from Los Angeles for theatre opportunities time and time again. I think out of the 9 years my belongings lived in Los Angeles, I was only physically present there for 2 years. During my visit to family and friends in the Bay Area after a regional theatre contract, my UC Irvine pal told me they were having auditons while I was in town for a show she had been doing for several years and that I needed to go. The show was Beach Blanket Babylon, a musical review that opened in 1974, and holds the world record for the longest running musical-review in the world. I auditioned, got a swing/understudy contract, and decided to take it. This led me to move back to the Bay Area for a beautiful, secure, and life-changing 12 year run with the show.
By the time this blog runs, you’ll have just closed Beach Blanket Babylon. Can you talk about the unique experience of being a part of such a historic and long running show?
I owe so much to my experience with Beach Blanket Babylon. It opened in 1974 and we closed the show, after 45 years, on Decemeber 31, 2019. My 12 years there were exciting, enfuriating, hilarious, exhausting, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it. Though performers would come and go, many were there longer than I (some performers and technicians over 30 years). The whole company was a family. Through our 7-9 show weekly schedule, we witnessed births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and we were all there for each other. Those personal relationships are the testament to my experience and joy we were able to bring over 6.5 million people. In 90 minutes, our goal was to bring a smile and laughter to the 400 seat audience, offering them a zany and crazy escape from the world outside. A beautiful thing about being a part of a long running show, especially how Beach Blanket Babylon operated, was it allowed me to have a life outside of the theatre. I was not trapped inside a theatre all the time since we were a 90 minute show that performed only in the evenings. I was able to pursue other passions, work, and understand myself outside of the theatre bubble. The security of having a steady paycheck for 12 years as an actor also didn’t hurt. I was able to take amazing trips and eventually buy a condo to truly set some roots. We were also given some amazing opportunites: sing the national anthem at the SF Giants World Series Celebration, open for Jason Mraz and Bruno Mars at a private event, and provide a custom show for former Secretary of State George Schultz’s 90th birthdya party surrounded by hundreds of the nations most influential politicians and business leaders. Beach Blanket Babylon was an institution, not just a show, and I am so sad the San Francisco landscape will now be without it.
Was there ever a moment where you felt like giving up on the career? If so, what did you do to get through that time?
I would love to know an actor who has not had those feelings of defeat and wanting to leave it all behind. I have absolutely had those feelings, and I didn’t find them to stop even when I had security in performing. There is always the thought of what is next, what do I have to do to keep working? I found that when theatre encompassed my whole life, those feelings were stronger than ever. When I stepped back and understood that I must be able to live life outside of the theatre, I was able to find the joy, passion, and love for performing I was losing. This allowed my theatre to be so much more joyous and rewarding for me. Another aspect that helped me get through these times is not caring. I don’t mean this how it may sound. Being involved in a lot of on-camera auditions, I began to go in with the acceptance of what I can bring to the audition/performance in that day and moment. There are so many other decision makers behind the scenes. You may do an absolutely incredible job, be the most talented, and yet you are 2 inches shorter than they need, or you remind the casting director of their ex-husband. What I am trying to say is so much is out of our control as actors, and you have to learn to give that feeling/need of control up. Trust that you are there because you have the talent, and if you don’t get this one, another one will come along. Once I was able to have these feelings of acceptance, I actually found myself being more successful in bookings and opportunities.
What are the biggest benefits to an actor’s life in a small(er) market?
I love being a part of a market outside of NYC and LA. I think it is extremely beneficial, and it is amazing to be in the hub of technology and witness the advancements that are occuring. On a selfish note, it is easier to make yourself known and create relationships with casting directors, producers, directors, etc. A smaller market also creates a smaller pool vying for jobs. Don’t get me wrong, there are still 50 brown-hair, brown-eyed, all-american looking guys that are sent in to audition for the same spot, but there is a much different feel. The SF market also forces you to have a life outside of performing because there can be extreme dry spells in the commercial/industrial offerings, or the regional theatres are only offering 2-3 Equity contracts per show, and you won’t be receiving one of them. I, however, find that as a positive. As I mentioned before, that sense brings more joy to the work when I do it, rather than feeling it is my only source of income/work.
What’s the most exciting work going on in the Bay Area?
Silicon Valley is by far the most exciting work in terms of on-camera. Seeing where technology is going and creating commercials/industrials for new products and companies is incredible. I recently did a shoot for early stages of Artificial Intelligence (AI) design to work in customer service related areas (Airport Check-In, Hotel Concierge). These Silicon Valley companies, who are always moving the ball forward, are inventive and creative, and it is great to be a part of that community. In terms of theatre, the Bay has been making a resurgance in its presence. Several theatrical companies provide New Work Festivals in which they take a hands-on approach to fostering and developing new theatrical offerings. The Tony Award Winning TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley produces a New Works Festival each year and chooses one work to receive a full-fledged production within their next season. Several shows have had their world-premiere/pre-broadway tryouts in the Bay Area including Ain’t Too Proud, Memphis, and Wicked.
Where are you on your mountain?
I am definitely not at the peak, and I don’t think I will ever reach that peak. I think I will always look up to see that peak rising higher into the sky, pushing myself to reach and pursue more, not settle. I am also one to walk through an open door that is providing me an opportunity for growth and success. Walking through these open doors, or different trails up my mountain, has led me to my Mater’s in Education, working as an Educational Specialist for elementary students with disabilities, and again working behind the scenes as the production stage manager for several Bay Area Regional Theatres. I am also performing several concert shows around the Bay in a cabaret style, focusing on music from movies, broadway, etc. Though I anticipate returning to the stage in a book show sooner rather than later, I am taking some time to explore my other paths.
RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Broadway show: Gypsy – My favorite overture of all time!
TV show you binge: Everything (I’m addicted!!!)
Podcasts you love: Not huge into podcasts, but I want to get into them…I will take suggestions!
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Non-Practicing Catholic (Love, Respect, Empathy, and Understanding go a long way)
Former side hustles: Owned my own Dog Walking business, “Scottie’s Dogs.” Personal Assistant to Agent and Reality TV show Producers.
Show that gave you your Equity card: Big River at TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley. I was Tom Sawyer and James Monroe Iglehart was Jim.
Secret to auditioning for commercials: Walk in and be you. Give what you can give that day and know that is enough.
Any bad audition stories?: Tons…like the time I had to restart my audition song 3 times because I was singing off-key (though I don’t think it was being played in the written key). I got frustrated and on try three, I just kept singing until the end. Pretty horrific.
Skill you think more actors should have: Business management. We are our own business. Do not rely on an agent, manager, etc. Understand what to do to make you a success!
Ever tempted to move somewhere else?: All the time! California is expensive! I am not opposed either, but a job would have to take me away.
Favorite audition song: “Larger Than Life” from My Favorite Year
Job you didn’t expect to book: Disney Cruise Line. I always dreamt of working for Disney and palying Peter Pan, but I thought my time had passed. I had grown up, but Disney thought “Nah! He still looks young!” Truly grateful for that dream come true! (Tip: Wash your face and moisturize)
Biggest beef with the business: The cruelty that some believe goes with power/position. You can still be kind and supportive even when saying no.
Social media handles?: IG: ScottMReardon
Anything you’d like to promote?: Just living life! Keep an eye out, you never know if you may see me on your screen!
CORONA COPING:
What were you looking forward to that you lost because of COVID-19?
I was in the midst of rehearsals as the Production Stage Manager of 9 to 5 when we had to cease rehearsals when the Bay Area Counties banded together to order a shelter-in-place. As the weeks have progressed, my summer contracts have been cancelled and so have my cabaret concerts that were scheduled for around the Bay Area.
What is something (a thought, a family member, a hope, a piece of art, a meme, a song, ANYTHING) that is getting you through?
I am extremely lucky that I am still employed through my school district, teaching my Resource students through Distance Learning is something that has truly helped me through this whole ordeal. Though it has been an extreme uphill climb trying to acclimate to teaching in this new style that no one was prepared for, it has provided me a sense of purpose and duty. I am able to get up each morning knowing I have a task in front of me, a child who needs help, and something to accomplish that, thankfully, still provides me a paycheck in these trying times. Another aspect to Distance Learning that has allowed me to find joy is translating my passion and abilities of on-camera to the classroom. I film lessons, provide Zoom meetings, use my green screen, and anything else to help entice, intrigue, and make this whole process a little more exciting for me and the students. (I attached a picture of my “new normal” dining room setup)
What do you think has an opportunity to change as a result of this time to reset?
I think this time will be extremely valuable for reflection and a way for everyone to make sure they are where, and who, they want to be. I hope we are all able to see how fortunate we have been with the options in our everyday life. Now that we are out of our “norm,” I hope we can identify some of the simple things we have begun to take for granted, and when we are able to partake in those activities, no matter how trite, we relish in our ability to actually do them once more. I also want everyone to understand the importance of the human connection. It is extremely impressive, through our technological advancements, that we are able to see and hear people from thousands of miles away, but nothing can compare to the face-to-face interactions we have on an everyday basis.
Quarantine Quickly:
Favorite snack: Is Alcohol a snack?
Home workout routine (you know, if you're into that): Oh yeah, I need to get on that!
What are you watching: Where to start…Binging like a champ!
What you are reading: “Hatchet” as I lead a Virtual Book Club for my students
Yes or no… Out of pajamas before noon?: Business on Top, Pajamas on the Bottom!
Photo Credits:
Pic 1: Headshot by Allison Bluestein @ www.alyblueheadshots.com
Pic 2: King Louis in Beach Blanket Babylon - Photo Cred: Rick Markovich
Pic 3: Slime Time: The Live Show (my first job)
Pic 4: NYC Trip
Pic 5: Me and the Big Cheese
Pic 6: “New Normal” dining room setup!